FLORENCE, PISA & LUCCA» 18-21 February (3 nights)
For a weird reason, I felt like Italy was becoming my home. I was getting comfortable, loving my Italian daily breakfasts and wandering the streets as the craziness passed by me. The noise, the yelling, the crazy traffic and the gigantic amount of tourists were part of my days already and I was more than in love with the life I was having.
Before I even noticed, my time in Tuscany was over, and one more Italian breakfast, a couple of strolls around the city, and obviously some more pizza, I was on my bus to Venice and saying goodbye to a city I'd loved deeply and the one I planned to go back as soon as I could.
VENICE» 21-24 February (3 nights)
I was also unlucky with the weather as it rained the entire time, and I discovered that ignoring the crowds in Venice is a mass dificulty, and that selfie sticks will make you insane. The good part is that I ate the best gelato ever and some amazing fresh pasta with pesto that made my stay worth it.
Venice made me learn that it's ok to feel alone, to accept that things sometimes don't work the way you do, that you'll not always have the luck to stay in a good hostel with great people, and that rain and cold can ruin your stay. Mainly I learned that missing someone and wanting to go back home is not a good reason for you to hop on a train and Forget why you're there in the first place. Solo travel can sometimes get to you, but you need to prove to yourself that you can do it, because you actually can!
BOLOGNA, FERRARA & RAVENNA»24-3 March (7 nights)
In Bologna I discovered the "Aperitivo" which is basically the best thing in the world! If you love food, you'll understand me on this one. It happens everynight, before dinner. You buy a drink, most people go for Spritz, and you have access to a great and diverse buffet where you can eat as many times as your stomach can take! Just for this, Bologna won my heart!
If you had exploring the streets with marron colours, to climbing up 493 steps to reach the top of a tower and get the best view over the city, to the Aperitivos, the search for the seven secrets and great company, you'll get to the conclusion that it might have been a perfect stay!
Ferrara was fun! It's a pretty small place, but with lots to give, and the fact that I explored the city by renting a bike made it all a lot more enjoyable and it allowed my tired feet to take a pause for a couple of hours. Still, my butt didn't really like the experience and I realized that I don't have biking mad skills, and I was lucky not to ran over anybody that day!
Did I say I had the best meal of my life during this week? If you never heard of Ragu, you should! Imagine a real Italian grandma spending hours cooking this meal, and you having the opportunity to taste it! I was in heaven! Best meal EVER!
I never really thanked to my ex-boyfriend's friend, who was the person that made all this possible! He found me a place to stay with his friends, he then let me stayed at his home, gave me his grandmother's Ragu to eat, and drove me to Ferrara and Ravenna, as well as exploring Bologna with me and introducing me to his friends. I can't thank him enough, and I never really told me how much I appreciated his kindness, so here it goes: thanks for the great week G!