Fat Pop

Bologna
On our previously visit to Bologna we'd arrived by train so this was our first experience of the airport which is relatively small and was a pleasantly sedate encounter. The airport is perfectly connected to the city centre by the equally tiny (and crazy) Marconi Express train on which the journey is akin to riding a rollercoaster with suitcases! Suitably entertained with a smile on your face, the Express drops you in central Bologna at the main train station.

Galvani Plaza, Bologna

We have visited the red city before which is explored and detailed in an earlier blog which can be found here. On this short visit we were under no pressure to see everything so we could just enjoy the city at a slow pace and take in the laid back university atmosphere. More importantly we could revisit some of our favourite restaurants because the food in Bologna absolutely deserves it's worldwide stella reputation.

Street food stalls, Bologna

The restaurants and bars around Via Augusto Righi and the subsequent street it turns into, Via Delle Moline are an excellent starting point for eating out in Bologna. We will always return to Trattoria dal Biassanot which is a busy, traditional red check table cloth establishment not far from the secret canal, see my previous blog for more details. The service is polite and fast, the wine is reasonably priced and the pastas are divine. Once again the Tortellini en brodo was worth the trip to Italy alone.

The two famous leaning towers of Bologna

Bologna is perfectly situated to explore the delights of central northern Italy and the towns of Parma, Ferrara, and Ravena are all easily accessible from the central train station. We opted for a day trip to Medona, home to Pavarotti, Maserati and Ferrari and some famous vinegar. 

Medona, Italy

Medona is only a thirty minute train ride from Bologna and the historic centre is an absolute delight to explore as it seems a little off the tourist route despite the draw of the famous car museums. The centre is a never-ending collection of small, beautiful squares and plazas.

Medona, Italy

It had a feel of a tranquil Bologna but there was a bustling undercurrent, perfectly epitomised by the central market which was thriving with locals enjoying the wide selection of stalls and eateries. We were very taken with the town and wholeheartedly recommend a detour if you visit Bologna.

Even the bicycles are Ferrari Red in Medona

There was still the small matter of watching Paul Weller and his band, this time in an Italian setting. The Estragon venue was a little out of town so warranted a taxi journey. But a word of warning, getting a taxi in Italy can take a while. After no success in the town centre we walked back to the station only to be faced with a huge taxi queue. But we made it to the venue just in time.

Paul Weller at the Estragon Club, Bologna

Despite it being one of the hottest gigs we've ever attended it was a good show. The journey back to the town centre involved walking across motorway slip roads and jumping on a number 25 bus. This was not ideal but something we could later smile about over a beer in the comfort of our hotel.

The Porticoes and bicycles of Bologna

One of the main reasons for returning to Bologna (apart from the pasta) was the Nightjet Sleeper train which is the brand name for Austrian Railways (ÖBB) sleeper trains that link the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Bologna is one of the main hubs so we could catch a train in the evening and cross Europe whilst we slept.

The Porticoes of Medona

Our next destination on our European Weller tour was Vienna and there was a huge attraction in jumping on a train in Italy, travelling serious miles, crossing borders and waking up in a new city in a new country.

The Nightjet departs from Bologna

We were in a sleeper car which had couple of (bunk) beds and a ensuite WC and shower. We had just enough room to fit suitcases and there was a complementary mini-bottle of fizz to welcome us on board. Chuck in a pre-ordered continental breakfast that we could enjoy whilst watching the green Austrian countryside and chocolate box houses flash by made the experience one to remember.
And then it was morning and we were in Vienna.