 |
| Rapallo's waterfront promenade |
It’s not hard to realize how incredibly
fortunate we are to have the means to embark on the journey we’ve been on now
for 3 months. We are the one percent and it’s sobering to think that the vast
majority of people on this planet will never get to fly to Marrakech, ski the French
Alps, or glide through the canals of Venice.
The last few days we have been in Rapallo on the Italian Riviera and
while we are enjoying our own incredible good fortune, we’ve seen why this is the
playground of the ultra rich and famous.
Palm trees along the narrow streets, ristorante and grand hotels along
the waterfront, salmon pink, terracotta and pale yellow villas clinging to the cliffs,
huge private yachts anchored in the secluded harbours, sunshine and warm breezes
off the Mediterranean. It’s exactly like
all the paparazzi photos and classic Italian movies depict it.
 |
| 1 bedroom suites, $4,800 to $6,000/night. Really? |
 |
| Rapallo buildings all have colourful "architectural" details |
Portofino, a tiny
port with a population of 120, had 2 of the largest yachts I've ever seen and a dozen huge sailboats in its small harbour.
The waterfront is lined with swanky shops and pricy cafes, but climbing
up the hills above the town to the faro (lighthouse), we had fantastic views of
the Ligurian coastline right down to the Cinque Terre. A sailing regatta was underway on the bay, 50
colourful spinnakers on the horizon, and I thought of my brother Jim (“Popeye”)
and how much he would love it here. Marconi spent some of his later years in Portofino and did some of
his radio experiments aboard his yacht “Electra”.
 |
| Portofino |
It’s a beautiful stretch of coastline and a
perfect place for a little bit of indulgence (Prosecco and focaccia, viola gelato (tastes like lavender and the girls love it), but as Eva says, it’s a bit too celebrity. We
all agree now that Essaouira, Morocco was much more our style.
No comments:
Post a Comment