Portofino & San Fruttuoso Italy

Stay: San Rocco - as per last night

A last minute decision found us catching the bus to Portofino instead of the boat. The bus stop is right infront of Bluey! Otherwise, to catch the boat we needed to walk 40min DOWN to either Camogli or Punta Chiappa. So at 8:43am the very kind and helpfull bus drivers' response to 'bus to Portifino?' was 'you stay with me I will show you'. So we took the little bus #73 from San Rocco to Ruta, then we got out of that bus and waited for the bigger bus #73 (with the bus driver). 

The bus took us to S.Margherita, which Mark enjoyed as he was able to look at the scenery for a change. When we got there the bus driver got out of the bus and took us over to the stop we had to wait for the Portofino bus #82. What service! Our €3 ticket (bought on the bus but cheaper €1.80 if purchased at a shop) is valid for 100min. So we had time to have some breakfast and a walk around before the 10am bus. There were many tour groups around which we assumed were from the big cruise ship we could see. 

As statue of the explorer Christoper Colombo.

  

It was a pretty drive along the coast road to the very busy Portofino (we preferred the quaintness and less crowding of Camogli). We escaped the crowds and went for a walk up to Castello Brown named after a British Consul who lived here in the 16th century. 

Views from our walk to Castello Brown.

We continued a little further to the old lighthouse 

Its not all about the tourists there are still some traditional fishing boats, but I think more hobby than commercial.

One of the stone art found around the village church.

before returning to the port for a bite of lunch and then hopped on a boat (€8.50 ea one way) to San Fruttuoso, an ancient Benedictine Abbaye that is only accessible by sea. 

We first quenched our thirst before donning our bathers (not forgotten today!) to enjoy a swim.

We then got on another boat to Punta Chiappa (€6 ea one way) which is one stop before Camogli. Unfortunately there is only one way to go from here and that is UP. So once again after at least another 3000 steps! we reached Bluey requiring a refreshing shower and cold beer! but not before stopping to buy some local produce from a lovely Italian papa to go with our beer. Cheers!