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seth-kia · 1 year

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Something is wrong with his hands.

Pix has been awake for some time since respawning. His head throbs; his lungs burn with the effort of taking a breath, like death is still fighting him--perhaps it is, because he feels terrible. He's drained and shaky, like he'd been wracked with fever and only now broken through the sickness.

He lay there catching his strength through trembling fingers until he felt well enough to try and stand.

That's when he gets it. Something is wrong with his hands.

Pix pushes them against the bed to sit up, and they go through the sheets like they're nothing.

He falls.

The breath he'd just regained is taken from him as his back slams into the mattress--or it should. Instead, he plunges into the wool like water, back sinking through the wooden frame. It's stifling against his skin, body which is stuck halfway into his bed, and he is panicking, and he cannot breathe.

It's somewhere in that panic that he realizes he does not need to.

The shock stops him in his floundering, going still within the should-be-solid blankets. He is frozen. He is not breathing, and it does not hurt.

Why does it not hurt?

Beneath all the terror, curiosity surfaces. It's warmer, and comforting. He's spent his whole life learning, understanding. Researching.

Knowing.

Something is wrong with his hands, and he needs to know what.

And for that, he needs to get up.

Pix braces his palms against the wood below, and it feels solid enough. Pushing, lightly at first, his body feels weightless, like he has no substance. With a gentle shove, he rises above the wool.

Now he's sitting on it. He's not sinking. His blankets are real in his grasp.

He takes a breath. A shuddering, slow, careful inhale, tasting the dust of the catacombs deep in his lungs, his muscles weak and sore, but he is breathing. He's breathing.

He huffs a shaky laugh, and it echoes. What a defiance, he thinks, to laugh even when he feels like death itself is holding him down.

There's a distant meow from deep within the catacombs.

He chuckles again, feeling stronger with the air in his lungs. "I hear you, Neptune," he calls, his voice surprisingly even.

The cat's yowl bounces through the winding halls. It's tense, and concerned, and out of place of their usual playful mews.

The research could wait, Pix decides. He didn't know how long he'd been dead for. Had he fed Neptune yet?

"I'm coming, hold on," he says, and hears a confirmatory meow in reaponse.

Bringing his legs off of the sheets, he presses his feet into the floor, testing the surface and deeming it solid. He doesn't fall through when he stands.

Still weak, he reaches for a wall to steady himself, and his hand sinks three inches into the stone before stopping.

"This is... very strange," he says to himself, thoughtful. He pulls his hand from the wall, and it feels like removing a block of slime from a piston--the stone clings to him, but finally he is released, nearly knocking himself off balance again before he's steady on his feet.

Mentally, he notes that down. Touching feels like water; escaping feels like molasses.

Neptune yowls again, from deep within the catacombs, and he sets off for the staircase to find the cat.

It almost feels a little like he's walking across sand. He sinks a little into the surface, and it clings when he takes another step, but other than that, it's all the same. He gets used to the rhythm as he explores his storage rooms, the winding corridors calming, grounding him in familiarity.

When he turns the corner, he finds the ghost cat is no longer a ghost.

Neptune is regal and proud and unabashedly solid, licking their paw smugly. Their tail flicks around in greeting.

"Buddy, look at you!" Pix says, unable to keep the glee from his voice. "A--a real boy, as one might say! You know, your fur is much more vibrant now that you aren't translucent."

The cat stops grooming, tilting their head almost in confusion. They stretch, and reach forward with a paw.

Instinctively, Pix holds out a hand to catch it.

Neptune's claws are real and solid, and they hurt.

"Hey!" He yanks his hand away, cradling it. "What was that for?"

Neptune trills, expression unnervingly similar to something of frustration. They paw at the air again.

"What?" he asks. "I'm not giving you my hand again, if you're going to use me as a scratching post."

The cat's gaze is unmoving. For a being completely incapable of speaking Common, they are unfairly convincing.

Their tail twitches.

"Fine," Pix sighs. He holds out his palm again.

Neptune gently places a paw on his fingers, pulling his hand fully flat, where Pix can see claw marks across the flesh.

"Yes, that's where you--"

He pauses.

There's no blood from the wounds.

The skin has clearly separated, and the marks are deep, but it's not bleeding. Instead of red, he sees a grayish void between bone and flesh, undefined and unmoving.

"--clawed me," he finishes slowly. "Neptune, I don't suppose you know why I'm missing my blood, do you?"

They meow, loudly, and lick the back of their paw.

"Helpful," Pix mutters.

Neptune looks at him.

He curls his fingers into a fist, the claw marks opening to reveal more of the absence of crimson. Had the cat not torn open his palm, he probably wouldn't have known about the whole 'missing blood' issue for a long while. "Point taken."

The curiosity nagged at him again. He had so many questions, so many things he didn't know the answer to.

Pix thought back to his death, curled beneath the shelves of Katherine's castle. It was cold, and painful, like concrete was flooding his veins, like someone had tangled a rope around his heart and lungs and pulled it taught, like someone had poured acid all over his skin, like he was disintegrating. He'd never died like that before. Not even to the hands of wither skeletons in the Nether, not to weakness, not to poison.

When he'd woken, he fell through his bed. His hands sunk into surfaces. He didn't need to breath, but he could. His wounds didn't bleed.

But he could touch his cat, who previously to this moment, was a ghost.

"Am I..."

He feels like, inside himself, something's been taken from him. Like something less physical than his blood is missing.

Neptune watches him, pausing their grooming.

"...It's not that you're alive, now, is it," he says. "That's not why you look real to me."

Saying it out loud hurts, as if he'd spoken the truth into reality. The realization floods him with emotions he can't name, and he takes a breath, the cool air grating against his dry throat.

Neptune purrs. They bunt their head into Pix's palm, who runs his fingers through the fur absent-mindedly, revelling in how solid it is through his nails, how real it feels against his bloodless skin.

Something is wrong with his hands, he thinks.

"I'm not really alive anymore, am I?"

Neptune blinks slowly.

Pixl feels the rumbling through the ribcage of his ghost cat. The trill echoes through the hallowed catacombs, below a long dead city, covered in thousands of years of dust.

He hums.

After everything, it's a little appropriate. Something living, breathing, pulsing in the heart of so much history--something truly alive--was bound to be stifled and choked by it all someday.

A laugh escapes him, and his ghost cat's tail curls around his arm, warm and solid and real.

"Perhaps another ghost here isn't so out of place, huh, Neptune?"

ao3 link here!

#empires smp #empires s2 #pixlriffs #pixlriffs empires #empires smp s2 #empires pixl #archeologist pix #empires smp spoilers #fanfiction #fanfic #empires smp fanfic #empires fic #empires s2 spoilers

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bluemidnightmelody · 3 months

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lover/fighter - my favorite moments

[Little snippets from my Finnick/OC longfic that are stuck in my head]

From Chapter 44 - Neptune in 4th house

Finnick leans against the old wooden desk in the small improvised office and watches her as she purposefully stows all kinds of things in the designated place. "Isn't that too much for you sometimes? After you keep starting arguments with Donna because of me, so that I can get some peace and quiet at home, all you ever do yourself is work," he replies.

Rhea pauses and looks at him. "Those are two things you can't compare," she says seriously. "I love my work. I don't do it because someone else tells me to or because I have to. I never wanted anything other than this. This is where I grew up and taking care of the people around could never be too much."

It's exhausting and sometimes very draining but just as fulfilling for her. She could never imagine stopping. "We both know that you would also rather be at home looking after your people. If you could decide for yourself, you would never have come back here after your Games, would you? You'd be sitting at home in District 4 now, taking the boat out every day, going fishing with the boys, lying in the sun by the sea, eating dinner with Mags and Annie. You probably would have started working as a fisherman after all, like you wanted to, not because you had to, but because you are someone who gets bored easily when you have nothing to do. Maybe you could have become a teacher. I think at least that would really suit you, you're good at it and good with children."

"You think children should take me as an example? I think many at home would disagree," he replies with a smile, but there is a trace of sadness behind it. It's hard to listen to her talk about what his life could have been like, and he likes the picture she paints. Very much so and he has to realize that his comparison was really more than inappropriate.

"I think everyone should take an example from you," she replies seriously. "But we both know that what you do here in the Capitol is nothing but slave labor for Snow to get the most out of the Games. It's not work, it's exploitation, something completely different to my situation."

Not even the victors dare say that out loud, not here in the Capitol. Nevertheless, she simply says it as if it were the most natural thing of all, openly expressing her rejection of the president without a trace of fear. That alone calls for recognition, but in the same breath she is one of the few people who still sincerely believe in his respectable character even after the Capitol has distorted his image so much. He gets a warm tingle in his fingertips as his gaze rests on the floor.

When he looks up again, he has a gentle smile on his face that looks like it wants to become something more. But he doesn't say a word, he just looks at her with this unreadable expression on his face.

"What?" Rhea asks, a little flustered, her embarrassment rising to her head along with the heat. It's as if his eyes have some kind of magical power that allows him to do all sorts of things to you just by looking at you.

His smile widens a little. "Nothing," he then says casually, pauses for a few more seconds, then pushes himself off the edge of the desk and strolls leisurely back into the hallway.

Rhea can hear his footsteps as he descends the old wooden steps of the staircase, presses her hands against her cheeks and sighs. Why is this guy so intense? There's no other way to describe it, everything about him just seems too much to handle. She wonders if he's always like this by nature, or if it's also a bit intentional because he knows exactly what effect he has on others. Probably a mixture of both.

It's like a damn strong drink and when she's around him, she sometimes feels like she's in a daze. But because of the sweetness, you only notice the effect when it's too late and then you just want more and more. She's worried that she might do something foolish while she's under the influence or even end up becoming an alcoholic, so to speak.

