Day 6.. Road to La Spezia

Day 6 – From Ants to Aperitivo: Goodbye Genoa, Hello La Spezia

We began the day with a full pack-up at the Genoa campsite—tent, awning, and a healthy colony of ants shaken out before anything made it back into the van. The end of our time in Genoa is approaching, but not without a hiccup—I forgot to pay for the camping and had to sheepishly sort it later. Naughty boy.

With everything loaded, we followed the coast and made a spontaneous stop, at Camogli, parking in an underground car park before wandering down to the small fishing village. A picture-perfect spot to enjoy a croissant and coffee, chatting with an American family also soaking up the Italian seaside charm. Then it was back on the motorway and eastward.
And hour or so on Borgorena Beach but the next proper stop was La Spezia, where we found our Airbnb—our new base for the next two nights. The van just about squeezed into a hedge-hugging parking spot, and we lugged our belongings (and sizeable dirty laundry bag) up to the flat. Gill was immediately smitten with the sight of a washing machine. After a little trial and error with the Italian settings, we eventually mastered both washer and dryer. By bedtime, our clothes and linen were on their way to a full refresh.

Dinner was a real highlight—thanks to a brilliant local recommendation from our host, we enjoyed a meal in a top-notch seafood restaurant, Antica Osteria dei Camalli with warm, welcoming staff. Afterwards, we strolled through the buzzing streets of La Spezia, soaking up the late-night energy and finishing the evening with the ritual gelato. We ambled back to the flat just before midnight, the last of the laundry whirring away, ready for tomorrow’s boat trip along the Cinque Terre.Read more