Modena was our next planned destination. Peaceful drive down the motorway but eventually landed in the camp site from hell! Right at the end of the motorway. Ok that’s convenient. But there was a very miserable owner taking the cash in a garden shed in the middle of a field. There was a huge problem with mosquitoes, filthy toilets. The crowning glory was the cloying smell from the chemical works next door. So, although we had paid, we left. Lesson one – have a look first, even if you are knackered.
We moved to a really nice agro-tourismo which was situated at Castelvetro de Modena. Simple but clean accommodation with endless hot water and also cooking facilities. There we met Ziggy, a very welcoming dog, and the venerable coffee machine which we names The Soup Dragon cos of the frankly worrying noises made under pressure.
For a variety of reasons we didn’t get to Modena we chose to investigate Bologna. We drove to a nearby station and travelled into the city on very efficient suburban train. Bologna is impressive with wide streets and grand squares. There’s more food outlets than you could imagine. We eat at a small place in an alley off the main square.