Due Torri Bologna

... slowly, taking two or more bites per peice. I keep having to remind myself that dragging out a meal is expected here, they are languid over a meal, enjoying three courses, dessert, coffee, time with friends. The absolute clash with how I feel in Canada, the rush, the shove your food into your mouth as quickly as you can because we have somewhere to be feeling. Getting shoved out of a resturaunt in Toronto ...

... power of the ruthless Este dynasty who built the fortress to protect themselves from their own citizens.

Ferrara's Cathedral, built in 1135, is a gem of Romanic and Gothic architecture featuring a 3 tier facade with boney arches.

The Church of Sant'Antonio in Polesine contains beautiful frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries.

The Palazzo del Diamanty (palace of Diamonds) was close to the castle and we leaned on it and check it off our list.

Short train ride from Florence after a hair raising trip trying to return the rental car in confusing, congested and traffic restrictied Florence (don't rent a car downtown go to the airport). Bologna is an university town (even Johns Hopkin has a campus). Very historical town with a great plaza area like most towns and a great antique market.

Wow, last day. Can not believe it?, wow, last day... As Parker put it last night, you wait a long time for things you look forward to, and then they happen so fast.

Funny day, so far. Took me an hour and a half to arrange the local taxi pick up. Finally, went to the taxi stand with the Italian translation in my hand, and had him call the central number for a taxi for tomorrow. 5 AM and six pieces of luggage and 2 kids, not taking any ...

... before the safety could get over and tackle him. We had a new set of downs after the impromptu fake punt. Everyone on the Giants sideline went crazy, I was still in mild disbelief. I shook my head and thought, this is Italian football. A few plays later rolling right, I again hit Mario on a deep backside post for a touchdown. 14-0 Giants. We tried a surprise onside kick and nearly got it, but instead just gave the Doves great field position. They ...

... so back to the hostel to eat my train food.....which was **** anyway...probably because i had hoped for better.....and the pizza guy showed up and looked at me like not tonight? no...buddy leave me alone (with a smile of course!!) ugh...i want out of this dang place!!!! oh the one cool thing i did that day was climb 500 steps i think it was up a tower, whew that was a work out! and the gelato that was belicimo....but other than that....bologna was a disappointment for me.

Where to begin? Although there were a series of complete experiences that will linger in my mind, I am going to limit myself to just a couple. After our first factory visit today, we took a side trip to the country villa of Paolo and Lorella, a couple who has represented tile to us for many years. Their home has been a many-year project, and it shows. Over a decade ago, they purchased the villa from one of a pair ...

... you would all absolutely love it. Piazza Maggiore (the main piazza) was only a couple of blocks from the hotel, so we walked through it and got lost in the small winding streets of the historic center. It was great. We eventually made our way back to the hotel, where we stayed until it was time to go downstairs to meet our tour guide and start our first walking tour. (I can't remember the tour guide's name, and neither can Anne. Isn't that ...

... introduction in a presentation room was the component processing area. Here in a very new and spacious building the employees were producing crank shafts, cylinder heads and cylinder blocks, with the factory floor also home to a dazzling collection of classic Ferrari models from various eras – intended to be an inspiration to the workers of the finished masterpieces they are each playing a part in creating.

After then passing through the paint ...

... for dinner. It’s a beautiful spa town and smells good! I took a long walk through the park and had a Gran Marnier on the patio. Peggy had Amaretto which pleased the bartender/host. He didn’t like my ordering a French liqueur! The hotel was one of the nicest on our tour.

We left our window open and it was actually cold when we got up!