Dolphin rugby!

Genoa (week 34)

It is perhaps fitting that, having most recently visited the former Genoese colony of Corsica, we'd start our exit tour in the city of Genoa.  Formerly the centre of a vast commercial empire, we obviously could not even scratch the surface of the historical sites in a 1-day stop.  So we decided to go to the aquarium instead, since we are becoming aquarium connoisseurs.  This is the 8th aquarium in 6 countries that the boys have visited.  Genoa's is the largest in Italy, and also one of the newest in Europe.  It is very nice, and has dolphins, penguins, and manatees, among the usual coral reef denizens (but not including reef sharks).  One dolphin, in particular, put on an unscripted show (without any trainers present) playing with a rugby ball.

Piazza de Ferrari

Almost everything in Genoa, including the aquarium, is bilingual.  English is widely spoken and printed on tourist material, and whenever we've offered the option to speak in English or French, the natives prefer to speak English.  We consider it a minor victory that the Italians, at least, aren't sure if we look (North) American or French, perhaps because they are the two types of people who cover their clothes with English slogans (if we've learned nothing else about France, we've learned that the most French of T-shirts has a picture of the Empire State Building and the words "I Love New York" on it).

Chiesa del Gesu

After the aquarium we took a walk up to the Piazza de Ferrari and took in the large fountain, the Palazzo Ducale (former home of the dukes of Genoa, now home of offices and an art gallery; you can freely walk through the pillared open-air atrium), and the Chiesa del Gesu.  The Church of Jesus can only be described as "ornate" with (I assume real) gilded gold trim and paintings covering every available space.  Oddly the cathedral was closed.