FERRARA

By now we have mastered our train riding skills and our trip to Ferrara would be a piece of cake, even after having to transfer trains three times along the way. Our professor, Diane Gherardo who is a world famous architecture historian, had arranged for us to stay in a convent while we were in Ferrara. We met our professor at San Girolamo dei Gesuati, got settled in our rooms and headed to the bike rental shop.
The first order of business for the day was to take a bike tour around the original city walls that enclosed Ferrara. One of our professors’ friends has lived her whole life in Ferrara, so she was our designated tour guide for the rest of the evening. She was a very intelligent lady who has her PhD in English Literature, but yet her English was very poor. This time our bikes were more suited for off road riding, wheelies and big skids- which might explain why a few of the bikes were returned in multiple pieces. We had rented our bikes for two days, so once we were finished with the tour we were ready to go explore the city on two wheels.








As usual tradition in each city we visit, four of us went and bought some wine, cheese and bread. We rode along the top of the wall until we found a nice place to sit and enjoy the view of the city along with our wine. After our wine we decided to do some tree climbing, well because trees are meant to be climbed. We were ready to head to dinner, but after the long day of off-road riding Olen’s bike was in need of a little TLC. His chain fell off and managed to get wedged and tangled in between the sprocket and the frame, making it almost impossible to get out. It took three of us about an hour of pulling, kicking and cursing before we were able to get the chain freed and back on the sprocket (see picture of greasy hands).















The convent where we were staying also had a nice restaurant which offered a four course meal for only 13 Euro’s- and it turned out to be one of the best dinners I have enjoyed during my time in Italy thus far.

After dinner it was time to hop back on the bikes and start looking for the local hangouts. We managed to find a few bars and had a good time on our bikes along the way. We really hit the jackpot as we were riding through a park and happened to find a 150 foot zip-line. A thick fog had rolled in after the sunset, making taking pictures difficult because the flash would bounce off of the fog. I was standing at the end of the zip-line taking pictures of people as they came whizzing along and I think I captured a few funny poses. In the dark night and thick fog I was unable to see who was coming down the line until my flash went off, so I got a few surprises as the photographer, including a few naked zip-liners. I didn’t include the pictures in my blog, thankfully, but I think they will serve as good blackmail if the situation ever arises.

Ryan

Pat

Aren

Nick

Loren

Olen--showing his good side.

Early the next morning we met our professor again outside of Palazzo dei Diamante for a continuation of our Ferrara tour. We were able to see some of the important buildings of the Renaissance, including Palazzo Schifanoia, Cattedrale, and Casa Romei.

Later that night, all sixteen of us managed to cram into a tiny pizzeria for dinner, before heading out to the bars again. This time we decided to explore the city by foot and when we got lost later that night (actually early morning), it made finding the convent much more difficult without our bikes.