She quickly returns to the task at hand to distract herself from these thoughts. Since she knows what's really going on in Finnick's life, that warm tingling feeling in her chest always leaves a tinge of guilt behind, because something in her subconscious says that it's taboo to feel these things, that he would reject having this kind of affection directed at him.

Links to all the chapters: lover/fighter - Chapter Index

fanfiction on ao3 and wattpad

#finnick odair #finnick odair fanfic #finnick odair x oc #finnick odair x reader #finnick x oc #the hunger games x oc #hunger games #the hunger games #fanfiction #ao3 #thg finnick #thg fanfiction #hunger games fanfiction #ao3 fanfiction

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veronika-tserber · 1 year

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Hi, <33 I don’t know if you still do requests but here’s my info: October 16th 2004 11:20 am linköping Sweden. Sorry if I happened to be late! I hope you have an amazing day🖤

Hey, sweetheart! :)) Thank you!

The Data:

2nd house in Sagittarius

Pluto in the 2H

Pluto square Venus

Pluto sextile Sun

Jupiter in the 12H

Jupiter conjunct MC

Jupiter trine Neptune

Neptune in the 4H

Neptune trine Mars

Neptune inconjunct Venus

Air and Water Dominance, Lack of Fire, and Earth

I use the Whole Signs system! :)

Firstly, if you don’t know what Sabian Symbols are, please check my post HERE. ❤

Your 2nd house in Sagittarius tells me that your income and stability in life are closely linked to your beliefs about the world in some way. The two rulers, Jupiter and Neptune, are placed in the 12th and 4th houses, and they also trine each other in the Air signs. There is definitely a focus on the unseen realms of life, but I will need more information before I make any assumptions.

Jupiter in the 12H is a highly spiritual placement, and Jupiter feels comfortable here. You can possibly make money through your spirituality or healing abilities. The theme of this placement has to do with the need to develop your faith and trust in life - your intuition is your best compass. It’s at a Cancer degree, and the Sabian Symbol is called “A Group of Young People Sit in a Spiritual Communion Around a Campfire”. That made me smile! As I said, it’s a spiritual placement, and it further talks about your desire to connect with like-minded individuals who share your beliefs and values. It doesn’t matter whether you connect in person or on the Internet - it seems like are simply called to find your tribe! Jupiter in Libra natives have a strong need to form meaningful relationships and paired with this Cancer degree, the nurturing and emotionally satisfying role of these bonds is amplified. On the other hand, be wary of becoming too dependent on other people’s company and approval. It can definitely be the case with the Libra/Cancer combo.

With Jupiter in the 12H, there could be feelings of isolation and alienation because of your spiritual beliefs and views on life, but know that you aren’t alone. As I said, there are people out there who will gladly sit around your shared “campfire”, and keep you company. On the other hand, your friends don't have to be humans. This Jupiter grants you the powerful support of your spirit guides, and you can greatly benefit when you take the time to commune with them through art, meditation, or other spiritual practice. Find what works for you. This dialogue with your Soul is key to your abundance and blessings in life, as well as your 2H of values, money, self-worth, and stability in life.

Neptune, the modern ruler of your 2H, sits in your 4H of home, family, inner psychological foundation, and roots. This can definitely signify success in the field of psychology or hypnotherapy. It’s also at a Pisces degree, and the Sabian is called “People on a Vast Staircase, Graduated Upwards”. I feel like you might have grown up in an environment where your parents (or other caretakers) had many prejudices when it comes to social class and one’s place in the system. There could have been racial and other forms of prejudice, as well. Generally, Neptune in the 4H points to instability, possible losses, and confusion in regard to one's roots. Your inner foundation might be weak and I feel like you could lack confidence and trust in your own sense of direction in life, as a result of that.

Listening to outside influences and "authorities" can lead you off your path - your task is to find the authority within yourself, and to surround yourself with friends and groups of people that support your growth and individuality. You are relatively young, though, but even if you weren’t - the advice is not to worry! As I said, you have a powerful inner compass and intuition, and if you take the time to keep in touch with your inner spiritual support, as well as your physical community, your inner faith and self-confidence will strengthen.

As a result of your conditioning and early upbringing, you can be prone to comparing yourself to others, especially in regard to your social status. You might have also been taught to divide and judge people by their social status. Worrying about your own position on the metaphorical “staircase” isn’t conducive to your prosperity or spiritual growth, though. You might need to learn how to move in life with faith and be okay with knowing only your next immediate step. However, there definitely is nothing wrong with being motivated to climb the social ladder and achieve material success.

But once again, your success will greatly depend on your ability to follow your inner wisdom and spiritual path and think of the highest good of all, as opposed to being relentless, and doing anything you can to stay ahead of others. Jupiter also conjuncts your Midheaven, which is your highest calling in this lifetime, as well as your public persona and image. Essentially, this is what people want to see from you - someone who communicates their beliefs with love and compassion and has a deep reserve of spiritual wisdom.

Now, let��s look at Pluto. Pluto in Sagittarius in the 2H can definitely point to having strong philosophical beliefs and opinions in regard to money. Your Soul wants to evolve by learning tough lessons about money, stability, self-worth, and health. You can be holding onto deep subconscious beliefs that sabotage your growth in life. Essentially, there is a need for a major overhaul or change in your attitude toward the material world and your values in life. You will be asked to transform these values into something more authentic. If you have self-worth issues, they will be brought into the light, as well.

Pluto is the ruler of your Scorpio South Node in the 1H, which speaks of your past lives, and intuitively, I hear the word “survivor”. You might have learned a lot about your personal strength and ability to overcome critical situations such as death/scarcity, and now you are here to revisit these lessons, decide how you can use their gifts in a practical way, and let go of the stuff that doesn't serve your current reality anymore. Pluto here can signify amassing great wealth and power, but they might not come easily. The planet is at a Scorpio degree, and the Sabian is called “In Winter People are Cutting Ice From a Frozen Pond for Summer Use”. Interesting. As I said, the word “survivor” might be the one to accurately describe who you’ve had to be in the past. As a result of this, you have learned the value of planning ahead, preparing for tough times, and using what's available to make it through difficult situations.

My advice would be to use your skills and talents for managing money and resources to your advantage - you can be a great banker, for example. In its lower vibration, Pluto can make you obsessed, controlling, or greedy when it comes to money. You might be faced with many difficulties and losses of stability in life, so you can learn detachment.

Pluto sextiles your Sun. The Sun is at an Aquarius degree, and the Sabian is called “Chanticleer’s Voice Heralds the Rising Sun with Enthusiastic Tones”. Paired with your Scorpio Mercury at 0 degrees (which is quite special) in your 1H, and your strong Neptune, the message becomes clear - you have a really strong intuition when it comes to money, and you can be great at financial analysis, predicting the movements of the stock markets or doing analysis for large corporations and businesses. The “chanticleer” is a symbol of someone who “wakes” other people up and warns them about potential pitfalls or urges them to make a certain move.

Your past lives have taught you to think ahead and take into account the state of the politics and the economy of the world, and you have successfully used these skills to survive difficult times. Pluto supports this "chanticleer" role, and your Sun also rules your 10H of career, so you can definitely climb the social ladder with these particular skills. However, make sure you don’t become greedy, competitive, or someone who tends to put people in “boxes” and casts.

Pluto squares your Venus. Venus is at a Taurus degree (which is also considered a lucky one in Astrology, and it can bring potential wealth if you manage to use the planet’s gifts.) The Sabian is “Finely Lettered Names and Mysterious Lines are Seen; It is a Family Tree”. This speaks of your connection to your family tree and established traditions. You can draw great power from your ancestors’ wealth of knowledge and wisdom. However, it is a square, after all, so I feel like you are either really attached to your roots, or you may wish to break away from them. Since Venus is also placed in the 11H, this speaks of feeling like your family is found among your friends and the groups of people who share your ideals and work on shared causes with you. As I said, I feel like you are physically or emotionally disconnected from your roots and birth family.

Venus in Virgo is highly practical, helpful, and service-oriented, and in the house of social service, you could be devoted to serving your community or society and "the people" in a practical and reliable way. When we pair this with the meaning of your 2H Pluto, it can mean using your understanding of finances/resources to help others survive or get ahead in life. With Venus in Virgo, you can also be fond of analyzing charts, diagrams, and statistics, which fits the "financial analyst" role well.

Neptune aspects your Venus as well, and the inconjunction usually shows difficulties and “awkwardness” between the planets involved. I feel like your roots and family history can certainly be unclear to you, as there might not be a lot of information about your ancestors. However, your Venus at 14 degrees can potentially bring you blessings and wealth, so perhaps you can do some digging, and find out more about your family tree and even national traditions and history (Neptune rules our bloodline, but also our home country). There might be hidden power waiting to be discovered there.

Lastly, I will look at your Neptune trine Mars for some additional guidance. Your Mars is at a Pisces degree, and its Sabian is called “Miners are Emerging from a Deep Coal Mine”. This placement, considering that it’s also in your 12H, is all about doing shadow work. The “coal mine” is a symbol of your own inner world and subconscious mind, where you have been laboring and doing quite a lot of digging to find gold and precious gems. It does speak about working behind the scenes, and since Mars is the planet of your will to act in the physical world, you might have been rather passive in the physical world, but extremely active on an inner level.

You might’ve been searching for your Soul's abundance for many lifetimes now, and now you are at a point where you can finally stop and take a break. However, you might have gone really deep, and paired with the foggy influence of Neptune, you can feel quite confused and disoriented when it comes to your personal power, will, and desires. It has a similar meaning to the Neptune/Jupiter trine. However, the trine also shows a talent that you can readily use now, and it has to do with the great spiritual insights you have found. Now, the question is, how can you help others find their own inner gold, as well? This is a great aspect if you want to work as a psychologist, hypnotherapist, counselor, or anyone who helps others reach a deeper level of self-awareness and insight. Don’t forget that Neptune is the modern ruler of your 2H, and Pluto in the 2H can also point to working as a psychologist, energy healer, detective, or researcher.

