I arrived here in the city on Friday just after noon after 7 hours of travelling from France.
The hotel is amazing! Georgia Hardy tours certainly knows what they are doing when they book hotels.
Here is the lobby . . .
The front desk staff told me that the bus driver had just called in and they were outside of Florence. By my calculations they'd be about 3 hours.
I got settled, showered away the travel, and headed out for lunch.
I found this amazing trattoria and sat outside enjoying the quaint alley.
For my started I had Culatello di Zibello which is the king of cured meats, melon, and a wedge of parmigiano.
I know it will shock some but I did not do all three courses (4 if one includes dolci). I ordered tortelloni (pasta stuffed with ricotta and spinach) for my main, It was served in my favourite butter and sage sauce.
Molto buono!
I passed on dessert.
It had rained during lunch, happily when I was ready to set out again it had stopped! I promptly got lost but managed to find Venchi where I regrouped for some of their famous chocolate gelato.
Imagine spending time to take a picture and allowing some of that prescious gelato to melt!
Porca Miseria!
When I arrived back at the hotel (no mean feat when one sets out without the
map) I asked if they had heard from the group.
The driver had just called - they were about 10 minutes away. I got a glass
of wine from the bar and awaited their arrival.
La fase successiva l'avventura en Italia è iniziata!
Exploring is the best part of a vacation. Perhaps when I have found all of the gelato in Italy I will start on France.
Posted by: bellini | July 10, 2012 at 05:34 AM
Jerry, I can't believe you are staying at my beloved Corona D'Oro!!!
I first stayed there in 1991 and have stayed there about 20 times since! My home away from home in Bologna!
Posted by: Susie L | July 10, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Gorgeous hotel...and your meal looks fabulous...always fun to see and hear about it all...you are so kind to share it always.
Posted by: Kayte | July 10, 2012 at 12:16 PM
bellini - I haven't covered much of Italy but am feeling the pull to France . . .
I LOVED the hotel Susie - I can see why you stay there so often.
Both were amazing Kayte - the joys of traveling . . .
Posted by: JDeQ | July 29, 2012 at 02:45 PM