This time 2 years ago: June 7th, 2007 Thursday 9:45am
Cycle Europe Day 23: Train to Bologna.
I don’t want to be too critical but this morning confirms that Rome is the worst place of my trip so far. Meagre breakfast as usual. Went to transport my bike upstairs from the basement. Found out that my Kryptonite cable lock had cut marks, which was most likely from the previous day when I chained it to a bedpost that seemed unused. Next morning there was a notice saying that they needed the bed and I should have keep my bicycle outside. I chained it to a chair this time but still left it inside. I didn’t see the scratch marks yesterday. If I had, I would have made even more noise and try to get a refund. But I only saw it today and I had a train to catch to I left it.
Went to the reception to where the girl was more concerned talking to another guy about probably a broken computer than serving a customer. Politely I asked to check out before I asked her if she knew who wrote that notice. I explained that another receptionist said I could put my bicycle downstairs so I chained it to the bed when there should have been a cycle store. She said I shouldn’t have but I replied that still it was wrong on their part or the film crew that was filming there to attempt to cut my cable lock. I left with a final remark saying at the end of the day, the lock ‘only’ cost €50 but it was still wrong on their part when you put your customers last on your priority.
I always regret when I don’t handle situations good enough. I know it wasn’t the girl’s fault and I should have apologised to her for treating it like it was her fault. Maybe it was because she treated me badly that I sort of took revenge. Now I’m in the wrong again. Crap. I didn’t buy the lock but it did come with the bike so…
Should I send a proper complaint and an apology to the girl? Wait for the manager till 8:30am when I had a 9:14am train to catch? 30 minutes enough for me to get to train station? I should try to make this right in an e-mail.
Rome is expensive to stay in and to see sights. The Italian people at the hostel receptions at Rome and Firenze do not place customers first and they treat us like ’sausages’ (like D&A Opticians). Best place in Italy so far is Finale Ligure and it’s only because it’s close to France. Toilets in Rome’s Youth Hostel have no seats so you have to squat to shit. Shitty. Another statistic: Worst Value For Money Hostel: Roma!
(12 hours later.)
Had to change trains not only at Firenze SMN but also at Prato to get to Bologna. Once you’re on the streets, there are sign boards to guide you to the hostel itself so it’s already giving a good impression. There’s even a McD’s and Decathlon nearby so I got another spare tube. Nice purpose-built hostel. Plenty of plugs unlike Rome’s 70-year-old building that didn’t have the wirings. Large shower area and temperature control water. They say there’s continental breakfast here. We’ll see what it means.
Asked the friendly/helpful receptionist where I could get good ’spaghetti al ragu’ and lasagna. She kindly pointed 2 places on the map for me to find. One was only going to open at 8pm, an hour later, so I went to Trattoria Bertini and had Tagliatele alla Bolognese and Lasagna al Fruno (baked lasagna). The Bolognese noodles was wonderful. Full of flavour and cheese and mince meat. The lasagna was a bit strange but hey, that’s how the Bolognese people do it. The pasta was greenish but the rest was meat and cheese. Nice. €2 service + €6.50 x 2 + €1 tip = €16.
Pass by some Bologna sights as well the first university and another leaning tower. Definitely worth a comeback trip. Viva Bologna!!!
Day 23 Accounts
Spare Tube €3.00
Dinner €16.00
Hostel €15.50
Total €34.50