The joys of travel...

Well, what a day. A three hour trip turned into a 18 hour saga. We left home at 4am, and got to our holiday home at 10pm...

It went wrong at Edinburgh airport, and I don’t mean when my walking stick flagged up some 'substance' and got the security staff all excited. I was pulled aside and 'interviewed'.
'What hobbies do you have?'
'What has that got to do with anything?'
'If, say, you were a gardener, you might have some fertiliser on it, for example.'

As we boarded, and a nice man was carrying my case down the stairs, I got called back. JR was being refused on the flight! She did not have the necessary wee stamp, as she's not an EU citizen. But we had been waved on by person in a hi-viz jacket when we came in.

The next flight (to Bologna) was on Monday! But we could fly to Bergamo or Venice, Bergamo leaving hours earlier. Train to Milan, then train to Bologna (our destination). Easy peasy. But we were not charged for our missed flight or for the new flight (which we were on our last holiday...)

We had the misfortune to be sat SEATED beside a load of very noisy people, who proceeded to drink the bar dry. One bill I heard, for two, was £68. And they kept coming round to serve them. When they put their cell phone music up loud with no comment from the stewards, I shouted across to kindly put it off. They were horrible, but the other half of their group up the back was even worse. A lady came forward to complain. I spoke to her afterwards, and she was most distressed (turns out I worked with her years ago,). I will be writing to Mr O'Leary..

But Bergamo was miles from Milan! When we eventually got to Milan railway station, all the tickets to Bologna were SOLD OUT! (This being Friday evening).

But not to worry, we could take the train to Reggio Emilia, change trains, and then a 20 minute trip to Bologna. That will be €200 please. And €38 for the short trip. Mind you, we were in a wee plush compartment by ourselves, with a charming waiter to bring us nibbles and coffee. Though there was no milk to be had.

She did not tell us that it was a two hour wait at Reggio Emilia (it is actually a spectacular building) and that it is very far from the town. But we realised that this train was going to Bologna, and a kind traveller who helped us get to the correct train told us to ask the ticket inspector, which we did. She was most helpful, and quite horrified that we should have to wait in Reggio. We could stand in the corridor. Then they found us seats.

All this time I’d been in contact during the day with our host, Salvatore. The arrival times kept changing, and got later and later, poor man. He was meeting us to give us the key. Even when we got to Bologna, and I informed him we were 'just about to get a taxi', then I had to inform him that there was a very long queue. And NO taxis. We were very pleased to see each other eventually!

We managed to pop out for a wander and a wine. It's a very lovely city, and we’re right in the old town. The flat is clean and quiet and has a lift!

The highlight of the day was the five minutes I spent on the massage chair at Edinburgh airport - it went downhill after that!

But let the holiday begin!