Being tourists 1: Bologna

Last week we took a break from trying to be Italians and instead acted like tourists for a change. We met our friend Valerie in Bologna, about an hour from here, and rented an Airbnb apartment for a few days. In addition to exploring a little of Bologna, that wonderful city, we took a train to Ferrara one day and Faenza the next.

The apartment had the air of being someone's grandma's house. Most Airbnbs these days feel like Ikea showrooms, but this place, while beautifully kept up and very clean, felt like it had been preserved under glass for the last fifty-plus years.

Danny putting on his shoes and getting ready for another long, long walk.

It was a fourth-floor walk-up (third floor in Italian), which meant we had some lovely views, as well as cool breezes when night fell. (Which was a good thing, since temperatures were in the high 80s during the day all week there.)

There was at least one more floor above us. I was very taken with this dusty but determined houseplant on the landing above ours.

We ate very well in Bologna, especially at Da Cesari, where we first went some thirty years ago and which we stumbled upon again not far from our rental apartment. Our serious tourist-ing was reserved for Ferrara and Faenza, however.

(To be continued.)