Anyways, this is what I see for you! I hope you found it to be valuable, and I wish you a great day/night! <3

#astro notes #2nd house #astro observations #astrology notes #astrology houses #astroblr #natal chart houses #astrology #zodiac #astro community #zodiac signs #birth chart #natal chart #astroworld #horoscope

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mightywellfan · 5 months

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Neptune's Staircase

Neptune's Staircase is a staircase lock comprising eight locks on the Caledonian Canal. Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, it is the longest staircase lock in Britain. The system was originally hand-powered but has been converted to hydraulic operation.

#scotland #visit scotland #fort augustus #canal

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jackjolene · 8 months

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BioShock/Sinking City/Vampyr: Church of the Son of Ryan

Soundtrack for Jack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av9bQKkndLE

"Operation Trident" is Eleanor's nickname for Jack and Co.'s plan, as it consisted of three prongs: Herself and Porter, Jack and Artemis, and the Elizabeths. Considering that they were in the realm of Poseidon, who is often depicted as wielding a trident, the others found it fitting.

Jack and Artemis begin their search for the Church of the Son of Ryan. As the largest fragment of the former Rapture Family, their numbers could help tip the balance against Orrin Lutwidge and the Diamond Partners. Jack reflects that it would be nice to have the advantage in numbers for once.

According to Eleanor, the Rapture Family had a few paintings of Jack during his first time in Rapture up on the walls In Siren Alley, and Simon Wales seems to have believed Jack to be literally God. With Eleanor gone and Sofia Lamb dead, the Church have latched onto this idea or some variation of it for their new belief system.

From what the survivors in Minerva's Den tell them about the Church, they are obsessed with taking back certain areas of Rapture back from the Mutants. These locations are the places that Jack visited when he was in Rapture the first time: The Welcome Center, the Medical Pavilion, Port Neptune, Arcadia and the Farmer's Market, Fort Frolic, Hephaestus, Olympus Heights, Apollo Square, and Point Prometheus.

From what they've already seen, they have yet to take back the Welcome Center and the Medical Pavilion. Jack and Co. took down the Mutant population in Hephaestus themselves, and Lutwidge is currently occupying Arcadia. That leaves Port Neptune, Fort Frolic, Olympus Heights, Apollo Square, and Point Prometheus as the most likely spots to find them.

As they were Rapture's biggest residential areas, Apollo Square and Olympus Heights are Jack and Artemis' first stop, only to find that they are absolutely crawling with Mutants. Jack and Artemis get cut off from their entry point and are forced to take shelter in Tenenbaum's old safehouse.

Jack reminisces about the times after he had defeated Fontaine and brought back Elizabeth, when they were planning on escaping Rapture for the first time. After gathering their strength back, Jack and Artemis make a break for it and manage to escape the Heights.

Next up is Fort Frolic. Jack doubts that anyone would want to live where Sander Cohen got up to his "artistic" antics, but beggars can't be choosers in Rapture. What they find there, however, is worse than what he imagined.

There's even more "art" in Fort Frolic now; dozens of bodies posed in grotesque and unnatural forms. They aren't even covered in plaster anymore; some have had their skin removed, others have been disembowled, and the most recent ones are nothing but skeletons. Artworks depicting horrendous scenes and terrible acts cover the walls, painting a picture of absolute madness and insanity. The PA alternates between blaring maddening music and insane rambling in a familiar voice.

At first, Jack thinks that someone, a copy-cat, has taken over Sander Cohen's identity and continued his "work", but with each audio diary he and Artemis find, the horrible truth begins to emerge.

In the Atrium of Fort Frolic, they finally come face to face with the man behind the curtain. Jack killed him in his apartment after accidentally interrupting a splicer couple dancing, yet he stands at the top of the staircase: Sander fucking Cohen, in the flesh.

He looks like a cross between a Brute Splicer and a Spider-Splicer, bulked up grotesquely but with long, spidery limbs, fingers tipped with wicked, long claws. Somehow, he's figured out how to give himself a pair of rabbit ears, though they look more like a pair of sticks of flesh poking out of his head. A rabbit mask is strapped to his face, barely covering it. One eye has multiple irises and pupils, while the iris in the other has practically melted into the sclera.

And worst of all, he recognizes Jack.

"Little Moth!" he roars through a maw of sharp, rotten, and broken teeth, "you will be my final masterpiece!"

The fight that follows is furious. Jack has his newly-upgraded plasmids, his modified Big Daddy suit, and his guns, but without Artemis to back him up, he'd be dead. Cohen has his old Houdini powers, Alpha Series-level plasmids, absolutely no self-preservation instincts, no morality to hold him back, and one hell of a grudge.

The "art" around them is destroyed as the fight progresses, which only makes Cohen madder. Jack and Artemis are able to use this to their advantage, tearing art to make Cohen predictably attack and counter-attacking.

Finally, Cohen goes down, and they move in to finish the job, once and for all. However, he convulses violently, laughing insanely as his skin breaks, his bones crack, and his body expands. Right before Jack and Artemis' eyes, Cohen mutates, having apparently gotten his hands on Alex the Great's corrupted ADAM.

In seconds, Jack and Artemis stare up at Cohen as he roars at them. Cohen's Mutant form looks like a gigantic rabbit with bad mange, a maw of razor-sharp teeth with two huge buck teeth like swords, bulging multi-jointed legs, oversized claws on the front paws, and a cluster of multiple, beady, multi-colored eyes on its face instead of just two. The ears are tattered, sporting claws growing out of them, and are prehensile, moving like a third set of limbs.

The second stage of the fight is different from the first. Cohen's Mutant Rabbit form can't teleport, but he can breath fire and electricity and spit ice. When he hops, he comes down like a freight train, shaking Fort Frolic. When he roars, the sound can stun them the closer they are. And his telekinesis still works, using his ears to focus instead of his hands.

The good news is that with his new size, Cohen is very hard to miss with either guns or plasmids. Little by little, Jack and Artemis wear him down, one distracting him and allowing the other to attack.

Cohen finally succumbs to his wounds and falls, twitching and shrieking in pain, before going still. Jack and Artemis stare down at his body, then at each other, and then they burn Cohen's body until it's nothing but ash and bones. They leave Fort Frolic without any fanfare.

With Point Prometheus and Port Neptune left, they decide to try the Point next. If the Church is seeing the places where Jack visited as holy sites, then the place where he killed Frank Fontaine is the next best place to find them.

"If we find that Fontaine has come back from the dead too," Jack grouses as they board the bathysphere, "I swear there'll be nothing left of him when we're done."

When they arrive at Point Prometheus, they find the place cleared of Mutants, though it wasn't pretty; there are blood stains and dead Mutants everywhere, though no Church members.

That changes abruptly when Jack and Artemis are going through the Proving Grounds; they are ambushed by the Church. Not wanting to kill potential recruits for their fight against Lutwidge and the Mutants, Jack and Artemis find themselves cornered.

Just as they're about to be overrun, Jack remembers something that Eleanor told them from Delta's memories: The paintings in Siren Alley included Jack's arrival at the Rapture Lighthouse, his fight with Dr. Steinman, and the first time he used ADAM to splice. In the latter, the chain tattoos on his wrists are visible, making them part of his mythos.

Without hesitation, Jack tears off the gloves of his suit off along with his helmet and runs out from cover, holding his arms up so the attacking Church members can see them and yelling that he is the Son of Ryan.

A few bullets strike his suit before they realize what they're seeing. As Jack's words and the sight of his tattoos sink in, they stare in shock before throwing down their weapons and bowing low before Jack, crying out for forgiveness.

Jack forgives them, of course, and asks to be brought before the Church and its congregation. They're all too eager to bring him forward, beyond happy that their messiah has come at last. Artemis follows behind them.

They bring Jack and Artemis to top of Point Prometheus, where Jack fought and killed Frank Fontaine. The Church has converted their battleground into a shrine, putting up makeshift pews and more paintings on the walls. They took Fontaine's body and put it up on the operating table where he went to heal and splice up during the fight; he's been strung up like he's being crucified for his sins.

Jack is a bit put-off by the display, but he can't help but admit to himself that it's kind of fitting.

As the congregation assembles, the leader of the Church, a young man by the name of Billy Parson, offers the pulpit (which stands in front of Fontaine's crucified body) to Jack, who takes it. Artemis chooses to stand off to his right side.

Jack introduces himself and tells the Church of the Son of Ryan that yes, he is there to save them, which causes them to start cheering and applauding. After they calm down, Jack tells them that their salvation is two-fold. One, he intends on curing them of their ADAM sickness, and two, he's going to evacuate them from Rapture and return to the surface.

This spawns even more applause and celebration. Jack then tells them he is planning on doing this for everyone in Rapture, and that he needs Arcadia and its air filtration systems in order to do so. This brings up doubt for some of the congregation; why save those who don't believe in Jack, especially when it means facing off against the Diamond Partners? And can Jack even cure ADAM sickness?

The true believers of the Church begin getting angry with the doubters. Wishing to avoid a fight, Jack asks for a volunteer. Billy, being the leader of the Church, volunteers immediately, kneeling in front of Jack.

Jack reaches down and puts a hand on Billy's shoulder. Unseen to the rest of the congregation, a needle extends out of Jack's gauntlet (a la Assassin's Creed, and inspired by Eleanor's Big Sister needle) and jabs Billy, injected him with a dose of SERPENT.

Before the eyes of the congregation, Billy's mild case of ADAM sickness begins to reverse itself. The tumors and growths on his exposed flesh shrink and disappear like a time-lapse video in reverse. In mere seconds, Billy Parson is completely cured of his ADAM sickness, and from the congregation's POV, Jack just touched Billy and cured him.

