| Glenn's Bologna Journal #1 4-07-02 Sunday's objective is to get to Bologna and find accomodations. Otherwise we are going to take it easy today. We packed and were out of the hotel by 10 a.m.. We took the water taxi around to the train station and grabbed the 12:07 p.m. train to Bolgna for a little over 7 Euro's each. (The train system for the cost is fantastic. If you are just taking short trips within a certain country you may want to consider forgetting Eurorail passes. They are a lot more expensive and are only good for very long trips across Europe or through more than one country during one trip.) The 12:07 train worked out perfectly. The train station was packed but only for people arriving to the station. The hoopla was for the futbol game (soccer) that day with fans from each team cheering and singing songs for their team. We were leaving on a near empty train. I am sure the afternoon trains would have been plenty packed and plenty rowdy. The train ride was relaxing and uneventful. We arrived in Bologna a few minutes early (which is unusual, as the train system is very punctual). We met another couple backpacking their way around the world who were looking for accommodations as we were. We started to chat and ended up hanging out the rest of the day. First things first, accomodations. Well, it is Sunday, so the tourist office in the train station is closed and we would have to go the the town center to obtain information. O.K. We grabbed a bus into town center, found information, and gathered information about places to stay for the night. The other couple had called ahead to the youth hostel so they knew there were rooms available there. We called a few places within the town center but all of the less expensive places did not have any rooms available. So, off we went to the Hostel which was only a "few" kilometers out of town. Of course, on Sunday, the closest bus takes you within 15 minute walk of the hostel. The bus took us way out of town and the 15 minute walk seemed longer but we made it. The dormitory rooms are nice but this is a new site and all of the capabilities they proclaim to have do not exist as of yet. Even so, at 12 Euro's per person per night, can you complain? Tonight we wanted to stay in and relax. |
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| The Piazza Maggiore of Bologna, lined with palazzos. Note the clock tower on the right, in the building which now houses city hall |