ONLY FULL DAY IN BOLOGNA

So we arrived in Bologna. Had planned to go to a certain restaurant last night, but after doing an initial walk about town, decided it was way too far away. Had the hotel recommend someplace closer since we were tired from the trip and the walk. They suggest a little place on the corner of the street...about 5 doors down. Really? Really! Al Sangiovese. With a name like that, I'll give it a try. Turned out to be great. We had a wonderful dinner and such a good time that we decided to go back again tonight. We will be there at 7:30...if you care to join us.

Bob was tired and slept in. Stew and Karin off to breakfast. Then we all headed out. First stop was the Museo Civico Archeologico. Very nice. Large building with many nicely done displays. Our second stop was the Museum of the History of Bologna. Odd place. A former family palace, it was simply used to house very modern displays concerning the history of the town. The brightly lit displays completely hid the architecture of the building. Also seemed a bit simplistic and choppy.

Last stop on the way home was back to the Sorbeterrier from yesterday for more gelato (our lunch!) Today Bob had the Dolce Karin! How could I not? Stew and Karin had it yesterday.

Walking on Bologna, one is struck that the city is full of porticoes. History says that they were created to extended the upper floors while leaving protected space for the public. Most cities stopped using them, but Bologna is unique in that it fostered their use.

Long naps for all before dinner. Gave us time to do this blog.

Some porticoes of Bologna

END TO VENICE - GREETINGS TO BOLOGNA

On our final night in Venice we ate at Al Cantinon. Wonderful, wonderful. Such an enjoyable evening and such good food! Then home to bed.

This morning we had breakfast at the hotel and then packed up for our train trip to Bologna. Walked to the train station and boarded a very nice Italotreno train. Our friend Margaret had told us about this line which is different from the main line most people use. The train was clean and efficient. I noted that we were traveling at 220 km/h. I used to google (free wifi) and discovered it was 136 miles per hour!

Bologna. Took taxi to Hotel San Mamolo. Long ride. Sights were not inviting. But we are only here for 2 nights so we should be fine. Our little hotel is cozy...if a bit antiquated. For instance, the only power outlets are below the little wall lamps on either side of the bed! None by the desk! We have 2 rooms accessed by an elevator that only goes to our floor. Only two rooms on this floor! It feels rather special and a little odd at the same time.

For our first walk around town we headed to the 'best gelato shop in Bologna.' No complaints there. Then head to the main piazza, Piazza Maggiore, the library and the welcome center. (Our friend, David, told us we had to see the library.) Streets are narrow, cars drive crazily and sidewalks start and stop. Not an easy outing...and it turned quite cold. Plan had been to walk north of the piazza for a restaurant tonight, but we changed our minds. Hotel recommends a little place right on the corner of this street. We gladly accepted their recommendation!

 

Farewell to Venice...from the train station

Our hotel in Bologna (odd bathroom/shower)

Piazza Maggiore

Statue of Neptune in the Piazza

The library, "Biblioteca SalaBorsa"
The old commerce building

First Full Day in Venice

As you know by now, we arrived. Yesterday...for us. Lovely dinner last night at La Colombina (hotel recommendation). Home to bed as we were all very tired.

Up this morning for breakfast. Met at 8. Wonderful breakfast. This is a GREAT hotel! Grey day and on/off rainy. Headed out for to visit the Basilica in Piazza San Marco as we'd never actually been in it. Managed to get in and out in relatively short time. Inside was dark but you could see all the gold walls. Many, many people so we got out as fast as we could. That being our only stop for the day, we headed to a store called The Coop and picked up a bottle of Prosecco for tonight. We are toasting Karin's birthday...which isn't until December but she wants to toast it in Venice.

Wandering the wet lanes we picked up yet another tapestry for a pillow in our house. Also picked up a wall sculpture as a souvenir. Karin also picked up a couple of pieces for herself.

Lunch at a little local place (cappuccinos and pizzas). Resting now before dinner at Al Cantinon (another hotel recommendation).

All in all, a lovely day in Venice in spite of the rain.

Our first selfie...starting out from Tucson.

We three on the Rialto Bridge

The Jewish Ghetto

Memorial plaques in the Ghetto

Leaving the Ghetto

 

Shop where we bought the sculptures

Romantic pics from a wet Venice

People have looked confused when we talk of the vaporettos...or water buses. Here are several around the 'bus stops' in front of the train station.

                     Our hotel...one more time

Walking down the Rialto Bridge to the outdoor market

VENICE

 Flights were long. Some on time. Some not. Oh well. We are here in Venice.

 A welcome email from my friend Jeff in Philadelphia. Click on it!

Karin arrives in Venice. We were waiting.

On the Alilaguna vaporetto to the hotel.

Vaporetto leaves us at Madonna dell'Orto stop. We walk to the hotel.

 

Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente

Our room. Fancy, huh?

Name of the hotel...Hotel ai Mori d'Oriente...translated means The Moors of the East.

REVISITING OLD FRIENDS

Welcome! Yes, another trip to Italy for Stew, Bob & Karin to visit old friends (Michelangelo, Botticelli, Donatello, etc.) and hopefully make some new ones. And once again we'll be visiting Venice, Florence and Rome. But for a little diversity, we're also visiting Bologna! So it seems like time for a new look for the blog.

And time for something a little different. Fewer words; more pictures. At least that's the intent. The hardest part of publishing a blog is the time it takes to write the text, edit the pictures and put it all together. Who has the time when visiting such wonderful places? So we'll try to keep this one short.

The trip begins Monday, Oct 26th. Karin flies from Denver and we fly from Tucson. We should meet up at the airport in Venice on the 27th. Then it's 2 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Bologna, 4 nights in Florence and 6 nights Rome before flying back on Tuesday, November 10th.

As Karin said the last time we saw her in Tucson, "See you in Venice!"