Italy is an amazing place, so much so that I have to have separate posts for each of the different cities that I have been to. Each city differs greatly from one another, be it in food, ambiance or the people. Often, I wonder if I am actually in the same country still.
We first landed in Bologna in the late afternoon and took a cab from the Bologna airport to the Bologna train station, where we met our friend who came from Munich to join us on this Italy trip. A cab ride costs like €17 and a bus ride €5, so if you have a group of 4 people it makes sense to cab. Then we walked around Bologna but there isn't really much to see in this town besides a few statues, two towers and piazzas.
And when you are in Italy, remember to eat one gelato a day at least! The flavors here are much more varied than other countries, the texture unparalleled and the taste is simply out of this world. They cost around €2-2.50 for cone or cup and usually come with 2 flavors minimally.
Because accommodation in Italy is so damn expensive, we tried to couchsurf where we could and we managed to get hosts in Bologna. It's my first time surfing and our host's apartment felt much nicer than the BnB places or hostels. Plus, you get to stay with a local so you can get recommendations as to where to go, places to eat, etc. And best of all, cultural exchange!
The next day we headed out to Ferrara, one of the cities that you can do day trips from Bologna. Other cities that you can consider are Parma, the place where Parmesan cheese and Parma ham comes from, or Ravenna, a small city famous for its mosaics.
By the way, do remember to validate your train tickets when in Italy. There are multiple ticket stamp machines at the train station and on the platforms. Failing to stamp your ticket prior to boarding can result in a fine of €32, which two of my friends suffered as they did not know about this. The train conductors don't give any chances despite the fact that it was our first few days, so do err on the safe side.
Ferrara is a nice town, with pretty gardens and a castle with a moat in the center of the city. We even visited a monastery that had a nun choir as well as a cemetery.
