Ferrari was meant to be, Bologna is food heaven!!

As   As usual I was up early before my alarm, than the natural Italy wake up of a 7:30am church bells ring, alarm next….time to get up, a full travel day awaits. I take out our last garbage bag, to the boat I go :-). I made a delicious breakfast creation as we are timely out of groceries…..a piece of toast with salami and a hard boiled egg with cheese. Last egg in the house, lol. Irene comes to check us out and escort us to our water taxi. What a gem she is, a Venetian native -she knows every local on the street that we pass and says the charming Italian greetings. We wait in the cold brisk sunny fresh air on the water for this boat. We board our last transfer on water in Venice. Traveling along the freeway of the sea…..serious morning traffic of boats, Gondalas, ferry’s, garbage boats etc. Its morning and these waterways are packed. We exit at the station. I run up the steps to purchase our tickets while they guard the luggage. Sydney is on guard after hearing all the France details in last nights reading 🙂 We make our way back to the same Cafe as the other day to have a morning coffee and pastries before boarding the train. We recognize the same worker and enjoy some familiarity.

We board the train to Bologna. I read yesterday’s blog entry to all and then we do the train relaxation. Sydney and Tracy sleep while Tabby and I read our books. Two peas in a pod, we really are a team. Tabby has become my shadow and I love it! I am reading the memoir written by a Jewish Uber driver I recently had in LA. It has gotten super interesting and I’m excited to finish it on the plane ride home. It’s called “A rebel and the Rabbis son”, if your interested, by Izzy Echenstein. In any case I stare out the window in between to notice the country side of Italy. Many vineyards, mountains, greenery, villas, cypress trees,  factories, and freeways with real life taking place in this magical romantic country.

We arrive to the Bologna Centrale train station, exit and get on the taxi line. This is a real city, every car is fancy. Our taxi is a Jaguar, the 5 min ride was worth it as we have lots of luggage. It’s a 10 min walk, we are staying in the BEST location. Thank you to Tracy Cohen as I am seriously living like a princess in a spoiled life, feeling grateful beyond belief. Get ready for the funny part……maybe embarrassing to a point.

We arrive at our 5 star hotel, the room is not ready and we need to store luggage and leave. Problem is I need to change and we all need to regroup. In this white pristine lobby, where I am typing this entry right now in peace and quiet we transform to the Griswold family from Vacation. We have 9 bags, including backs etc to check in to leave behind. They give us a look when we say the number 9. I undo my entire suitcase in the middle of lobby to change from boots to sneakers, sweaters to short sleeves etc, you get the picture. Again another had to be there moment.

We exit hotel to venture to train station again to make Ferrari happen. We are unsure how it will unfold but are determined and trusting of the Universe to take the lead. On our way we stop at a pizza joint for a snack. OMG……best pizza slice ever. Julie, this would be your spot. A thin NYC style, crispy on the bottom, perfect amount of cheese and sauce. T and me share mushroom, girls get cheese, we  get a Coke. The most delish and cheapest lunch yet. We are off to our day in Modena to start. We take the train, only 20 min to get to the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari. These trains in Bologna all have graffiti art on the sides, very cool as we are learning it’s an artsy city. We are delayed 10 min that it leaves us time to share a yummy Oreo Italian brand candy bar.  I have not packed a jacket and the Cohen ladies have many. Today I got to borrow the pink velvety one and feel like a pink lady from the movie “Grease”. We learn on the train from Tracy googling that there is actually some Jewish history in this town. We land, and walk to his home. In Modena is the Casa that he sold at age 20 to purchase his first race car. We buy a bus ticket to Maranello and are just in time as the bus leaves in 30 seconds. Talk about the universe being in charge. 😇 Board the bus for a real drive through a true Italian industrial area. Many factories and vineyards are passed. We play the game, I’m going on a picnic and I’m bring A apples, B Bannanas, c Cats, etc…..other crying babies are on this bus so we are not obnoxious, lol ….As we enter the area you see the HUGE factories where these sexy sleek cars are created. Each one is designed by hand. Options to select for every detail on a car you can imagine, truly a science and piece of art.

