October 2022. As we wanted to test Trenitalia‘s Frecciarossa 1000 service from Paris to Milan, we planned a rail trip around it. From Antwerp to Paris with Thalys, the ‘Red Arrow’ to Milan and once in Italy continuing to Trieste and Bologna. The return trip took us to Basel in Switzerland to enjoy SBB‘s panoramic coach and Germany‘s Rhine route to Cologne. From there we got back to Belgium. 

Our Italy 2022 trip was a success. We sampled Trenitalia products, we had discovered Trieste and Bologna and even included Modena for the Enzo Ferrari Museum. We had great food and interesting hotels. 

Perhaps we should have prepared activities a bit better. Opening hours were challenging. In Bologna sights and museums were opened late, but closed down during lunchtime. 

Eating

Speaking of eating, lunch and dinner hours were very strict. 12.30 PM to 2.30 PM and not before 7.30 PM. It was close to impossible to find nice restaurants serving food outside this hours. And no, we’re not going to McDonald’s. 

We still do not completely understate the division between antipasti, primi piatti, secundi piatti and dolci. 

Blue

If you want to conduct business in Italy, wear a blue suit and white shirt. Tie seems optional. But the blue suit is the go-to business attire. 

So?

We had a great time in Italy. Perfect to find some sun in October. 

Paris – Italy – Basel 2022

1. REVIEW | Restaurant Le Train Blue at Paris-Gare-de-Lyon.
2. REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
3. REVIEW | Just Hotel Milano.
4. FYRA NOSTALGIA | Trenitalia Frecciargento Milan to Trieste on the ETR 700 ex-Fyra.
5. REVIEW | Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta.
6. TRIESTE | Miramare Castle.
7. History of Trieste at Diego de Henriquez War for Peace Museum / Museo de la Guerra per Pace.
8. ITALY | 1.5 day in Trieste.
9. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Sights and churches in Bologna.
10. History of Bologna Museum at Palazzo Pepoli.
11. REVIEW | The Social Hub Bologna.
12. BOLOGNA | University Museums of Palazzo Poggi ft. Obstetrics, Military Architecture, Geographical Maps and Human Anatomy.
13. REVIEW | Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
14. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | A walk in Modena.
15. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Bologna & Modena 2022.
16. Trains in Italy.
17. EUROCITY EC-52 | Milan to Basel (and to Frankfurt) via the Simplon Tunnel.
18. SWITZERLAND | Basel during Herbstmesse.
19. REVIEW | Hyperion Basel.
20. EUROCITY EC-8 | Basel to Cologne in SBB’s Panoramic Car.