Playtime, a walk through history and more amazing food. This city is charming us, and we love how easy it is to enjoy as a family.

I work some this morning. The kids play a lot, and we enjoy the morning at home (even though this Airbnb is not fantastic). The kids play different games and eventually we let them have some iPad time while I’m on a call. I think they really appreciate this down time, but I also worry about not socializing them enough.

//Stefan note: Still better than a hotel

//Stefan note: bubbly dry kind of cold red wine is pretty good

Around 12:30 we finally leave the apartment. We decide to eat lunch again at Sfoglia Rina, where we went our first meal here. The line is very long, but the wait is short enough. The staff seat us at the large communal table again, but this time we get to sit with only 2 seats and the kids playing at the kids’ table until the two seats next to us are free. We think this is such a smart move on the part of the host.

We order the meat and cheese plate again because it’s incredible and then we try the triangle pasta (amazing!) and maccheroni with sausage, which the kids love. It’s another amazing meal. The energy is a bit high, especially once the kids are done eating and no longer fascinated with the chalkboard in the corner. Otherwise, I highly recommend this spot.

//Stefan note: great spot and also you write your order down on a paper from some old wine box so less talking time

Now we walk 15-20 minutes across town to a large park that we expect hosts a playground. The kids could really use it. It’s warm and sunny. We get to the park and find it’s very beautiful, but at the same time you get the sense that the people who are here are the ones who should be at work or school or something. The first playground we see is in direct sunlight, and it’s empty. We keep walking and find another one in a great spot. Several children are already tackling it. Our kids are so excited; Oly exclaims, “Playground! Playground!”

Stefan and I find a nice spot on a bench, and we let the kids play for as long as they want. I think this is the longest we’ve stayed at a playground this entire trip. Lillian makes a friend, Julia. She’s from Poland and speaks English. They play chase with Oly as the monster. Then they swing together. They’re running all around when Lillian falls in a puddle. It has not rained in days. This is an isolated puddle in a huge park. Unbelievable. We wipe her off, but she’ll need a more thorough cleaning.

//Stefan note: back belly, very weird

We leave the playground with little resistance. The nearby cafe has a patio overlooking a pond, so we sit with some water. This also gives me the chance to rinse Lillian off better in the bathroom.

//Stefan note: really fun

As we walk through the rest of the park, we discover a small race track with electric cars! When we say that they can ride them, the kids are beside themselves. Lillian immediately picks the car that looks like a cupcake, and Oly wants the cheetah. The guy running it says Stefan should sit on the back to help Oly because he may be too young. Lillian zooms around like a maniac, hardly looking where she’s going. We have to repeatedly yell, “look, look, look!!!” Oly on the other hand is a very cautious driver. He pushes the gas in spurts, steers perfectly and looks the most serious I have ever seen him. He doesn’t need pappa’s help. He has fun, but he is too focused to smile until afterward. So funny. When they get another turn, Oly picks a “scary monster” car. This was a fun surprise for today.

When we leave the park, cross the street and once again enter the old town, I’m reminded we are in Bologna. The park could be anywhere, but these colorful buildings with porticoes could only be here.

We walk to the Museum of the History of Bologna. We enter the beautiful old building, pay the entrance fee (a bit steep at 10 Euros/person) and walk into the central atrium. The modern construction within is surprising. They’ve made efforts to save some graffiti from buildings before they were demolished, and pieces of brick wall hang from the white walls.

The museum walks through the history of the city, beginning with the Etruscan city that sat where Bologna is over 26 centuries ago. The audio guide is a must because everything is written in Italian. We actually learn a lot in this museum, about the way Romans built roads, the reason for the porticoes and that there were over 90 towers throughout the city in the middle ages. There’s a funny animated video that’s about 15 minutes long. We wouldn’t usually sit through something that long, but Oly falls asleep almost immediately. Poor baby is worn out.

We walk through the rest of the museum, realizing that we are the last here and they close in 15 minutes. Stefan carries Oly, and we want to stop somewhere for them to sit.

Only a few minutes away is the cute area with Eataly where we ate yesterday. This time we go to the Mercato di Mezzo across the street. It’s full of stalls selling different food and drink. We get a glass of Sangiovese and a Campari spritz and let Lillian indulge in the free appetizers they’ve set out. While Oly sleeps, Lillian selects a special cookie for his birthday tomorrow.

//Stefan note: Ll kept yelling at me to get more Campari spritzes at other places to get more free apps, i said okay

When Oly wakes up, we order half a pizza (3 Euros!) from one stall and two pastas from another. Stefan thinks this is the best pizza he’s had. The pastas are huge, and the kids love them. It’s the best bolognese sauce we’ve had. We pretty much shut this place down.

It’s a beautiful night, and we walk through the square on our way home. The kids ride their scooters all around the square. When we hug, they start singing, “mamma and pappa in love!” making several surrounding couples chuckle. It’s adorable.

//Stefan note: it was weird, i said chill out kids, palssons don’t do that, we just silently admire each other.

They scoot the whole way, enthusiastically singing another song, “Crossing the street, I got you!” They entertain everyone along the way.