The last stop on our Italian trip was Bologna, where we had quite a strange experience. We’d been really looking forward to a few leisurely days to finish the trip, with nothing big scheduled and the potential for a slower pace.  However, our airbnb host turned out to be such a nightmare that we spent most of our time in hiding and panicking about our next encounter.

We arrived at lunch time and got stuck being talked at for about 30 minutes before we managed to create a diversion and escape, by which time I was weak with hunger.  So I was very happy to stagger into nearby Bio BO for some much-needed sustenance.

It’s mostly a sandwich place, but I’d had my fill of sandwiches by this point.  So I ordered this Viennese salad:  hotdog sausages, tomatoes and butter beans.  It’s not a combination I would have thought of myself, but it was good and filling.

Dr HH had the farinata, after loving it in Radicetonda in Milan.  He said it was fine, but needed more seasoning – as did the spinach and beans, which were totally unseasoned.  We both loved the bread on the side though.

This place is fine for an emergency. It does serve meat, but there are lots of labelled vegan options, and the staff were really helpful.  If only it had solved my airbnb problem too!  Between our very needy host and the intense heat, our stay in Bologna was quite draining and it wasn’t one of my favourite locations on holiday.

However, I was a big fan of all the porticos and the sunset coloured buildings, and I think a visit in the spring (with a stay in a hotel) might completely change my mind about the place!  And fear not, there is better food to come!