Today we leave Ancona and travel to Bologna where I studied for 6 weeks 24 years ago. We started with breakfast at our hotel- heck out that fresh honeycomb, my beautiful chocolate croissant, fresh ricotta, hazelnuts, and Ronnie has 2 eggs and the color of eggs here is just amazing. That orange yolk!
it was then off to the train where because I was late buying tickets, we could not even sit in the same care for the 2 hour train ride. But it was ok, We just knew the stop. I tried to catch a photo of the countryside as we went from Ancona to Bologna.
Our hotel is very close to the train station- which I wanted so we could maybe do day trips to other cities- The room is good for what we needed but so expensive for what we were getting. The manager was asking if we were here for some event going on in the city and explained that is why rooms were so expensive everywhere. Which explains why I had a hard time even finding a room when I was looking ever 4 months out.
Once in Bologna there were things I just do not remember, a lot has changed in 20+ years. What is really neat is the diversity. Many international restaurants and people. It is an interesting city. Right down the street from our hotel as we were walking to Piazza Maggiore here are some sights. A sex shop and a fresh fruit stand.
The is the Basilica, it was closed at this point and later in the day we came back but I had on shorts and was not permitted to enter. We will come back another day. At this point we are getting hungry and looking for a place for lunch.
We then of course found our second favorite thing to do in Italian cities....stop by a church. I really am just so amazed by how beautiful these churches are as we go by in them. How did they build this so many years ago and it still stands today and we cannot build a house today that is even halfway decent.
Of course I always find San Antonio every church.
We then stumbled upon a market off the piazza. I thought it was cool to see pumpkins for sale.
We continued to walk and wanted to find a place for dinner. Ronnie had seen a dish earlier with beef and potatoes, this restaurant had a similar dish on the menu. So we decided on here. He had the roast beef and potatoes and I had the veal scalopini con funghi it had whipped potatoes and a little side salad. Both were delicious. Of course he ha da beer and I had a drink also reminiscent of my time in Bologna- Vodka e limon. Ronnie took a picture of the bottle so we can recreate the limon portion I have never been able to. It is not lemon juice or lemon soda, it is a lemon bitter. Maybe I can find it back in the states now and try to recreate the drink.
Once in Bologna there were things I just do not remember, a lot has changed in 20+ years. What is really neat is the diversity. Many international restaurants and people. It is an interesting city. Right down the street from our hotel as we were walking to Piazza Maggiore here are some sights. A sex shop and a fresh fruit stand.
We came across Mercantio di San Francesco- it was not open as we were walking through.
Much of our route in was closed up. Unlike many towns we have been to 2 years ago and this time, from 1:30-3:30 shops are closed in Bologna. restaurants may be open, but the shops are closed.
Much of our route in was closed up. Unlike many towns we have been to 2 years ago and this time, from 1:30-3:30 shops are closed in Bologna. restaurants may be open, but the shops are closed.
And then we entered Piazza Maggiore. I feel as though it takes up the entire city. Lovely porticos and just a picture of my hunny.
These doors look like it was closing off part of the city if they closed. They were heavy and beautiful. There is a clocktower you can pay to climb and get better pictures of the city.
The is the Basilica, it was closed at this point and later in the day we came back but I had on shorts and was not permitted to enter. We will come back another day. At this point we are getting hungry and looking for a place for lunch. 
Down a side street we found a bunch of places. It was slightly sprinkling so they asked us to eat inside. Ronnie has Lasagna Bolognese and I had a simple chicken salad with olives and tomatoes. I just really needed some vegetables. But it was delicious.
We then walked a bit more before heading back for an afternoon nap.
These plants were beautiful, I would kill them I am very sure of that
We saw this Salumeria with the most gorgeous prosciutto hanging and in the window and the meats in the cases. It smelled amazing even after having just eaten.
Looked at the beautifully preserved vegetables and other items. I would buy it all if I knew an easy way to get it all back to the US.
As we were leaving the hotel to go walk more and find a place for dinner. I forgot the level of graffiti in the city. There was a decent amount when I was here in the past, but so much more now.
We then walked a bit more before heading back for an afternoon nap.
These plants were beautiful, I would kill them I am very sure of that We saw this Salumeria with the most gorgeous prosciutto hanging and in the window and the meats in the cases. It smelled amazing even after having just eaten.
Looked at the beautifully preserved vegetables and other items. I would buy it all if I knew an easy way to get it all back to the US.
As we were leaving the hotel to go walk more and find a place for dinner. I forgot the level of graffiti in the city. There was a decent amount when I was here in the past, but so much more now.
We then of course found our second favorite thing to do in Italian cities....stop by a church. I really am just so amazed by how beautiful these churches are as we go by in them. How did they build this so many years ago and it still stands today and we cannot build a house today that is even halfway decent.
Of course I always find San Antonio every church. 
We then stumbled upon a market off the piazza. I thought it was cool to see pumpkins for sale.
It was then in looking at the google map that I realized how close we were to the University area and so I was able to walk Ronnie over to where I studied for 6 weeks. Our classroom was to the left as you walked in, right where those cars are parked.
We continued to walk and wanted to find a place for dinner. Ronnie had seen a dish earlier with beef and potatoes, this restaurant had a similar dish on the menu. So we decided on here. He had the roast beef and potatoes and I had the veal scalopini con funghi it had whipped potatoes and a little side salad. Both were delicious. Of course he ha da beer and I had a drink also reminiscent of my time in Bologna- Vodka e limon. Ronnie took a picture of the bottle so we can recreate the limon portion I have never been able to. It is not lemon juice or lemon soda, it is a lemon bitter. Maybe I can find it back in the states now and try to recreate the drink.
After dinner it was getting late and travel days are tiring for us, so off to bed it was. But it was a lovely day in Bologna!
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