Oct '15 Italy Ave Maria 5th&6th

Ave Maria Oct'5-6th BikeBarge

5th(cont.)We did so much in one day and I really enjoyed the Amusement Park Museum in Bergantino, so I almost forgot to mention the last stop of the day at the Grana Padano factory. We toured the storage area where the 88 pound rounds were kept, scraped and turned regularly. Outside we had a cheese tasting which was nice... Although it is very related to parmigiano reggiano (made in a very specific area) it is slightly sweeter and less hard. Learned that the part on the edge (rind) is not only edible but the most coveted part. Later on that evening the chefs aboard the Ave Maria heated up some bits of the edge for us all to try.
Unfortunately, a few times the wind would shift and we were subject to the smell of the required pig farm. Evidently every cheese making facility includes a pig farm where the whey byproduct is fed to the pigs.

6th Since Roberto was still available for the next day Lisa, Billie and I took the chance to get a ride into Ferrara. Since the boat was not going near it, we could meet the cycling crew there in time to tour the castle... Not the Gonzaga family territory any more, now on to the Estense family. The three of us did a great job of sightseeing on our own. We did one of the longest walking tours the city map offered and got to see much of the highlights of town including the amazing wall around the entire city. We started by walking past the castle, Cathedral and through the winding narrow streets. Peggy, you will be happy to know my collection of door pics was greatly expanded on this walk! Thank goodness I don't have to pay to develop all these to find 34pics of doors and 2 of us at the sights ;)
Our destination was the National Archeological Museum of Ferrara. Here we enjoyed the reconstructed Romance Era garden, the palatial building itself with its many frescoes and the huge collection of Greek and Etruscan artifacts from the long buried city of Spina. It was discovered in 1922, even though it had been known of in multiple writings for centuries, and dated back to the 6th century BC. Such amazing artwork in pottery,  glass, wood and metal!
After walking most of the way back we decided to stop for soup, pizza and calzone as the temperature had dropped and the rain started again. We got so lucky to have nice weather mostly and only rain while we were indoors!
We then met up with the riders by the castle where there was a required Gelato stop Fichi e Noci (omg fig and walnut FTW!)
Many of the group decided to go to an authentic Enoteca to drink wine.  Kim, Lisa, Steve, Barry and I toured the impressive castle and it's interesting dungeons.
After that it was time for the riders to head to the train station to meet the bus that would carry all of us (and the bikes) to Adria, where the boat was moored.  Lisa,  Billie and I caught a cab there and we all had an hour rest on the bus.