Jack tells them that he is a savior for all of Rapture, not just them. As the son of Andrew Ryan, he sees it as his responsibility to fix as much of his father's mistake as he can. But he needs their help to do so; can he count on them?

Billy's voice, undistorted by damage to his voicebox, is the first to say yes, quickly followed by the rest of the Church. After confirming that the Church does have Port Neptune under their control, Jack asks Billy to begin having his people rally there while he rendezvouses with his allies in Minerva's Den to finalize their plan.

Jack can't help but smile as he and Artemis board a sphere to the cheers of the Church of the Son of Ryan. Their part in Operation Trident is a success.

#bioshock #bioshock 2 #jack wyand #jack ryan #jack jolene #protector trials #in the worlds where delta spares grace she is the leader of the church #i really wish that grace didn't have to die so that sofia lamb would face justice #cohen is alive because of the resurrection gene tonic from the bioshock 2 multiplayer #in game it lets the player resurrect once per life #in this story it would be a one-time use gene tonic

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lullabyes22-blog · 1 year

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I will continue to expose them to horrors beyond their comprehension. XD

They learn two things. First it gets worse and then it gets better and then things go into the fire.

First they learn that the godling that was harassing them before this new one didn’t just leave, the current one killed it and filled the power vacuum. Second they learn that Janna is still present in their world, she’s just sleeping. Now she’s awake.

She does not take kindly to this intruder. The subsequent battle shakes their world to its core. The seas start the boil, rail turns to acid and every natural surface is a blaze. By the end there is no discernible winner.

Circumstances proceed to get even weirder. The seas clear and fill with color fish that perform bizarre and intricate patterns never seen before or since. Mountains grow in the distance and then sink back into the ground. Thunderstorms brew and the resulting rain is oddly sweet.

but by far the strangest is when a spiral staircase made of ice ascends out of the pilt. People try to climb it but once they reach the third step by burst into green flames and dissolve into ash.

a day later there is another storm, but the lightning is purple and the air smells acrid and sweet. Someone is standing on the the roof of The Last Drop sipping from a flask. They’re not native to Piltover or Zaun. No one knows how they got there and no one asks.

They say a single sentence. “Ah, shit.”

“are they fighting?” Someone dares asks.

“No, their mating.”

We've gone from League of Legends to Clash of Titans XD

(If I'm not mistaken, the mythology for Neptune and his bride also alluded to the oceans stormy with tempests, and earthquakes happening, each time they made love.)

Silco, with a traumatized Jinx clutching his arm and a deeply drunk Sevika sprawled at his feet: "...Oh. Some sex to go with the violence. The story was starting to feel dry."

/takes a shot of whiskey and hopes they can ride out this nightmare

=_=

#asks #arcane league of legends #arcane silco #silco #arcane jinx #jinx #fanfic #forward but never forget/xoxo #forward (never forget)/xoxo

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travelonourown · 9 months

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Fri July 21

After breakfast we headed to the Steall Falls trailhead up a stunningly beautiful valley. The trail along the river was steep but quite manageable. And at the top of the narrows, it opens into exquisite Hidden Valley with Steall Falls on one side of the canyon. This is truly a one of a kind destination! After descending back to the car, we checked out Braveheart Village (nothing much- where some Braveheart scenes were filmed), and then went to Neptune’s Staircase canal locks, an amazing feat of engineering completed in 1822. We had a beer while watching the locks, and then walked to The Lochy pub for dinner.

#travel #europe #scotland #road trip

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someonelookingpraediti · 1 year

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Quarterly Roundup January - March 2023

January

The Cruel Prince - Holly Black (re-read)

The Wicked King - Holly Black (re-read)

The Queen of Nothing - Holly Black (re-read)

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories - Holly Black (re-read)

The Stolen Heir - Holly Black ★★★★★

Tress of the Emerald Sea - Brandon Sanderson ★★☆☆☆

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - (tr.) Bernard O'Donoghue ★★★★☆

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: An Adaptation - Elizabeth Jewell ★★☆☆☆

Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo (re-read)

February

Hell Bent - Leigh Bardugo ★★★★★

The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan ★★★★★

The Son of Neptune - Rick Riordan ★★★★★

The Mark of Athena - Rick Riordan ★★★★☆

March

The House of Hades - Rick Riordan ★★★★★

The Blood of Olympus - Rick Riordan ★★★★★

Wild - Cheryl Strayed ★★★☆☆

The Foxglove King - Hannah Whitten ★★☆☆☆ (DNF)

Death on the Nile - Agatha Christie ★★★★★

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Jessie L. Weston ★★★★☆

The Screaming Staircase - Jonathan Stroud ★★★★★

view my rating system here

These last few months have absolutely flown by, but at the same time, they seem to have gone on forever! Even the beginning of March seems such a long time ago.

I did a lot of rereading early in the year, although I've tried to make an effort to read new things since then. And I've had a lot of really, really good books, partly luck, and partly because I've continued series I've already enjoyed.

I'm behind on my yearly goal at the moment, which is probably because I've had a lot of time off work, and I just don't have the focus to pick up a book while I'm at home, normally. That's changed in the past few days, however, so maybe I'll be back on track before you know it!

And for the first time in over a year, I had to DNF a book. I'm not sorry I did - I need to learn to do it more often, if I'm honest, but it's annoying to trudge through 70% of a book for it to not end up counting towards your goal. Maybe that will teach me to give up sooner in future.

#quarterly roundup #roundup #reading #2023

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logi1974 · 2 years

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Laird Hasenbär in Schottland - Tag 6

Hexen, Zauberer und Muggles!

Fort William ist die wichtigste Stadt Schottlands südlich von Inverness, westlich von Stirling und nördlich von Glasgow. Und es ist ebenfalls die wichtigste Stadt im Harry Potter Universum. Man könnte sogar von einem Wallfahrtsort sprechen.

Fort William ist der Mittelpunkt der Straßen- und Schienenverbindungen in der gesamten Region. Und genau wegen der Eisenbahn sind wir hier: denn in Fort William startet der Jacobite Train, der allen Harry Potter Fans als Hogwart Train besser bekannt ist.

Deswegen entschieden wir uns auch für die nahe gelegene Unterkunft “Premiere Inn”, das gerade einmal 500 Meter von Bahnhof entfernt liegt. Diese Distanz ist gut zu bewältigen und wir müssen uns nicht noch um einen Parkplatz kümmern.

Die Tickets für den Zug haben wir - besser gesagt: mussten wir - bereits Mitte Januar möglichst zügig erwerben. Sonst hätte es mit der Fahrt nämlich nicht mehr geklappt, denn schon da mussten wir nehmen, was noch an Tickets zu bekommen war.

Die aus den Potter Filmen berühmten Compartments waren bis weit in den September hinein ausgebucht, ebenfalls die 2er Tische und alle Abfahrten am Morgen. So blieb uns nur der Termin am Nachmittag, an einem 4er Tisch (sharing) und natürlich ganz stilecht mit dazu gebuchtem Afternoon Tea.

Abfahrt ist am Bahnsteig 2 in Fort William. Der Jacobite Train ist als Sonderfahrt ausgewiesen. Ein paar Nachzügler sprechen noch am Schalter wegen möglicher Resttickets vor. Die Schlange dort wird immer länger.

Die Lokomotive pfeift kurz, dann rollt der Jacobite Steam Train los und verlässt super pünktlich den Bahnhof von Fort William. Sein Ziel: Der kleine Fischerort Mallaig im Westen.

In unserem Erste Klasse Abteil teilen wir uns den “sharing Table” mit einem holländisch-irischen Ehepaar. Die Beiden pendeln zwischen Holland und Irland wohnsitzmäßig hin und her. Sie sind in etwa in unserem Alter.

Zuvor gab es eine kleine Aufregung, da der 4er Tisch von anderen Leuten belegt war, die sich im Waggon vertan hatten. Sie hatten schlicht übersehen, dass man nach der Hinfahrt die Plätze wechselt.

Durch die Rotation kommt jeder Fahrgast in den Genuss - sofern er Hin und Rückfahrt gebucht hat - beide Seiten der Strecke sehen zu können.

Gegenüber, an dem 2er Tisch sitzt ein deutlich älteres Ehepaar. Waschechte Schotten, die einen entsprechenden Dialekt sprechen. Er stilecht im Kilt mit Kiltnadel, Sporran, Stricksocken und natürlich dem darin steckendem Sgian dubh (Dolch).

Seine reizende Frau hat ihm diese Reise im Jacobite Train zum 80sten Geburtstag geschenkt. Stolz merkte er an, dass er hier als Einziger “propper dressed” wäre. Da können (und wollen) wir nicht widersprechen.

Die Bahnstrecke ist zirka 70 Kilometer lang, die einfach Fahrt mit dem Steam Train dauert knapp zwei Stunden. Die Verbindung wurde 1901 eröffnet und sollte diesen abgelegenen Teil Schottlands besser anbinden und versorgen.

Seit 1984 fährt hier der Dampfzug, um den Tourismus zu fördern. Seit 2011 ist die Nachfrage so hoch, dass an den langen Sommertagen sogar zwei Dampfzüge täglich fahren.

Der Name „Jacobite“ rührt von den Jakobiten und ihrem in Glenfinnan gestarteten Aufstand unter Bonnie Prince Charlie her. Eine Geschichte, die wesentlich älter ist als Harry Potter und die 1746 tragisch, mit dem Verlust der schottischen Unabhängigkeit, endete.

Schon auf den ersten Metern erhascht man einen Blick auf die Neptune’s Staircase, das grandiose Schleusensystem am Eingang des Caledonian Canal. Dann taucht der Zug in die Landschaft der schottischen Highlands ein.

