Old Biddy on a Bike

Old Biddy on a Bike Glad to have your company.

Happily retired and taking time to cycle, walk, have mini adventures and travel the world slowly on a pension and writing my diary/blog to read in my later years.

07/06/2026

Republic Day and the practice run went perfectly.

First stop Bologna but then on to the beautiful small city of Città di Castello, the Umbrian base for the first week. It...
07/06/2026

First stop Bologna but then on to the beautiful small city of Città di Castello, the Umbrian base for the first week. It is not a big tourist destination and most visitors are traveling through, sometimes on foot as part of the Way of St Francis. It has a wonderful sense of a small town community where it feels safe to wander alone even in the evenings. Three or more generations of families are around, walking and eating together and it can go from empty streets to buzzing busy outside restaurants in a few hours. The first day was Republic day so the entertainment in the afternoon was watching the firefighters practice their technique of unfurling a flag while abseiling down a medieval tower closed to the public since the last earthquake. Welcome to Italy. But what about that weather forecast…

Heading to Italy on my travels again and not ready to trust BA.Long story: I know on the scale of life’s problems this i...
07/06/2026

Heading to Italy on my travels again and not ready to trust BA.
Long story: I know on the scale of life’s problems this is at the very bottom but it still irritated me. After the awful baggage issues and delays last time about 2 weeks ago I heard there was an even worst day when 20,000 bags were delayed and separated from their owners and people flew off and had whole holidays without luggage. Also the last group to do this holiday all arrived to find the whole plane’s luggage hadn’t been loaded. So, even though I had a hold bag booked, I decided to only take a cabin bag and small backpack. Sod’s Law kicked in and I was one of the randomly chosen passengers to have the cabin bag put in the hold. The manager was having none of my objections and informed me I could be refused boarding if I didn’t comply as it was part of their terms and conditions. I repacked between my bags to make sure I had my notes, maps, leaflets and group tickets but held my ground and he offered to check when the plane was boarded. Eventually it turned out a lot of people didn’t turn up for the flight (?) so he tore the label off and let me get on with my bags. Phew! There were loads of spaces for maybe a dozen more bags. So annoyed but grateful. And so more thought has to go into packing and what goes where as this is increasingly an issue.

Another lovely way to relax and chill was a few days dog sitting. Being in another house removes any guilt because I don...
01/06/2026

Another lovely way to relax and chill was a few days dog sitting. Being in another house removes any guilt because I don’t feel I should be catching up with my own household stuff. And he was lovely company and loves a good walk so a perfect companion.

After I left Bologna I flew into that mess at Heathrow and got home a day late and still waiting on the compensation! Si...
01/06/2026

After I left Bologna I flew into that mess at Heathrow and got home a day late and still waiting on the compensation! Since then I have been catching up on sleep, good food, the camera club, bridge, mahjong, the garden, friends over fish and chips and failing to keep up with the book club. Soon be time to go again…

Last day in Bologna. Pure luck had me in the right place at the time and this was the week La Madonna of San Luca came d...
01/06/2026

Last day in Bologna. Pure luck had me in the right place at the time and this was the week La Madonna of San Luca came down to stay in Bologna.
Long version: She is a highly revered painted Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary and Child, housed at the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca (did I mention I walked up there…). Tradition claims it was painted from life by St. Luke the Evangelist. A popular legend claims it was brought from Hagia Sophia in Constantinople to Bologna by an 11th-century Greek hermit. Don’t you just love those helpful Greek hermits?
In 1433, heavy spring rains threatened to destroy the local harvest. The citizens brought the icon down into the city, and the rain ceased. This sparked an annual tradition of carrying the icon down into Bologna for a week-long procession and this was why they built the 666 arches of the longest portico in the world, connecting the city gate (Porta Saragozza) to the hilltop sanctuary and is, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Archbishop and Bishop of Bologna is Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi. Appointed by Pope Francis in 2015, he is highly regarded for his diplomatic efforts in international peace missions. Time for me to leave too.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZCkiSvoWHC/?igsh=MXhidTJ6eHI1MTd5YQ==

Maybe day 13? A visit to the sunny colourful quirky city of Modena to stock up on delicious Balsamic Vinegar. This is wh...
28/05/2026

Maybe day 13? A visit to the sunny colourful quirky city of Modena to stock up on delicious Balsamic Vinegar. This is why I brought the big case!

And a final few from Ravenna. Such a beautiful place to wander round and enjoy a day. Must stay longer sometime. Basilic...
26/05/2026

And a final few from Ravenna. Such a beautiful place to wander round and enjoy a day. Must stay longer sometime.
Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Battistero Neoniano (o degli Ortodossi) and a wonderful tip from our guide to go to Basilica of Saint Francis and see the flooded crypto with its resident goldfish

Ravenna. Basilica San Vitale is one of the most celebrated Byzantine monuments in the world. Easy to see why. But perhap...
25/05/2026

Ravenna. Basilica San Vitale is one of the most celebrated Byzantine monuments in the world. Easy to see why.
But perhaps the website author did get a little carried away.
“Don’t think that San Vitale is famous all over the world because Ravenna has a little exaggerated with the tourist promotion. No. Not at all. To enter San Vitale is a kind of mystical experience for everyone.
You don’t only visit San Vitale, you are carried out by the church.
You breath it, you look at it, you listen to San Vitale, the ancient Basilica inebriates you, wraps and cradles you.
Getting out of San Vitale is not getting out of a church, is like being torn from a mother’s womb. You have to close your eyes because the light blinds (even if it’s not sunny), the voices deafen (even if people are not there), the world pushes and impacts. When you cross the threshold of San Vitale again outward, you feel refreshed in the soul, aware of having visited a place unique in the world.” Phew!



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