Sailing with the Treleavens

A full house for a few days, and finding it very hard to leave this very beautiful bay of Portofino. With Janey, Young Ian, George and Sabrina Snow on board, we are back in our idealic bay, anchored under the mansions with their manicured gardens.

The weather is now no wind and hot, so we motor on north along the Italian Riviera our destination Genoa for the night. We have read about the statue of Christ beneath the water in the bay of San Fruttuoso and as usual it's not easy to find. Standing 4 metres high, arms out stretched skyward in 15 metres of water; we find this snorkelling and very scary. Janey says she will never forget the look on his face and Ian commented he looked like he wanted to get to the surface. No photos but see what you can find on the internet?

Stern into the wharf at the fishing village of Camogli for a coffee break and George investigates a little bit of history. Camogli comes from the word communal house where fisherman's wives were locked up until there return,
thankfully along time ago. George and Ian think it's not a bad idea for Sydney-Hobart wives. Fishing nets piled high it turns out to be a very natural salty port and could have spent more time here.

The coast is very exposed with high cliffs but interestingly a very
populated coast line with huge stairways to the sea from the mansions.

We may be in old town Genoa, but we are parked in the sewer. Not to our liking we are very diplomatic and ask to be moved. Christopher Columbus came from Genoa and the Museum and Garibaldi Avenue with its Palaces; you could get to like this place. On the water front is a huge pirate ship built for the movie La Pirates, not exactly to scale but very impressive. A must see is the largest Oriental Exhibition in the western world, in the Chiossone
Museum. One mans collection in the 1800's made up of 15000 pieces. George and Ian visited the Aquarium and saw first hand a sunfish swimming around, and now understand why a yacht stops when they hit them.

The coast now is beach after beach with umbrellas, deck chairs and changing sheds. Very colourful but crowded villages, everyone is now on the coast.  We visit Varazzse only to find we are too big and have to anchor in a bay and roll all night; this is not in the brochure. Finale Ligure and Janey and Ian are on there way to London.

The only island on this part of the coast is Isolotto Gallinara, a private island but you can anchor and enjoy a swim.

Imperia Porto Maurizio and the only reason to visit is the pasta museum, only to find it has been relocated to Rome. Instead Sabrina and I find the new, award winning, olive museum, Museo dell Olivo and Ian and George check out the yachts.

San Remo and as usual what you hope to see is gone else where, and this place has to be missed next time. All we seem to do is move, eat, drink and George is leading the way.
Especially with his Mojito's, which always seems to take half a bottle of rum for 4 drinks. Certainly makes Sabrina and myself talk a lot.

Crossing the boarder to France we have a stop over in Menton, a very attractive old town on the boarder in France and we can't believe the change, not only the language but the whole feeling of different foods, shops and the coffee will never be as good as Italy.
Phoning ahead to reserve a spot in Monaco we are now too small for the main marina and get a spot in the Marina Fontvieille which turns out to be very convenient and a fabulous supermarket ashore. Cotes du Rhone at $4, very good value.

As we entered Marina Fontvieille, we pass the white cliffs covered in cactus and high above is the Palace. We are literally moored beneath the Palace.

The usual tourist spots, tour the Palace and see Prince Albert cross the courtyard, visit the cathedral where Princess Grace and Prince Rainer are buried and visit the museum. Our visit wouldn't be complete if we didn't have an evening in the casino square. It's more interesting sitting out side in the cafes just watching the passing of people and the highly polished Ferrari's and Rollers.

Sunday and out on the water its boats everywhere all off to bays north and south on this beautiful day. In the bay off Cap Ferret we weave our way in and out of super yachts and even Octopus is here with her two helicopters. This area is simply stunning with mansions lining the bays and stay the night off Villefranche. The afternoon is a bit of a blur. 
 

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