Three Ferries to Greece or Two Innocents Abroad In A Honda Accord

Tuesday 14th November 2006

We had breakfast and then sought directions as to how to get out of the hotel and on to the road to Bologna.  We found our way onto the road which was free flowing and we were pitying the drivers on the other side of the road in a massive traffic jam.  We then drove into the back of a massive traffic jam ourselves which stretched for miles.  When we eventually reached the cause of the problem there was an articulated lorry which had shed its load of paper rolls into the outside lane.  It was just like the A1 in England except this was the A1 in Italy.

Eventually got onto endless miles of very boring straight motorway with convoy upon convoy of lorries in the inside lane.  We passed through different regions of Italy but all basically flat agricultural land with occasional areas of vines and industrial complexes outside the major cities of Piacenza, Modena, Parma, etc.  So far we had Parma ham, Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Parmesan cheese and we had passed through all the regions in which they are produced.

We needed some lunch so we stopped off at an Autogrill motorway restaurant which bore no relationship to our motorway service stations.  In the fast food area downstairs they had baguettes, rolls, pizzas, etc. which people were eating while standing next to tall round tables and talking on their mobile phones.  Upstairs there was a sit down restaurant called "Ciao" which was a full-on smash and grab with various areas serving salads, pasta dishes (6-8 different) plus meat cooked to order (chops and steaks).  There was wine in bottles or on draught and as much oil, vinegars and other condiments as you could wish for.We opted for a big mixed salad, risotto, pasta and a small bottle of Pinot Grigio.  Excellent value at 12 euro and excellent quality with very quick service.

Leaving the services we had more miles of endless straight boring motorway with endless miles of lorries, until we got to Bologna where there was another cock up on the hotel front!  We took the wrong turn off the correct junction and ended up heading into the wrong part of Bologna.  Realising or mistake we turned around to find a Holiday Inn.  Dave nipped in to reception and noticed the room rates were about 200 euro per night.  Ouch.  We headed along the road and found the A13/A14 to Padova and Ancona and after a few miles eventually found the right turn off.

Hallelujah, after two roundabouts we were at the Fiera Bologna Holiday Inn Express.  We had a smoking room with a double bed and greakfast which was 93 euro and a lot less than the other Holiday Inn.  This was by far the best room yet with a lovely bed and large shower but the downside was the residual smell of smoke in the room.  The bar and restaurant were both open so we had a drink first and then ordered a meal.  After a salad starter which was enourmous Gerry ordered worms in broth for her main course and Dave had seafood risotto.  The food was excellent but the star of the show was a bottle of Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Maestri 2005 red which was superb.  We had another drink in the bar then headed for bed.