Sunday 8th May

Happy Mother's day to all mothers. It doesn't appear to be celebrated here except  in Bolgna where Ann got a mothers day cup of tea in bed. She does everyday but this came with a special mothers day kiss.
Today was a planned big day - get the car out of the garage from hell, navigate the one way streets of Bologna to Maranello the home of the prancing horse - Ferrari. It wasn't that bad really, I've just been traumatised from the experience of getting in here last Saturday.
The "Galleria Ferrari" houses the worlds largest collection of Ferraris. The Ferrari factory, just  down the road, is off limits to 99.9% of the world's population who don't own  a Ferrari or who don't have special contacts. It is thought that some Caterpillar people may have these contacts. We were limited to the museum. (Ted, if you are still reading this blog do you have a name and number please? )
It is very commercial, a "hefty" charge to get in, expensive merchandise and food but once in it's a petrol head's dream come true. The cars are there that won world cups, the cars that won world car of the year, the one off models that were produced for the wealthy, concept models, models used in wind tunnels, plus, plus.
Some non affiliated outlets were offering test drives. I didn't take up their kind offers as I was still recovering from getting the car out of the garage. The Citroen C4 is about my limit but Ann was able to pose in front  of a couple of current models. Look at some photos and drool.
We moved on from Maranello to some of the countryside of the Province of Bologna south of Bologna and travelled around the "Parco Storico di Monte Sole". This country is so different from what we experienced in Umbria and the Marche. Plane Trees in full leaf , cherry trees in bloom and fruiting and espaliered fruit trees in rows and rows,and fields and fields of wild flanders poppies and flat country. It was only when we got down to Marzabotto on the western side of the park, that we started to get into the hills and views. It was a similar viewy type drive back along the eastern side of the park to Bologna and the carpark. Did the return drive through Bologna and into the carpark in a breeze - perhaps a Ferrari test drive tomorrow.