Genoa

"Come on Michael you can do better" implored my dont argue with elastic enabled Cuban fitness instructor as we went through a range of difficult stretcing exercises. "Don't you exercise" she added to complete my humiliation ! Some of the stretches made sense  i thought but  why i needred to be able to scratch my ears with my toes was beyond me aftrr all i was trying to stretch my muscles not join the bloody circus !

We'd eyed the gym the day before knowing that if we didnt do a few sessions there was a real danger that they would be rolling us off the ship by the end of the cruise so any activity involving exercise other than lifting something to our mouths had to be worthwhile !

We'd deliberately taken it easy this morning as our ship cruised into port at Genoa waking for the free stretching class at 8.a.m. with our friendly torturer. I'd done the maths overnight and at the current rate of alcohol and food consumption i figured we needed to be spending 23 out of every 24 hours in the gym !

With our "rack" session over we had breakfast and then disembarked for a quiet walk along Genoas back streets that run through the harbour district aeea.Genoa lays claim to fame as being one of Itay's most historic ports and the birthplace of  Christopher Columbus but while the steers were narrow and atmospheric and there was the odd square and nice church or two time had reduced Genoa's appeal to nothing more than just a nice port city.

We took a coffee near the Cathedral to take in a little atmosphere before heading back to our ship which judging by the hordes of people embarking was going to make the ship a hell of a lot busier than last evening.

For now it was just time to relax, head back to the gym and maybe sneak in a drink or two after all this is meant to be a holiday!

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