Die Zugcrew verteilt die bestellten Afternoon Tea Pakete. Das verläuft enttäuschend lieblos. Alles gucken sich ratlos an und jeder hatte hier etwas mehr Stil erwartet.

Ein Tisch weiter vorne wurde von einem Herrn für seine Liebste ein Strauß Blumen bestellt. Der wird auch einfach nur auf den Tisch geknallt.

Hinter uns wurde offensichtlich eine Flasche Champagner vorbestellt. Diese wird hemdsärmelig am Flaschenhals durchs Abteil getragen und ohne Kühler und irgendwas auf den Tisch gestellt.

Der inkludierte Kaffee/Tee lässt auf sich warten und manch ein Gast kauft sich ein Getränk im Boardbistro, denn es ist heiß und der historische Zug hat natürlich keine Klimaanlage.

Man fährt vorbei an Lochs, passiert das berühmte Glenfinnan Viadukt und verliert sich in der Ferne des Loch Shiel mit dem Glenfinnan Monument im Vordergrund. Loch Shiel war übrigens ebenfalls Kulisse aus den Harry Potter-Filmen. Dort heißt er allerdings Hogwarts-See.

Einen Stopp von etwa einer halben Stunde legt der Zug in der Glenfinnan Station ein, einem herzigen alten Bahnhof aus Holz, in dem ein kleines Museum eingebaut ist und auf dessen Gelände Waggons stehen, in denen Besucher sogar übernachten können.

Jetzt, wo die Mehrzahl der Gäste auf dem Bahnhof ist und das Museum oder die Toilette besucht oder einfach nur Fotos macht, da nutzt das Personal die Gelegenheit um den Kaffee/Tee auszuschenken. Die Sache ist schnell erledigt, da ja zu dem Zeitpunkt kaum jemand im Zug sitzt.

Ich konnte für unseren Tisch aber noch die Damen abfangen und Kaffee erhaschen. Dazu sogar noch Milch und Zucker. Die zurück kehrenden Fahrgäste staunten nicht schlecht, dass der Service schon durch war.

Ein wenig weiter werden Harry Potter Fans eine weitere Filmkulisse erkennen können: Im zauberhaften Loch Eilt gibt es eine kleine Insel mit Bäumen darauf. Ab der “Kammer des Schreckens” ist der See in allen Harry-Potter-Filmen zu sehen; besonders im “Gefangenen von Askaban” mit einigen vor Ort gefilmten Einstellungen.

Das pittoreske Inselchen mit dem gälischen Namen “Eilean na Moine” ist ein beliebtes Postkartenmotiv. Die Insel hat man leicht verfremdet am Anfang der “Heiligtümer des Todes - 2” in einen Hintergrund vom Loch Arkaig hineinkopiert. Sie ist dort als Grabstätte von Albus Dumbledore zu sehen.

Da hier in Schottland seit Tagen Bilderbuchwetter, mit Temperaturen von bis zu 30 Grad, herrscht, nutzt das eine Filmcrew aus und begleitet den berühmten Zug mit einem Helicopter.

Immer wieder fliegt der, vorne mit einer dicken Kamera bestückte, Hubschrauber über uns hinweg. Mal links, dann wieder rechts. Von vorne, von hinten und drumherum.

Es kommt wieder ein Ort mit handfester Historie: Loch nan Uamh – der See, an dem Bonnie Prince Charlie Schottland endgültig verlassen hat, um nach Frankreich zu fliehen. Loch Nahm Uamh ist bereits ein Meeresarm.

Und wieder kommen wir an einer Filmkulissen vorbei: der Jacobite Steam Train erreicht Morar mit seinem wunderschöner Sandstrand. Teile von „Highlander“ mit Christopher Lambert und Sean Connery wurden hier gedreht; und etliche Szenen von Local Hero, einem sehenswerten Schottland-Klassiker mit Burt Lancaster.

Nach gut zwei Stunden Fahrt rollt der Dampfzug schließlich in Mallaig ein. Hier endet die Strecke. Wer es nicht so eilig hat, bleibt am Bahnsteig und sieht der Lokomotive beim Wendemanöver zu.

Sie koppelt sich vom Zug ab, fährt dann rückwärts über ein Ausweichgleis und stößt dabei vorne Dampfschwaden aus. Die Lokomotive hängt sich dann hinten wieder an den Zug an.

Mallaig ist so etwas, wie ein heimlicher Verkehrsknotenpunkt der Highlands: Hier enden der Jacobite Steam Train und die Road to the Isles, nur um dann mit Fährverbindungen zur Isle of Skye und vielen kleinen Inseln wie Mugg, Eigg oder Rùm fortgesetzt zu werden.

Wie etwa auch der Ort Ullapool ist das Dorf Mallaig eine Gründung während der Highland Clearances, Nachwehen der verlorenen Schlacht von Culloden im Jahre 1746 unter Bonnie Prince Charlie .

Im Jahr 1840 beschloss Thomas Fraser, 12. Lord Lovat seine Ländereien aufzuteilen. Damals lebten am Loch Morar und am Loch Nevis viele Bauern auf relativ fruchtbarem Land. Doch Lovat wollte oder musste seine Ländereien rentabler gestalten. Und so drängte er die Bauern vom Land in eine Siedlung im Westen der Halbinsel Knoydart, wo sie sich künftig um die Fischerei statt um Ackerbau kümmern sollten.

Nach nur zehn Jahren hatten sich 134 Menschen hier niedergelassen – wie geplant als Fischer. Und die Lovats kümmerten sich auch weiter um den kleinen Hafen. So wurde ein Pier gebaut, das heute noch als Lovat Pier bekannt ist.

Doch noch wichtiger für die Entwicklung von Mallaig war die Eisenbahn. Lord Lovat kämpfte um die Strecke – hatte er doch gesehen, wie stark sich Oban durch die Anbindung verändert hatte.

Lovat war erfolgreich: 1901 wurde die Strecke zwischen Fort William und Mallaig eingeweiht. Die Züge brachten Arbeitskräfte und bald auch Touristen. Und sie nahmen Meeresfrüchte auf, um sie dann zu den Märkten im Inland zu transportieren. Dabei wurden sie oft schon im Ort geräuchert.

Auch die Boote änderten sich von Segelbooten zu Dampfschiffen. So konnten sie in entfernteren Gewässern weitere Fischgründe erschließen. Mallaig boomte.1932 wurde die erste Autofähre in Betrieb genommen, die Mallaig (wie heute noch) mit dem gut 7 Kilometer entfernten Armadale auf Skye verband.

Nicht ganz zwei Stunden Aufenthalt haben die Passagiere des Jacobite Steam Train. Derweil können sie durch den kleinen Fischerort bummeln und den Ausblick auf die Insel Skye gegenüber genießen.

Große Sehenswürdigkeiten bietet Mallaig nicht. Und das Dorf ist auch keine alte Schönheit mit großartiger Architektur. Wir kaufen uns ein Eis, setzen uns an den Hafen.

Wir sinnieren darüber, dass wir uns das alberne Afternoon Tea Paket lieber hätten sparen sollen und besser einen Tisch in einem der Fischlokale in Mallaig reservieren sollen. Das wäre leckerer und wahrscheinlich auch preiswerter gewesen. Hinterher ist man immer schlauer!

Unsere Tischnachbarn kommen auch und setzen sich dazu. Alle sind sich einig, dass das Gebotene völlig überteuert ist.

Auf dem Rückweg zum Zug wollen wir noch einmal schnell die Toiletten im Bahnhofsgebäude nutzen. Pustekuchen! Hier wird pünktlich um 16 Uhr Feierabend gemacht. Das passt ja wieder super ins Bild ...

Um 17 Uhr beginnt die Rückfahrt nach Fort William. Alle haben ihre neuen Plätze gefunden und wir stellen erfreut fest, dass wir wieder mit unseren neuen Bekannten zusammen sitzen.

Plötzlich stoppt der Zug völlig unerwartet auf offener Strecke. Ratlosigkeit macht sich breit ... Der Zug fängt an rückwärts zu rollen bis zur Bahnstation von Àrasaig, das wir zuvor bereits passiert hatten.

Männer mit Schaufeln bewaffnet und einem Eimer Wasser rennen an unserem Fenster vorbei. Dann kommt endlich eine aufklärende Durchsage: der Zug hat mit seinem Qualm und den sich darin befindenden Kohlepartikeln einen Brand verursacht.

Die Dame von Boardservice erklärt es uns genauer: durch das ungewöhnlich heiße Wetter ist die Heide derart trocken, dass halt ein Funke der Dampflok genügt, um ein Feuer auszulösen.

Der Zug darf erst weiter fahren, wenn der Brand gelöscht ist, so die nachfolgende Durchsage. Unruhe macht sich breit, denn einige Gäste haben den Caledonian Sleeper Train gebucht und der verlässt Fort William eigentlich um 19 Uhr. Andere Gäste wollen abgeholt werden oder haben ein Taxi bestellt. Wildes Telefonieren beginnt!

Unsere neuen, schottischen Freunde - mit dem Kilt - rufen ihre Kinder an. Die wollen die Story überhaupt nicht glauben und halten es für einen Scherz, den der Vater ihnen da auftischt. Aber der Papa ist nicht doof und schaltet das Smartphon auf Lautsprecher und wir dürfen alle den Kinder versichern, dass das stimmt.

Unser Ire am Tisch checkt derweil schon einmal die BBC News, ob bereits von einem Feuer in den schottischen Highlands berichtet wird. Alle zusammen denken wir uns spektakuläre Schlagzeilen aus und überlegen, ob wir eine Kompensation verlangen können.