We approach Car Heaven…..I immediately have Jonathan and the Hassan boys on my brain. This is like steroids and a serious drug high for all men. I think we were the only all girl 4some in sight all day. This place was where one could hang out to meet a husband. I seriously have never seen SO much testerone in one place and high quality!!! 🙂 We enter the Museum, walk through the history of engines and car models from the 1950’s. We see so many different models, take photos and stare away. It is truly a masterpiece moment to be in Italy at this place. There is a formula 1 stimulator area as you exit, where many have paid 25 euros for 7 min in this similuator. I video taped for those interested. Three huge TV screens are in front of them while pretending to drive this race car down a track. Tracy is a car finatic and loving the day. We walk outside and cross the parking lot to the test drive area. We watch European grown fancy men act like excited little boys, they are paying for a 7 min, 30 min, or 60 min test drive. We watch them take off down the road with a driver by there side. I get the thrill and excitement but, it’s crazy how many men in suits are here doing this activity. Very cool to observe. We pose and take many photos. We wait for the bus to take us back to Modena so we can wander the house museum. It’s dedicated to the woman of Ferrari. Did you know Beyoncé, Marilyn Monroe, and Donna Karen drive Ferrari’s? I personally like the old fashioned sedan models better than the bat man mobile looking models from today. As we awaited the bus we met a lovely couple from San Fran, they had visited the Lamborghini factory yesterday. They shared how much they liked it better as you tour the assembly factory and get a better understanding why these cars start at a base price of 200 K. The wife said seeing it makes it worth it in her mind. No car or model is the same as every option is hand picked. She stated that there are 10 different shades of black paint, crazy!! We also saw the Maserati factory on our drive, I had no idea so many of these luxurious cars are made here in Italy. Wowee…..

Like clock work we make our way back via an old cheap train, tickets were only 4 euros each, unsure why. We chat it up and finally get to check in to our room. Okay……can you say glorious heaven! We had booked a connecting family room and thought it was just one room that slept 4. It’s like another apartment yet in a luxurious hotel, has 2 bathrooms again, an elliptical machine, high ceilings, fancy materialed ceilings, radio playing when you walk in, turn down chocolate service, you get the picture. We rest up and change for dinner. We had made a reservation to a restaurant Tracy read about in Vogue Magazine, Franco Rossi. My dad would have loved this experience. Actually my entire family of foodies would have been drooling. We walked down the main road which we are staying. It’s misty and cold, all finally dressed up as this is a city like a mix between Florence and Rome to me so far. We wander passed incredible stores until we enter our gastronomical restaurant.

T and I shared salted beef, mozzarella, with tomatoes, grilled sea bass, and a pasta dish, and tortellini ebrodo soup. I know pigs…oink! Tabby had the soup and Sydney raviolis. We all shared Tirimusa and had a bottle of wine. Omg…..a true dining experience that made up for any frozen food we may have eaten in Venice. We met Franco Rossi himself, a silver hair Italian gentleman. While, people watching we had some food envy from our table next doors creamy pasta with truffles. I really wanted to order it after dessert but got shot down by all the girls. I have embarrassed them enough with the ice in my wine which is a comical thing with them, lol

We walk home, after my few glasses of wine I’m a little tipsy and photo bombed these asian guys photo. They thought we were so funny. They kept laughing and saying thank you. Lol, It was a wonderful end to a relaxing train adventure filled day.

Our free walking tour for tomorrow was canceled that we have signed up for a food walking tour. In the city of food let’s hope there is a lot of walking. I need it, geez Louise! I’m headed upstairs to snuggle into bed like a princess. Until I write from Milan tomorrow……one more full day is left on this dreamy escape.

Sweet dreams…..love Dora

laurie sue xo xo 🙂

pS…. lots of photos as I finally had time to upload.