Bologna: food, arches, more food & a leaning tower

11 April 2024

We've settled into our abode for our short, 3 night, stay in Bologna, though there are some deficiencies, like the verandah door doesn't lock and the wind can blow it open, like it did last night and woke Mandy up 4 times to inspect. ( https://www.airbnb.com/trips/v1/4bb80848-68a7-44f7-8bdf-8ae5903ee621/ro/RESERVATION2_CHECKIN/HMWMHXKE2X )

A lazy morning was followed by a walk for a late brunch, just across the plaza from our apartment.

We strolled around the local neighbourhood and took in some beautiful sites including arches, arches & more arches. Real estate piqued Mandys interest at one stage with some beautiful houses for sale in the window of a local realtor, couple of acres, beautiful house, pool, gardens but I don't think Bologna is really a relocation option.

Off we headed again taking in the Museo Davia Bargellini, unfortunately I was unable to take photos of the multiple Jesus murder paintings, blown glass pieces from the 16th century, ceramic plate pieces or the 17th century horse-drawn carriage, the feature exhibit. I was permitted to take a photo of the advertising poster however.

We took a few turns and found a nice place to have lunch, some pastries and a drink.

Continuing on we saw more beautiful architecture and came upon the big tower with the smaller leaning one; we immediately knew where we were. Taking another turn, we ambled down 'éat street', packed with lunchtime diners. Eventually we came out in, what was obviously, the main city plaza, Piazza Maggiore. University students sat on the ground everywhere so we had to weave our way across to the Sacrario dei Caduti della Resistenza per le Liberta e la Giustizia, obviously a photographic memorial to those who died in the cause for freedom and justice between 1943-45 (or as best my Italian can translate). One also has to remember that Bologna is quite a communist leaning city, mainly because of the university, the oldest continuously operating university in the world, founded in 1088.

Leaving the students behind, we made our way down several lanes & streets and eventually found ourselves in the Santo Stefano & Mercanzia Square, outside our apartment.

Downstairs for pre-dinner drinks at 051 restaurant/cafe and we stayed on for dinner, an amazing veal schnitzel with prosciutto & a cream sauce on top (wish I'd ordered it) and a sliced steak fillet for me, which was really nice also. Off to bed now & hopefully some sleep after last nights interruptions.

12 April 2024

A very lazy day spend doing very little, though we both did get haircuts, separately. I went to Sala de Barba across the plaza from our apartment while Mandy went to the other side of the apartment, on Strada Maggiore, to the Etoile Salon.

The sign on the window said in neon, or LED, Gino, so I suppose that was my barba's name. I always love rocking up to a barbers in a foreign country and getting a haircut; you never know what you're going to get as neither of you can properly converse to direct the other in what is required. I've been fortunate so far and never walk out looking like some Albanian punk.

His barba shop was over 100 years old, as he showed me with great pride, the 100 Anniversary book that had been published showing him with, amongst others, the former Italian Prime Minister, the Bologna Mayor and numerous others. There were also pages upon pages of letters from, obviously, famous Italian people, jazz musicians etc who had sung the praises of him & his shop. There were also photos of the original owners, I don't know if they were related as neither of us spoke a word of each others language.

He did have a great collection of old shears that I managed to espy & photograph.

The usual pre-dinner drinks were consumed at 051 restaurant/cafe with our lovely waitress, Silvia, then a meal in 'éat street', then home to read & sleep. The town is starting to get hectic tonight, Friday, and seats are scarce at all the restaurants.

Off to Rimini tomorrow around midday for a couple of day on the Adriatic Coast and a visit to the 5th smallest country in the World, San Marino.