The journey to Genova
It was close to 10:00 pm at night and I was waiting near the Heidelberg HBF to board my FlixBus to Genova. Little did I know that there were TWO buses departing at nearly the exact same time. Anyways, after almost getting on the wrong bus (they did not check my ticket initially…) I got sorted out properly and from there, was on the journey to Italy.
The 12 hour drive
The bus drove directly from Heidelberg to Genova, making a few stops here and there. Honestly, the ride was not that bad. Initially, I had regret not buying myself any water for the journey, but later realized that not having water was probably the best choice, given the circumstances. The bathrooms on that thing were disgusting, as I overheard one woman say to her boyfriend, after coming out of the tiny stall.
I slept very little, but the 12 hours went by surprisingly fast. I think I played all of Max Cooper’s works on my phone that night. Stochastisch Serie played on repeat at least a dozen times while the bus made its way through Switzerland.
Genova here I come…
The last hour of the bus ride was the most beautiful, as we drove through little towns and plenty of greenery. Here is an excerpt from my journal, written at 8:52 am on August 20. 2018.
“Italy, I’m here! Currently on the last hour of my FlixBus ride towards Genova. From what I see so far, it’s a beautiful country.
The morning sun shines through valleys of lush greenery and forest-covered mountains as we head closer down to the city. The towns look as if they have come out of a movie. The sun bathes everything here in its golden light.”
During my three days in Liguria, I explored quite a bit of the city, from the port to the cathedrals, the back-alleys as well… and I even made my way to Cinque Terre!
A time to reflect
While I usually stay in hostels while travelling, I decided to book an AirBnB for this part of my trip. The place was absolutely amazing. My host had a beautiful place with a fantastic view of the port. In that same room with the view, there was also a piano! For those of you who know me, you will know that I love playing the piano.
I let my creativity flow in the early mornings, or later during evening, creating and recording some tunes. Now thinking back, they really should be transcribed onto manuscript. Most of my time spent at the AirBnB was in this room, either making music, writing in my journal or looking out at the wonderful view. I needed a few days of reflection and quiet travel during my trip. Visiting Genova was just perfect for that.
-Chewy
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