Siena 2025 - Day 1

Prologue

In the past, one prepared for a vacation by studying road maps, but nowadays one can use their GPS. However, as time is moving so quickly, especially in this area, I wanted to update the GPS in my 2017 VW. So, I took out the SD card and searched for or purchased an SD card reader. Then, of course, I logged in to VW and downloaded gigabyte-sized files, which I then couldn't unpack or transfer to the SD card.

Okay, we will do it like in the old days. The direction is generally known, the visual recognition of traffic signs and wayfinding still works on the old 69 computer, and in an emergency, we can always refer to the old GPS.

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 – Day 1

A long farewell from Mom and Olli, and at 7:15 AM we set off heading south. The weather is cloudy, and Lisa drives calmly and thoughtfully until we reach Villach, where the tire pressure indicator lights up. Fill the air, let out some water, refuel, and Lisa drives perfectly almost to Udine. The weather is now misty and oppressive, but what's important is:

“Un caffè, per favore! Grazie!”

It is pitch black near Padua, but we drive down below and only a few raindrops are supposed to accompany us on this day. After parking the car in a reserved spot at the Polyclinic, we set off on foot through the arcades into the beautiful city of Bologna.

And suddenly we stand before the Leaning Tower of Bologna from 1109 – Torre Garisenda. It hardly attracts attention because it stands in the densely built city alongside its twin tower Torre Asinelli, but it is just as tilted (4° inclination) as the tower in Pisa. In any case, the tower - and the surrounding square - are closed and set to be renovated.

Since we are already hungry, we invade a bookstore where a hidden Eataly restaurant is located. Happy and recharged, we roam over to Piazza Maggiore to Brandy Melville (because there isn't one in Siena) and to the market quarter (Quadrilatero) to the Ceccarelli Delicatessen (mentioned in the song “Bologna” by Wanda) and buy what we can carry.

We enjoy excellent gelato and stroll through San Stefano and the small alleys back to the parking garage (Parclick, Spanish app, works flawlessly).

We drive on the autostrada, passing Imola and Forli, to our stopover – the Villa Letizia in San Vito Rimini. Highly recommended, very nice and friendly, and using Google Translate, we receive many restaurant tips from the proprietor, whose daughter is the namesake of the villa.

It’s getting dusk, so it's ideal for sticking toes in the sand and sand in the bottle for Petra at the beach of Rimini. In the meantime, we have parked the car perfectly Italian-style (that is, semi-illegally) in Via Gibuti. As we walk through the streets near the beach along hotels and restaurants, it becomes clear to us again: we made the right choice with the villa a bit outside of town.

On the way home, we stop at the pre-selected fish restaurant “La Fortezza” and have an excellent and ample meal.