Blogs from Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Europe - page 38

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Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Bologna May 22nd 2007

Day 3. Today we tried to take it easy primarily because of the heat that has descended on the city. Chris was saying that Bologna has a lot of cleavage (we are not talking about bonds breaking here, use your imagination) and the heat has certainly added to that (we won’t be posting any photos as evidence). Adding to the sweltering feeling is the almost negative breeze, lots of stone and brick and very little green space. We gingerly walked around until we found a restaurant in which to have lunch called Franco Rossi (the A/C felt great). Apparently John Grisham named it in one of his novels and they have a little John Grisham shrine and a John Grisham tasting menu. Hope that doesn’t turn you off from trying this restaurant because the food ... read more
Jose watching the Giro
Law school courtyard
The medieval city gate

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Bologna May 21st 2007

What a clusterfuck (excuse my language). I just attempted getting on the train to Bologna and I’m shaking so bad my hands can’t form the words that are flowing so rapidly from my brain. I don’t know where to sit, put my bag, or even know how to breathe. Anyway, it’s all right. I’m on the right train, terrified that when they come to stamp my ticket I’ll be thrown off for who knows. Just as long as I can make it to Bologna and then attempt yet another train. ... read more

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Bologna May 21st 2007

Day 2- First stop - Piazza Maggiore, the most famous place in Bologna. A beautiful, artichectural study in the middle of a large piazza. Although the Basilica de San Petronio is unfinished, the shear massive size of the building is quite impressive. We missed the walking tour in English (1 time only during the day) so if you are in need, plan accordingly (we had Jose the historian who took up the slack). We explored the small market streets to the east of the Piazza Maggiore and found a wonderful café to have lunch (Bar Calice on Via Clavature). It was great sitting on this tiny medieval street watching the world go by, we tried the local lambrusco (quite refreshing) and ordered the antipasto. Suffice to say, we don’t remember the name of all the ... read more
a tiny market
the antipasto
View from torre Asignelli

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Bologna May 20th 2007

We are in Bologna. When we travel we like to get to know an area so we are using Bologna as our home base for a week while we take a couple of trips into the nearby cities. We hope to get a pretty good feel for Bologna and start to get a feel for Emilia-Romagna. The trip over was quite smooth. We drove to Montreal and took off from Dorval to Amsterdam and although we’ll have a wait at the border to get back into the US on our way back it will be worth it as it was our shortest trans-Atlantic crossing (5 & 3/4 hrs). This was much appreciated since trans-Atlantic crossing can about as much fun as a digital exam. The Amsterdam-Bologna flight was uneventful although flying through the Alps with ... read more
A parade of carabinieri
Torre de Asgnelli

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Bologna May 19th 2007

Sara and I went shopping downtown Milan. We went to H&M, Zara, and a few other cute places. We had a cafe breakfast and saw Via Montenapoleone, the street where Gucci, Prada, Pucci, Bulgari, Ferragamo, and other fine expensive designers have their showrooms. Unbelievable. I wish I could have replaced myself with Stephanie for just the day, she would have died. Simple dresses marked and 9,000 €, not including shoes, bags or accessories. (For those of you not crazy about converting the $ to the €, its $1.37ish for 1€). ... read more

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Bologna May 18th 2007

Today began rather late. I woke up at around 10:30 am, when David and I had scheduled to begin biking. But the sleep was necessary because I had not slept for 2-3 nights at best. The day began beautifully. We prepared for our bike ride and set out with no real course. This left the route to David’s imagination, and in my estimation he did a great job. I can only explain that the true pleasure came from the ease of the ride on the flat city streets and bike paths. The difficulty, however, lay in multitasking; paying attention to cyclists, cars, and motorbikes. Not to mention trying, at the same time, to look thoroughly at the changing scenery. We saw the old Roman ruins that sit on top of a still functioning bath house; the ... read more

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Reggio Emilia May 18th 2007

I can't leave Emilia Romagna without talking about edible life. Nevermind the sights, what you eat is the most important thing, and of course, those who share in your meal or had a hand in its creation are revered. People aren't joking when they say they left Italy ten pounds heavier; they are dead serious, but I'll bet they leave satisfied and content. Once at home, they must have visions of dream banquets that just don't manifest quite like they did in Italy. According to my father, his sister - my zia pia is simply the best cook, like his mother, and it's true! Breakfast was a light affair, little cakes with tea, perhaps an espresso. Lunch was delicious, sometimes pasta con ragu (which is a buttery, creamy, tomato and meat sauce) with salad and ... read more
about to eat
prosciutto con melone
the house

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Maranello May 17th 2007

On the side of the Autostrada near Reggio Emilia, there stands an effigy of a ferrari and a sign advertising the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy, the birthplace of Ferrari. It was something I had to see and how could my father possibly refuse, they have a place in his heart as well, so we set off to find it one afternoon. It was just him and I this time and we managed to get really really lost. We ended up taking backcountry roads and kept missing Maranello somehow, which means when we finally reached Maranello and saw the first prancing horse, it was already 5pm. Tensions were running high, as we were both frustrated and worried, my father about getting lost again on the way home, and myself about it being too late to go ... read more
Gilles'
Enzo and Dad
Glamour days

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Bologna May 15th 2007

"Hello is Mrs Bent..ivg..olio.. there?" People mess up my last name allllll the time. In fact, if you don't, I am immediately impressed and automatically like you. Italy knows me! Italy is the ancestral home of the Bentivoglio family. I've always been brought up to be very proud of the name and the history of the family. The fact that the lineage can be traced back to the time of the Renaissance has always made me proud and I could often be heard saying "we're in the dictionary!" in my snotty little voice as a kid. The family crest was subtly displayed above the mantle for years and I was more than excited to finally see some concrete evidence with my own eyes, both by checking out Bologna - their old-times seat of power, and the ... read more
Gualtieri clocktower
frescoes
Bologna city square

Europe » Italy » Emilia-Romagna » Bologna April 30th 2007

RITORNO A BOLOGNA Dove tutto ebbe inizio Arriva un momento nella vita in cui non rimane altro da fare che percorrere la propria strada fino in fondo. Quello è il momento d'inseguire i propri sogni, quello è il momento di prendere il largo, forti delle proprie convinzioni. Sergio Bambarén Passate le festività di Pasqua, decido che è giunto il momento di tornare a spostarsi. E poi, ho un piccolo progetto da realizzare: raggiungere Capo di Buona Speranza! Un falso storico fa credere alla maggior parte della gente che questo sia il punto più a sud del continente africano, ma non è così. Il vero punto dove l'Oceano Atlantico e quello Indiano si incontrano, è 300 km più a sud-est, a Cape Agulhas. In ogni caso Capo di Buona Speranza, anche senza questo primato, per fascino e ... read more
CAPE POINT
CAPE POINT
CAPE POINT




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