Inside information

I have asked a native of Emilia Romagna for some inside information in the best place for some or all of us to lunch in Bologna (in case we decide to do that). She has been loud in her support for Bolognese food, and studied at the University of Bologna. The constraints are that it has to be in easy walking distance of the train station. I'll report back...

Here is what I got:

I have done some researches about the restaurants and I would suggest 4 that are very close to the train station:

 

two are very expensive in a kind of luxury environment, the other two are "trattorie" very easy going style not expensive, where you can eat the real traditional Cucina Bolognese ( a bit heavy, after dinner you need a coffee and some grappa!)

 

You can also have a look at the customers' reviews on tripadvisor.

 

EXPENSIVE ONES (they are both the Hotel's restaurant but you can eat without staying at the hotel, very historical and luxury environment):

 

RISTORANTE  I CARRACCI

http://grandhotelmajestic.duetorrihotels.com/hotel-5-stelle-lusso-bologna/i-ristoranti

RISTORANTE I PORTICI (1 Michelin star)

http://www.iporticihotel.com/il-ristorante

 

NOT TOO EXPENSIVE ONES (very close to the train station):

TRATTORIA ROMANO

http://www.trattoriaromano.it/

RISTORANTE BOLOGNESE

http://www.ristorante-bolognese.it/

Festa della Rificolona

I only just found out about this festival and we will be in Firenze on the right day! Some of us may be a little jet lagged, but apart from that it looks like a good idea!

My last booking done!

... well not counting a few train tickets etc. but all my accommodation is now booked.

I finally bit the bullet and booked the night at the Dubai Airport Hotel on the way home. It is about 10 hours from arrival to departure which is more than enough for a good night's sleep. The hotel is expensive, but if I went out and came back in again I'd lose two or three of those hours because of customs, immigration, dealing with my bike in both directions etc.

Things to be done much closer to the event

Still to be done

• Confirm the arrangements for arrival at Montecarlo (waiting on input from Marie and Julie).

Soon after we arrive in Italy

• Buy local SIMs and distribute phone numbers including to Giovanni.

Accommodation sorted

All the accommodation is now sorted (assuming that Keith and Julie book their room at Fiumicino and Marie arrives in Firenze on the Sunday)! I received the last confirmation over night.

Next web task is to update the non-cyclists page with the detailed plans. We'll need to settle on the time for J&M to arrive at Altopascio from Lucca since the nice people from Montecarlo have offered to pick them up from the station.

The numbers grow!

So now we are four! Julie and Marie are now committed to the trip as non-riding, non-driving participants. So it turns out that the best option for the majority of the days is to parallel what we on the bikes are doing, but at a more leisurely schedule given that it is typically only 30 minutes to 90 minutes travel time by bicycle.

So the wiki has been updated with a program for the non cyclists and all the hotel bookings have been increased to be 1+1+2 (except for the Novafeltria night when the two ladies will go on to Longiano). The only other significant change recommended for the non cyclists is to skip Viareggio and spend more time in Lucca.

This will work well for luggage logistics also since on many days our luggage can accompany the ladies!

Four is a much nicer number to travel with than two (no offence to Keith), so I am really pleased!

Of course there is still room for one or two more...