Die Schotten wollen Alkohol als Entschädigung, wir sind - typisch deutsch - f��r einen Gutschein. Jedenfalls haben wir eine Menge Spaß! Irgendwann kommt auch das Zugpersonal wieder zurück. Die Gefahr ist offensichtlich gebannt und die Fahrt wird fortgesetzt.

Gegen 20 Uhr treffen wir wieder in Fort William ein. Wir sind echt erledigt - zum Glück haben wir es nicht weit bis zum Hotel.

Oidhche mhath!

Angie, Micha und Laird Hasenbär

#Fort William #Jacobite Train #Schottland

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travelingue · 1 year

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Isle of Doges (Venice part 2)

On the first morning of our first visit to Venice, the wisest thing to do was follow the crowd. We headed straight to St Mark's Square.

As soon as you get there, you understand why the piazza is so popular. It is lined on three sides by opulent Renaissance façades (pictured above).

On the fourth side stands a huge, and hugely ornate, church. Everything is white, except for a red-brick bell tower in the middle.

The sense of space is all the more striking as you emerge from busy alleys. Suddenly the company of fellow tourists no longer matters: you gasp in wonder, along with everyone else.

We had tickets for the Doge's Palace (Palazzo ducale). That landmark, I knew, was not sponsored by an American carmaker: it was named after the "doges", the men who ran Venice during its 1,000-year run as an independent republic.

But that was the extent of my knowledge. I wondered why the French call it "Palais des Doges" – in the plural. Was there just one or several of them in charge at any one time? How did you get the job? What was a doge's life like?

The answers lay within the Palazzo. First, though, we had to find the building.

It turned out to be located slightly off the square, wedged between the huge church and the waterfront. (The best view is from the canal: the palace is on the right of the picture below, which I took later, in the evening light.)

As you enter the courtyard, more gasping awaits.

At the far end stands the "Giants' Staircase", which leads up to the spot where doges were crowned.

The main structure was built around 1500. The statues of Mars and Neptune were added half a century later. Mere marble steps, apparently, were not grand enough for the occasion.

You enter the state rooms by walking past two other mythological hunks.

I find Hercules clobbering the Hydra particularly inspiring (on the left below).

Then you're led up the grandmother of all stairways, the Scala d'Oro, also built in the middle of the 16th century.

Its appellation is not hyperbole: the ceiling is covered with gold.

The Venetians liked to flaunt their wealth and taste. The Golden Staircase takes you to the Square Atrium, where foreign leaders were told to wait before being ushered into the formal chambers.

From the 1560s, they would have been staring at a carved ceiling decorated by Tintoretto.

The octagonal painting, a sign notes, depicts the doge of the day "humbly kneeling" before figures representing justice and peace.

Thus for Venetian grandees, "humility" consisted in being shown by Tintoretto as visited by the cardinal values of the republic.

The next few rooms are lined with more masterpieces.

A few more Tintoretto, including the Forge of Vulcan above, grace the Antecollegio, another anteroom (the Venetians obviously liked to keep their guests waiting but they did so in style).

The Sala Della Bussola (Compass Room) is described as yet another vestibule – this time reserved for those summoned by judges.

Everything was done to put defendants in the right frame of mind: on the ceiling Saint Mark is shown by Veronese playing Frisbee with the theological virtues:

Inspired as they were by ancient myths and Christian iconography, the artists didn't forget who their patrons were.

The Senate Hall features Tintoretto's “Dead Christ Adored” in which two doges witness the messiah’s final ascent. I seem to detect a hint of artistic sarcasm in their shifty look ("should really be here?").

The palace’s pièce de résistance adorns the Sala del Maggior Consiglio (Hall of the Great Council).

That hall could fit an Olympic-size swimming pool - and, thanks to global warming, is bound to turn into one some day.

The wall behind the doge's throne is fully occupied by Tintoretto's Paradiso. Measuring 22m end to end, it is the largest painting in the world - excepting daubs made for the Guinness Book of World Records.

It took old Tintoretto four years to complete. The 500-odd figures crowding the messiah include angels, archangels, apostles, saints and, of course, a roster of Venetian worthies.

John Ruskin, a notoriously fastidious critic, professed "no hesitation in asserting this picture to be by far the most precious work of art of any kind whatsoever, now existing in the world".

The Sala del Maggior Consiglio brings me to the initial object of our visit: the governance of republican Venice.

La Serenissima is best described as a patriarchal oligarchy. The Great Council was made up of all male adults from patrician Venetian families, irrespective of merit or wealth.

Although never a democracy, this was a form of a collective leadership and thus a bulwark against arbitrary rule. The last thing the nobles wanted was a tyrant.

It is worth quoting the explanatory sign at length on this point:

"In spite of the restrictions in its powers that the Senate introduced over the centuries, the Great Council continued to be seen as bastion of republican equality. The Council had the right to call to account all the other authorities and bodies of the State when it seemed that their powers were getting excessive and needed to be trimmed. The 1,200 to 2,000 noblemen who sat in the Council always considered themselves guardians of the laws that were the basis of all the other authorities within the State."

The council was regarded the fount of all legitimacy: its members elected the doges (one of them at a time, I found out) but also kept tabs on them. In the 14th century, one incumbent was beheaded for trying to set up a dictatorship.

Venice retained a large degree of collective rule for centuries – roughly until the Renaissance. During that period its achievements were formidable. It became the greatest Mediterranean power since Rome.

A technological and cultural innovator, it revolutionised glassmaking and shipbuilding; it invented the assembly line and double entry-bookkeeping; it pioneered globalisation (Max Weber, a German, argued that Protestant northern Europe was the cradle of capitalism: he was wrong.)

Over time, two developments occurred. The first was concentration of power. The daily administration of a growing empire could not be conducted by an assembly of 2,000 people.

The full Maggior Consiglio took a back seat while subcommittees were given various portfolios. In the 14th century, a 60-member Senate took charge of trade and foreign policy. A "Council of Forty" served as a supreme court.

Such specialisation was inevitable, but it led to an erosion of Venice’s brand of lineage-based egalitarianism. Some aristocrats became more equal than others. By the late 1400s, a "Council of Ten" set up to look after security started to watch over other government business.

The second development - decline - is linked to the first. It is a fact universally acknowledged that unchecked rule by insiders breeds decay and corruption.

From the 15th century, the city-state began to lose control of Asian trade routes; rival empires began nibbling away at its far-flung possessions.

Cultural atrophy ensued. The last major building work on the Piazza San Marco was undertaken in the 1580s. By then, the Venetian school of art was dying. The masterpieces in the Palazzo ducale are its swansong.

Incestuous elites managed La Serenissima's decline until 1797, when the last doge surrendered the city to a jumped-up French general (named Bonaparte) who plundered it.

#Italy #Venice #dogespalace

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laltroturismo · 3 months

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7 Days Itinerary For Northern Sardinia Boat Tours

Dreaming of cruising along the glittering Emerald Coast on Sardinia boat tours? A week gives you ample time to explore northern Sardinia’s most spectacular islands, beaches, and towns by private boat. Not sure where to focus or how long to stay? Use this 7-day northern Sardinia itinerary as your guide to maximizing your boat tour. Relaxation, culture, nightlife, amazing food, and blissful days on the Mediterranean await!

Day 1: Costa Smeralda

Begin in Porto Cervo exploring the ritzy resorts, boutiques and bars that define the famous Emerald Coast. The base for 2 nights to catch both sunset and sunrise, with a full day for island hopping to Mortorio or Soffi islets on best Sardinia boat tours.

Best Sardinia Boat Tours

Day 2: Cala di Volpe

From Porto Cervo, spend an afternoon swimming and sunbathing on this world-famous beach with gorgeous views of offshore islands. Its location in a protected cove keeps the calm, crystalline waters perfect for lounging aboard your boat.

Day 3: La Maddalena Archipelago

Cruise up the coast to this archipelago of over 60 islands and islets nestled alongside Corsica. Base for 2 nights in the main town so you can take Sardinia boat tours exploring less-visited outer islands like Budelli, Santa Maria and Spargi.

Day 4: Bonifacio, Corsica

Venture to this atmospheric fortress town perched on Corsica’s southern limestone cliffs just a quick sail from La Maddalena. Wander the citadel then relax over a long, lingering French lunch with calming port views.

Day 5: Castelsardo

Continuing down Sardinia’s northern coast, spend a night in this striking medieval city watching the sunset light up the hilltop castle ruins looming above bobbing fishing boats. Sample local wines before dinner.

Day 6: Alghero

Pause your Sardinia boat tours to spend 2 nights in this historic port city famed for its Spanish charm, bustling marina and aquamarine waters backed by sandy coves. Explore Neptune’s Cave then savor fresh lobster and seafood pasta by the sea.

Day 7: Capo Caccia

On your last day, sail out for some island magic at this rugged cape dotted with deep grottoes and caverns. Visit dramatic Nettuno Cave by staircase or sea then find a secluded cala (cove) to drop anchor for a final stunning sunset.

Conclusion

With captivating coastal scenery, colorful villages and beach bliss, northern Sardinia delivers nonstop magic. This 7-day itinerary covers top sights while keeping a relaxed pace. Base in a few key spots to leave ample freedom to chase island seclusion on private Sardinia boat tours. From the Emerald Coast to Corsica day trips to beach clubs and seafood feasts, embracing la dolce vita comes easy. Wherever your crafted itinerary takes you, prepare for a week of discovering paradise along Sardinia’s glittering shores.

