Settling In

This has been a pretty slow week for us.  Little Robbie left on Tuesday morning, so we've been getting used to a new, quieter "normal".  We're still in the hotel, and tend to get a little stir-crazy just sitting there all day, so we've tried to be out and about, even if it's just to hang out in the piazza and watch people or eat gelato (which, unfortunately, Michael started having adverse reactions to and isn't allowed to participate anymore).  On Tuesday we went to our welcome dinner with the group and since it was only 2 miles away (and we don't have a car yet) we decided to walk.  It was a nice walk along a part of the wall we hadn't been on before.  We also saw the steeple of a church here in Ferrara which tilts like the leaning tower of Pisa. Apparently there are some flaws in the Italian architecture?  There are also earthquakes here semi-often, so maybe it got knocked off kilter during one of those.

The wall

The path along the wall

The leaning tower in Ferrara

We spent a few nights just sitting out on a wall in the main piazza where the cathedral is.  There are tons of people out there.  Young students, families, and seniors all riding their bikes around town to dinner or to sit somewhere and have coffee.

 Picking the cathedral statue's nose

 Playing in the square

Dinner!

Yesterday we did more walking along the wall (since we found a nice spot on our way to dinner Tuesday). Michael has taken to yelling all the time. Not because he's upset about anything, but just because he likes to make noise.  We walked for about an hour and a half, and he yelled for probably 75% of it.  Strange kid.

This morning we finally made it out to check out one of the markets in the piazza.  They have them every Monday and Friday morning and there is tent after tent of shoes, clothes, jewelry, and household items.  We got another pair of shoes for Michael, a dress and scarf for me, and some sunglasses for Robbie.

A view of the market

Our hotel rents bikes at a fairly reasonable rate, so today we decided to bike around the wall. I thought I was being so smart getting the baby seat for our bikes before we came here, but in Italy, everyone has them.  The hotel even had one we could get for free with the bikes for Michael.  It sits on the back of the bike whereas mine is for the front, but he loved it anyway. I think it was more exciting for him to watch things go by a little faster than in the stroller.  Plus, there were shadows to look at, and he had to constantly check behind him to make sure I was still there.  We made it all the way around the wall (about 6 miles) and he didn't yell the entire time!  Just sweet baby noises.  Now we can't wait to get our stuff so we can go out more often and let Michael ride on the front of the bike!

 Ready to ride bikes!

 This is hard work. Need water.

 Tree-lined top of the wall

Biking on the wall

Our plan for tomorrow is to head back to Venice and go to the Lido, the famous beach there.  Michael woke up at 4:30 am today, so hopefully he sleeps a little better so we're in good shape for the train, water taxis, and a day in the sun!