It’s the end of day 2, and we are in a soulless Holiday Inn Express outside Bologna.

The novelty of driving endless kilometres with two cats and one husband is wearing off, and I’m beginning to wish I had packed 12 litres of tonic to go with the 4 litres of gin.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m obviously enjoying spending quality time with the husband, but because of the cats we are not doing this journey how we would really choose to do it; nipping off piste to find the hidden gems that make a journey. Nope, we are hurtling along the motorways ever conscious that the cats are trapped in their boxes with no bathroom, lunch or dinner stops.

Today’s route saw us shaving the edge of (but not quite entering) Germany, and doing the stunning drive through Switzerland before crossing into Italy. This is the third time we have done this drive and I never tire of the scenery through the Alps which takes my breath away at every turn, although I really do need to think ahead and pay more attention to make sure it’s not me (again) that has to do the drive through the 16.92km long Gotthard tunnel.

We change over literally 2 km’s from the tunnel entrance with me thinking ‘I’m sure there is a horrid evil tunnel around here somewhere, but I must be imagining it because surely my loving husband wouldn’t be suggesting we change over right before it and make me do the monotonous drive for the THIRD time…’.

The Evil Swiss Tunnel

Driving through that tunnel is like having a frontal lobotomy for a full 20 minutes. The lighting strips passing overhead at precise intervals have a hypnotic effect and it is only by turning the volume up and belting out whatever happens to shuffle around the iPod that I can stay both sane and awake. Two essential things to be whilst driving. Next time I’m not falling for an early change over request.

Our last visit to Bologna was magical. This time we are in a transit hotel a step away from the motorway with our only food options being a McDonalds or a plastic Italian chain outside a supermarket complex. We plump for the plastic Italian (it does, after all, sell wine by the carafe) and end up having a delightful meal in dubious surroundings washed down by a cheeky litre of house red. Bellissimo.

Day 2 Summary

Distance: 693km

Country Count: France, Switzerland, Italy

Hours in the car: 7

Cat fights per hour: 4

Total fights per hour: 4