#Sailing in Sardinia #Sardinia boat tours #sardinia daysail excursion #sailing holidays in Sardinia #boat trips in sardinia #Sailing trips #Sardinia sailing trips #sailing excursions #Sailing vacations

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jaydeemedia · 6 months

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[ad_1] Bologna is a self-assured city with a medieval history and a young edgy vibe. Linger in moody wine bars, stroll the porticoes, and discover the very best things to do in Bologna. LAST UPDATE: 22 Oct 2023 Anywhere We Roam is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support – Paul & Mark. Bologna is a city that doesn’t feel the need to dress up for tourists; it’s happy just the way it is. Worn around the edges and slightly scuffed, it’s a contrast from the regular Italian tourist centres. Born of its own character, Bologna is a place that locals know better than tourists. And it feels like that’s the way it’s always going to be. With centuries of history and 85,000 university students, Bologna is old enough to be charming and young enough to be exciting. We have rounded up our favourite things to do in Bologna along with helpful tips for visiting. Get the most out of the beating heart of Italy with our guide to the red city. 1 – ASINELLI TOWER Asinelli & Garisenda are the two main towers of Bologna. They were built to signal the prestige of the families who commissioned them; a trend similar to nearby rival Siena. These medieval showpieces have watched over Bologna since the early 12th century. As the highest of Bologna’s 24 towers, Asinelli has 500 steps to reach the viewing platform at the top. But it’s well worth it. The old wooden staircase provides tantalizing glimpses of the red-tinged city through openings. BOLOGNA FROM ASSINELLI TOWER From the top Bologna glows. Terracotta roofs stretch out in all directions, bouncing golden light back at you. It’s an enchanting view and an unmissable thing to do in Bologna. Aim to be at the top as close to sunset as you can. DETAILS | ASINELLI TOWER cost – €5 / €3 (children, over 65, students) | tickets – advance booking in a reserved timeslot is required | free – with the Bologna Welcome Card ASINELLI TOWER OPENING HOURS DATESOPENLAST ENTRY1 Jan – 8 Jan10 am5:15 pm9 Jan – 2 Mar10 am4:30 pm3 Mar – 31 Mar 10 am6 pm1 Apr – 30 May10 am7 pm1 Jun – 1 Oct (Thu-Sun)10 am8:15 pm 2 Oct – 5 Nov10 am6 pm6 Nov – 31 Dec10 am4:30 pm STAIRCASE IN ASINELLI TOWER VIEW FROM ASINELLI TOWER ASINELLI & GARISENDA TOWERS 2 – SAN PETRONIO CHURCH Bologna still feels like a work in progress and San Petronio Church is a fine example of the city’s personality. Construction began in 1388. After a series of complicated amendments, Pope Pius IV deemed it a pipedream and diverted funds to the university instead. As a result, San Petronio remains unfinished to this day. The bottom half is decorated in marble, and the top half is simple brick. While the inside is plain and not especially a highlight in Bologna, there is one interesting feature. A meridian line was paved into the isle by the astronomer Giovanni Cassini in 1655. With phenomenal precision, the line allowed Cassini to calculate the tilt of the earth’s axis and the timing of the equinoxes. 3 – PIAZZA MAGGIORE & NEPTUNE’S FOUNTAIN Piazza Maggiore is the main square in Bologna and the heart of the historic town. Dating back to 1200, it’s one of the first squares in Italy built after the fall of the Roman Empire. Today, the Bolognese come here to eat ice cream, listen to concerts and scoff pizza in the charming streets that feed Piazza Maggiore. It’s a great place to hang out and explore the mishmash of architectural styles that have developed over the years around the square. Don’t miss the Fountain of Neptune. The trident held by the statue of Neptune above the trickling waters was used by the Maserati brothers as the emblem for their cars. NEPTUNE’S FOUNTAIN, PIAZZA MAGGIORE 4 – THE QUADRILATERO The Quadrilatero is the medieval market area of Bologna with ancient alleyways. It stretches from Piazza Maggiore to the two towers. The Quadrilatero is a bustling area with everything from fruit stalls to high-end fashion, fish markets, and bakeries.

The area comes alive in the evening with both locals and tourists elbowing in for a perfect position amongst the hustle and bustle. Grab a table at Osteria del Sole – one of the oldest inns in Bologna. They provide the wine and you bring your own food. If you don’t want to self-cater, pull up at one of the many places packed into this tiny laneway. QUADRILATERO 5 – TRY THE BEST BARS IN BOLOGNA Bologna is known as ‘la dotta, la grassa, la rossa’ or ‘the learned, the fat, the red’. The fat owing to the profusion of excellent produce coming from this gastronomic region of Italy. The nearby town of Parma is famous for prosciutto di Parma. Modena for its balsamic vinegar. The entire Emilia Romagna region for Parmigiano Reggiano. The food in Bologna is often considered some of the best in Italy. Here are some great bars to enjoy a glass of wine with a few specialties. Enoteca Storica Faccioli // Open since 1924, they know their stuff and it’s a great place to find an excellent (and cheap) wine. The flatbreads are excellent. La Prosciutteria // A rustic, welcoming restaurant where tourists and students mingle on old fruit crates. They have a great selection of cold cuts and sandwiches. Medulla Vini // With in organic wines from Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia, Medulla Vini has a cosy position under the porticoes. It’s a great place to enjoy quality wine while watching the world go by. Caffè Rubik // A bohemian bar in the university district with a pop-art vibe set under one of the city’s ancient porticoes. They have the best amaro list in Bologna – the liquor made from herbs and roots. Enoteca Italiana // A more traditional wine shop in a large space. They have several tables dotted among the wine shelves offering a vast global selection. 6 – BASILICA DI SANTO STEFANO The complex of Basilica di Santo Stefano dates back to the 5th century and at one time comprised 7 churches. Today, only 4 remain in an interlocking series of ancient architectural elements. It’s an incredible place to visit in Bologna and something we highly recommend doing. Entry is via the 13th-century Chiesa del Crocifisso, a barren building with high domes and arches in worn brick. A door to the left at the back leads into the remarkable Church of the Santo Sepolcro. This is an evocative space, designed to look like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Its strange octagonal walls rise to a starred dome and a dramatic crucifixion hangs over the altar. Next is the pleasingly simple and unadorned 11th-century Santi Vitale e Agricola. Bare stone walls are laced with shards of light from small high windows. It’s a step back into another time. After the basilica have a wine or a coffee in Piazza Santo Stefano. It’s a little overpriced but the triangular space leading towards the old church is lovely compensation. DETAILS | BASILICA DI SANTO STEFANO hours – 6 pm to 7:30 pm (Mon) / 9:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm – 7 pm (Tue-Sun) | cost – free but donations appreciated CHURCH OF THE SANTO SEPOLCRO PIAZZA STEFANO SANTI VITALE E AGRICOLA 7 – TEATRO ANATOMICO OF THE ARCHIGINNASIO The Teatro Anatomico is an ornate wooden lecture theatre. The medical school in Bologna conducted public dissections of human bodies here. A marble table at the centre is surrounded by tiered seating. Apollo (the God of medicine) peers down from sunken panels in the ceiling. Carved wooden statues of famous physicians adorn the walls. The most notable is a local doctor who was the first to attempt plastic surgery. Pick him out by the nose he is holding in his hand. The main highlight at the Teatro Anatomico is the two wax statues of skinned human bodies holding the university chair. Don’t miss the colourful frescoes in the Palace of the Archiginnasio – the entrance to the theatre. DETAILS | TEATRO ANATOMICO hours – 10 am to 6 pm (Mon-Sat) | cost – €3 (€3.50 if purchased in advance online) | bookings – online reservations are recommended for Saturdays

TEATRO ANATOMICO TEATRO ANATOMICO PALACE OF THE ARCHIGINNASIO 8 – DINE OUT AROUND MERCATO DELLE ERBE Mercato delle Erbe is a traditional covered market with fruit stalls, cheeses, and Italian cured meats. It’s a good place to potter during the day but the entire area comes alive at night. Here are some of the restaurants we loved. Rush // This corner bar has a great position overlooking the hubbub surrounding the market. Moody music wafts into the street and the drinks are well-priced. Oltre // For an upmarket dinner head to Oltre. The well-renowned kitchen does trendy Italian cooking respecting tradition and modern techniques. Ahimé // Just around the corner from Oltre, the innovative Ahimé has a minimalist design and a regularly changing menu. It’s great for a iversion from traditional Italian cooking. Tigelleria Tigellino // The perfect venue for relaxed handheld street food. Try lassic Italian sandwiches, a diverse selection of cheese, and great values wines. 051 Mercato // Classic Italian dishes in tables set out along the street. It’s one of the best places in Bologna to try the classic Tortellini in broth. 9 – PINOTECA NAZIONALE DI BOLOGNA The National Art Gallery of Bologna was born from the need to rehouse works of art that were suppressed by either the church or Napoleon. Today, the 13th to 18th-century art follows the progression from Byzantine to Renaissance styles. The collection is very manageable and it’s a wonderful thing to do in Bologna. The highlights for us were Christ and the Good Thief by Titian, The Visitation by Tintoretto and Madonna of the sparrow by Guercino. But the collection also includes works by Raphael and Reni. The gallery is well laid out with information panels in English and a handy map to help navigate the space. There is free entry on the first Sunday of the month. DETAILS | PINOTECA BOLOGNA hours – 9 am to 2 pm (Tue-Wed) / 9 am to 7 pm (Thu-Sun) / closed Mondays | cost – €8 (€9 from June to September) | free entry – 1st Sunday of every month & Nov 4. CHRIST & THE GOOD THIEF, PINOTECA 10 – CHIESA DELLA MADONNA DI GALLIERA The Church of the Madonna di Galliera is something of a hidden gem in Bologna. From the outside, the concrete façade gives no clues as to the ornate details waiting on the inside. Originally founded in 1304, the interiors were refurbished in the 17th century to an opulent effect. Painted frescoes adorn the cupola ceiling with artwork hanging from intricately carved niches. Cascading light streams from high windows create an ethereal effect in the beautiful space. Caffè Letterario – Sebastiano Caridi is opposite the church. They have amazing handcrafted chocolates and delicious pastries. Although hot chocolate is their speciality drink, their coffee was one of the best we had in Bologna. Sitting out on the portico in front of the church with a coffee is a great place to watch the world go by in Bologna. DETAILS | CHIESA DELLA MADONNA DI GALLIERA hours – 7:30 am to 12 pm / 4 pm to 6:30 pm (Mon-Fri) | cost – free | address – via Manzoni, 3 CHURCH OF THE MADONNA DI GALLIERA CHURCH OF THE MADONNA DI GALLIERA CHURCH OF THE MADONNA DI GALLIERA CAFFE LETTERARIO 11 – THE PORTICOES OF VIA DI SAN LUCA In the early 12th century, the wealthy of Bologna expanded their upper floors to increase living space. Soon, columns were required to support them, creating the signature landmark of Bologna. Today, there are around 38 kilometres of porticoes in the city. The Portico di San Luca is the longest in the world (and the city) and walking it is a wonderful thing to do in Bologna. It starts at Porta Saragozza and continues for 4 kilometres up a hill to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, passing over 600 vaults. The first part runs along via Saragozza before crossing the road on a beautifully ornate bridge. The section after the bridge is the most picturesque section of the porticoes of Bologna. From here it’s a hefty climb to reach the Church of San Luca.

