A Stop in Bologna (updated with photographs)

Last week, Sharon, Michael, and I trekked up to Verona to meet Jim; our final objective and reason for going was to see Aida in the Roman Arena! This is a long-term dream of mine, and we were delighted that Michael's parents were available to accompany us.

On the way up, though, our train had an hour's layover in Bologna. Having never been in the city itself despite having driven around it multiple times and gone through it via train on various trips, we thought it a good idea to see something other than a bunch of platforms.

The front of the gate; note the rather large cannonballs

Michael prayed to his Google God, and came up with a few nearby sights; as it happened, they were directly across the street. We got to see a remaining Medieval gate to the city and a 19th-century extravaganza of steps (the Scalinata del Pincio) to a public park dating to the 1600s

The gate!

From the top of the stairs

 
On the way back to the train station, we saw a little market where we (I) bought cherries. Nearly the size of small plums, they were a juicy treat.

And then back into the train station to find ourselves in Verona, city of Romeo and Juliet!

Love,

Alexandra