After Portovenere (which we stayed in one day longer than planned due to bad weather, yay!) we went to Viareggio, Italy. Since we spent eight days in its shipyard, I'd have to say I didn't appreciate it much. There were a few other yachts (including Roberto Cavalli's boat that we've seen several times already this season), but the view was industrial (they build yachts here) and certainly a far cry from the cute little dock that had spoiled us previously.
Not having more than a few hours at a time off, it was great to find that Viareggio had a nature preserve along the coast just blocks away from dock. Miles (or should I say kilometers) of trails through this densely wooded park were just what I needed to get away from the boat. Bicycles are big here. Everyone rides through town and bikers out for a ride along the trails were a common site. Some of the crew rented bikes to take through the park for their break one afternoon.
After walking the trails one day, we took one that lead to the beach. Didn't have time to enjoy more than a minute to take in the view. Had to get back to the boat, ya know. The surf was really rough that day--it wasn't normally that intense.
One thing about the mountains in this area in Italy: it's not snow, it's marble. The beaches underneath the marble woven rock were packed full of people out enjoying the sand and the sun. Along the shore, the stores along the main drag stay open until the wee hours of the morning. One night I tried to run around midnight and literally had to push my way through the crowds before I decided it was a lost cause and went back to the boat to go to bed.
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