There are nice views from its panorama terrace, but we would not recommend spending the £5 to go up the dome. A less exhausting option is to get a taxi to the top and walk back downhill. VIEW FROM CHURCH OF SAN LUCA 12 – VIA DEL PRATELLO There are plenty of places to enjoy the delightful tradition of aperitivo in Bologna. But our favourite spot was the cool strip along the lively Via del Pratello. Aperitivo takes place between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm, where you’ll get some free snacks with your drink. There are plenty of places to try – just walk along the street and stop at one that takes your fancy. For dinner, we highly recommend Il Rovescio for the decidedly good pizza (especially for vegetarians). There are also street food joints, lively bars, and traditional trattorias and osterias. It’s a great part of Bologna, that feels much more local. 13 – BASILICA DI SAN FRANCESCO The Basilica di San Francesco is a lovely under-visited church. It was built in a variety of different styles including Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance. A solidarity market is held in the church courtyard under a quadrangle of porticoes. You can find a selection of well-worn goods on sale. The proceeds support the church’s various charities. The flea market takes place between May and June. The San Francesco Market is in September and October. The Christmas market starts on the last Sunday of November and runs until early January. If the markets coincide with your trip, looking for bargains under the towering spire is a great thing to do in Bologna. DETAILS | BASILICA DI SAN FRANCESCO hours – 8.30 am to 10.00 am / 10.30 am to 11.45 / 1.30 am to 17.30 pm | cost – free BASILICA DI SAN FRANCESCO FLEA MARKET AT BASILICA DI SAN FRANCESCO 14 – DAY TRIPS FROM BOLOGNA Bologna’s location in the Emilia-Romagna region makes it the perfect gateway to explore northern Italy. There are several great day trips from Bologna from the nearby rolling hills of Tuscany to Milan. Here are some suggestions. Parma – Visit the home of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and prosciutto. Parma is an hour from Bologna by train. Modena – Famous for its balsamic vinegar and the home of Ferrari, Modena is also an hour away by train from Bologna. Florence – At just one hour by train, enjoy some of the wonderful things to do in Florence on a day trip from Bologna. Pisa – Visit the most famous architecture complex in the world. Pisa is less than 1 hour by train from Bologna. Siena – A beautiful Tuscan city, Siena Italy has one of the best medieval old towns in the world. Milan – Just over an hour by train, spend a day strolling the iconic streets of Italy’s fashion capital. Venice – Thanks to Italy’s fast train network, Venice is only two hours from Bologna by train. FLORENCE PISA MILA SIENA VENICE OTHER THINGS TO DO IN BOLOGNA Bologna is a lovely city with a delightfully local vibe, which we thoroughly enjoyed. But not all the attractions of the Red City could make it onto our list. If you have more time, here are some other things to do in Bologna. CANALE DI RENO Bologna has a network of canals that were created in the Middle Ages for the transport of goods and water. Most our now covered and only a few sections are visible. Canale di Reno is the best stretch, but you only need a couple of minutes to grab a quick photo. MUSEO DELLA STORIA DI BOLOGNA The History of Bologna Museum is a whistle-stop tour through Bologna’s backstory. There is no English on the information boards, but you can pick up an audio guide to help explain what you are looking at. There is very little to actually see in the museum (except for the information boards) so it’s a bit like reading the Wikipedia entry for Bologna. MUSEI DI PALAZZO POGGI There are several rooms making up the museums at Palazzo Poggi. The most interesting is the Human Anatomy Museum which has a collection of waxwork fetuses. There is also a Natural History Museum, a Museum of Ships and Geographical Maps.

They could all be interesting; however, none are set up well for non-Italian speakers. HUMAN ANATOMY MUSEUM CANALE DI RENO MUSEO INTERNAZIONALE E BIBLIOTECA DELLA MUSICA The International Music Museum and Library has an interesting collection of old instruments. It’s also located in a lavishly decorated house. Their key item is the original score of Rossini’s Barber of Seville in Room 7 complete with the old leather binding. MAMBO Like any good modern art museum, Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna or MAMbo, wrestles with social commentary and political power. It’s also a little indecipherable. If you do decide to visit, the History of the 21st Century by Italian artist, Renato Guttuso is a highlight. BARBER OF SEVILLE SCORE MAMBO BOLOGNA, ITALY MAP Bologna is situated in northern Italy, serving as the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. All the must-visit places in Bologna that we mentioned in this guide are on the below map. >> How to use this map / Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations, then click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version in a new tab or the star to save to your Google Maps. WHERE TO STAY IN BOLOGNA Bologna is quite a large city of around 400,000 people, but almost all the sights are in a compact area in the centre of town. If you stay central, you can easily explore this golden gem on foot. Here’s our pick of the best places to stay to enjoy the city. GOOD VALUE B&B TORTE & LINI This very clean and modern redecorated B&B in an old resident’s block is a short walk from Bologna Central and 20 minutes to the main square. It overlooks the train tracks, but double glazing does its job. BOOKING.COM CHIC APARTMENTS L’8 BOUTIQUE DESIGN APARTMENTS Super cool apartments lovingly decorated in a buzzy part of town, only ten minutes from the central square. Some rooms come with a living room, others with a terrace. BOOKING.COM OUR PICK QUIRKY & RETRO ART HOTEL COMMERCIANTI On a quiet lane just off the main square, this quirky hotel makes a great base for exploring the sights. Set in the former town hall, individually styled rooms mix original features with modern additions. Book the limited parking in advance. BOOKING.COM TIPS FOR VISITING BOLOGNA IS THE BOLOGNA WELCOME CARD WORTH IT? The Bologna Welcome Card provides access to various museums, the Asinelli Tower, plus a guided walking tour for €25 per person. You can book it online before you arrive, or pick it up from the Bologna Tourist Office in Piazza Maggiore. If you visited the Bologna attractions we listed in this guide, then the Welcome Card is not worth it. However, if you stay for a bit longer and visit the History Museum, the International Music Museum and do the walking tour, it will pay for itself. BOLOGNA ATTRACTIONS OPENING HOURS Pick up a guide with the opening times for all Bologna’s attractions from the Tourist Information Office in Piazza Maggiore when you first arrive as hours vary considerably. Generally, most museums are closed on Mondays and most churches shut over lunchtime for two to three hours. GETTING AROUND BOLOGNA Bologna is a very compact city and walking everywhere is achievable for most people. Try to stay as centrally as possible and you don’t need a taxi at all. The one exception might be the walk along the Portico di San Luca which is 4 kilometres. BEST TIME TO GO TO BOLOGNA The best time to visit Bologna is during the shoulder seasons of April to June and mid-September to November. Over these times, the temperatures are generally comfortable, there are fewer tourists. However, the population swells by about 100,000 students but this gives it a fun and buzzing atmosphere. As with most European destinations, summer is the peak season when both the temperature and visitor numbers are high. In winter it can be wet and cold with temperatures dropping to near freezing.

FESTIVALS & TRADE FAIRS Most importantly, keep your eye out for Bologna’s many trade fairs when prices for accommodation can double. We visited during the last day of the Ceramics Trade Fair in late September and the accommodation prices were through the roof. HOW LONG DO YOU NEED IN BOLOGNA? Most of the best things to do in Bologna can be seen in 2 days. However much of the attraction is savouring the energy of the city so it’s worth taking your time if you have it. We recommend staying 3 days in Bologna. Two days to see the sights and one for a day trip of your choice. HOW TO GET TO BOLOGNA Bologna has its own international airport (Airport G.Marconi) just a short distance from town. Taxis to the centre of the city cost €25 to €30 and take only 20 minutes. There is also a train service from the airport to the city called the Marconi Express. The journey takes 7 minutes with one stop at Lazzaretto, before terminating at Bologna Centrale. Tickets cost €8.70. BY TRAIN Bologna Centrale is the major train station in the area with direct lines to many other Italian cities in the area. If you are doing a tour of Italy, it’s very easy to connect Bologna with your other destinations. TRAINS TO BOLOGNA FLORENCE TO BOLOGNA From 34 minutes | 76 services per day MILAN TO BOLOGNA from 1 hour, 4 minutes | 71 services per day VENICE TO BOLOGNA from 1 hour, 15 minutes |45 services per day ROME TO BOLOGNA from 2 hours | 93 services per day MORE ITALY GUIDES ANYWHERE WE ROAM IS READER-SUPPORTED If you found this guide useful, booking your trip via the links on this page earns us a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can also buy us a coffee. Big thanks – Paul & Mark. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM // FACEBOOK [ad_2] Source link

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