Exploring Genoa with My Grad-Student Sister 🇮🇹
Fresh off my internship in Singapore (with some savings!), I began my Europe trip—starting with 7 Italian cities. First stop: Genoa (GENOA)! 🚌 Journey FlixBus from Milan Airport: 2.5 hours, €31/pax. 🌞 Attractions 📍 Piazza De Ferrari Heart of Genoa, with a huge fountain—surrounded by shops, restaurants, and transport links. 📍 Acquario di Genova (Not recommended! 🙅🏻♀️) €29/pax for a tiny aquarium with few animals. Skip it! 📍 Boccadasse "Mini Cinque Terre"—take Bus #1 (30 mins). Best at sunset! 📍 Camogli 1-hour train ride. Bring a picnic blanket + snacks for a beach chill session. 😎 📍 Genoa’s Vintage Red Funicular 🚠 A retro cable car for navigating the city’s steep slopes (popular with locals, especially elders). 🍽️ Food & Culture 🍦 Gelateria Viganotti Authentic gelato comes in lidded tubs (€3 for 2 flavors). 🍷 Aperitivo Culture (6-9 PM) Italians’ post-work ritual: drinks + snacks with friends. Peak work-life balance! 😉 👣 My Genoa Takeaway As a non-tourist hotspot, Genoa has few foreign visitors—but sadly, I faced racism twice in 6 days: 1️⃣ On the train to Camogli: Teens yelled "Cinese, go back to China!" (I’m Malaysian...). My sis (who speaks Italian) just glared. 2️⃣ At a restaurant: Staff treated us coldly vs. other guests. After complaining, the waitress still muttered insults. Silver lining? Elders were kinder—maybe the youth lack global exposure. 🤷🏻♀️ #ItalyTravel #Genoa #RacismAwareness #TravelDiaries #HiddenGems #WorkLifeBalance 🍝✨