We have been having a break from the computer, but are back now with our final post from Italy...
Our time in Italy was absolutely magnificent including our final days spent in the slightly less known province of Emilia-Romagna, just to the north of Tuscany and Umbria. Despite being lesser known it is still home to delicious foods (including Parma the home of Parma ham and Parmesan... could it get any better!??!), beautiful nature and some spectacular cities.
Ferrera was a highlight for both of us, for very different reasons. While I loved the UNESCO listed city filled with immaculately preserved buildings and incredibly characteristic and colourful buildings through the streets. Ash on the other hand was impressed by the cycling city. With a thirty percent modal share, Ferrara is proud of a long standing tradition of cycling transport with the elderly Italians leading in style, there is also a total traffic ban in the old town - the only exception being residents. Consequently we saw a lot of beautiful vintage bikes and locals going about all sorts of daily activities on their bikes.
Inspired by all this cycling we once more hired bicycles and headed for the countryside. Persuaded by the guarantee of a flat easy and picturesque ride I eventually overlooked my dislike of cycling and agreed so with our rental city bikes (no gears and ridiculously heavy) we made our way out of the city. A minor detour and we were on the path, and back on plan, even possibly enjoying ourselves. Little did we know what awaited us. As we cruised along the canal looking across golden fields we briefly thought ourselves to be in the Netherlands not Italy. However, soon all enjoying of the countryside was destroyed as the path wound through a cute country town and onto a pike road. Exposed to the insane wind that had picked up, it quickly became a miserable exercise that has since traumatised me further making it ever less likely for me to take up this sport...
From Italy we took the train up to Paris where we spent a thoroughly delightful month catching up with friends and family, wandering the streets, eating magnificent treats, enjoying museums and a touch of shopping. Some snaps to come!
There was a lot of bicycle eye candy about the streets of Ferrara and some seriously entertaining activities undertaken in unison with cycling (the granny below with cigarette in hand for instance...
Above. On the phone and family transportation, while below the police cycle force keep the streets safe.
Above. Off to pick up his date? And doggy cycling, the easy way to burn your puppy's energy.
Below. One or two snaps from our cycling adventure
