Meanwhile, "Wishbone" and I decided to visit the Galata Maritime Museum just down the Porta Antica from the aquarium.
First we passed this awesome sailboat being painted (lacquered?) in dry dock.
Then, we saw some cool conquistador-style armor, and the "living history" part of the museum kicked in. The rooms featured audio of the sounds of, say, armor being forged, and many of the displays also included videos with life-size costumed actors exhorting you with regard to some aspect of seafaring. Of course, this was all in Italian, so we were just skimming the surface of understanding. Though one guy distinctly said, "I've been to Barcelona, I've been to Venice, but they don't compare to Genoa!"
The period depicted was the same one in which my Italian ancestors emigrated, so it was a wonderful experience. I wished that my kids had been there. It was very special.
If you're ever in Genoa, this museum is a must-see. I just wish I had had time to take the kids to it. They would have loved all the interactive displays, and especially the emigration exhibit. Here's the museum's photo gallery. Their photos are so much better than mine (despite their funky fish-eye lens!).
But here is what the day looked like outside. Ahhhh.