Blogs from Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Europe - page 6

From Bari to Bologna 10th June to 6th July Stranded on the Amalfi Coast Well stranded may be a bit overzealous, but we were definitely stuck longer than planned. The windy mountain roads and long downhill stints over the last month or so took their toll on the brakes meaning all four pads needed replacing. Not an easy task when on the tip of the outcrop of land that the Amalfi Coast sits on. So if the Mountain won’t come to Mohammed, then the mechanic must go to the campervan. He looked more like a farmer who’d spent his life chewing on unlit cigar stubs and drinking red wine, and his car looked like he’d drank red wine before getting in it but to be fair he managed to source the right parts and come and ... read more

Ten years ago we drove to Florence and have had nightmares ever since. Today, with the help of our on board navigator, leaving Florence in morning rush hour traffic was a breeze. We leave Florence knowing we have seen what we came to see. It was hot and beginning to get crowded but full of excitement and activity. We started our trip by heading for Forli on the eastern side of the mountain range that forms the backbone of Italy. The road zigzagged its way to the summit and down the other side. It was slow going but the scenery was great. Passing signs of “chains to be fitted” and “snow ploughs” gave a hint of what it must be like in the winter. Forli was not really our destination but just somewhere for the GPS ... read more

Monday 14th March to Sunday 17th April 2011. Bologna Monday 14th March 2011 It was raining, so housework day and recuperation for Tom. Tuesday 15th March 2011 Up and into Bologna – with sort of an itinerary – but we both feel great as there is no rush to things. So we wandered to the bike touring club – closed until 6.30pm – so no worries – then went to Ferramenta where went on Saturday looking for some stronger tent pegs, but they didn’t have any, and again they were very helpful to point us in the right direction. The owner recognized us and came up and said hello and shook our hands as if we were old friends. So out we go. At the main centre of town, the Piazza Maggiore, we come across the ... read more

Today is public holiday here for all saints day but lots shops open half day & most importantly, maxs beer shop across the way is open till 8 pm (run by a man of ethnic origin!) We visited the most famous church in bologna called st. petronas, (all the sites r in walking distance.) This church planned to b bigger than st peters at vatican but 169 years after it was started the pope stopped the money on construction and directed it to the university instead-bit unusual eh? It never was finished so not as decorated inside as others but is very large and very gothic in construction. There was a church service going on in the fron t portion & it so big us tourist at back didn't interfere with it at all. The rest ... read more

Um bom Menegassi à Itália torna Para um melhor efeito, leiam o diálogo seguinte em voz alta e com intensa gesticulação: “- Buongiorno! Come sta? - Bene, grazie! E tu? - Molto bene! Io vado in Italia! - Ma tu parli l'italiano? - Io sono un Menegassi, capisce?!” Como um bom Menegassi, estava na hora de viajar! Já havia mais de dois meses que eu estava em Bordeaux, e até então, em função do estágio, a maior viagem que tinha feito fora passar um final de semana em Biarritz (ver ). O feriadão de Toussaint, no começo de novembro, era então a primeira boa oportunidade. Há duas maneiras distintas de se decidir o roteiro de uma viagem assim. A primeira, mais comum, é ter em mente um destino desejado, e a partir daí procurar alternativas para ... read more