My posts will start to settle down from now on as I work to find a life in Bologna without the aspect of touring/ moving. It is hard but it will happen and writing an email/ blog each day will not be of great interest to anyone. So…every few days/ weekly depending on what goes on. When I have things of interest to report, I will of course. A trip to Lyon is coming up so I will be full of it then I’m sure.
The weekend in Bologna was quiet for me but not at all quiet for Bologna. This place just teems with people over the weekend. The centre is closed to traffic and out come the people in their masses. It’s gorgeous, but it’s oddly isolating as well. It’s a weird feeling having no-one you know nearby yet being part of so many people. I wander around and get to know the city…still finding surprises everywhere and places I haven’t been but gradually becoming more and more familiar. I buy my daily gelato and I sit in the sun…I’ve worked out the sunniest spots to sit and fortunately the sun is still shining very bravely despite losing a lot of it’s heat. Yesterday I went to the National Art Gallery which I enjoyed for a couple of hours. I’m getting to know the Bolognese artists but wish I knew more. I may just explore the option of courses that teach me, although I only have space for one course at a time and it will be a major challenge to learn Italian when I return from Lyon.
AlJazeera has become my friend, as did Tyrion Lannister…sadly that friendship ended and now I’m trying to bond with Nucky Thompson again but it definitely isn’t the same…give me a dwarf any time!!! I have started to read The Age each morning with my coffee. I love going out for my morning coffee and my Dolce Vuota (cwassant)!!, it gets me out of the house and now I take the iPad with The Age to keep me up-to-date…to the extent that I even chose a horse to bet on for the Cup this morning…Ang has my instructions!!
Everything around here closes at 12.30-1pm and doesn’t open again until 4pm. I find that really hard to get used to. For these 3 hours the trattoria’s are full, full but if you don’t want to have a massive lunch the rest of the place is totally deserted. I don’t know how the Italians aren’t fat, fat but they aren’t. I think it must be all the walking they do.
That’s it everyone. Ups and downs. Times when I miss home just SO much like Cup Day which you wouldn’t know was happening here. Times when I wonder what the hell I’m doing but overall I’m managing and surviving and enjoying Bologna…it’s a truly great city. I live for those precious times when I meet up with one of you…hence the onus is a bit on Ham and Ariane at the moment/ this year. I just can’t wait to see them and get a few great big hugs.
More when something happens
I think you will find that we are interested in the small stuff. In fact I would say that i am more interested in the small stuff than ‘went here, went there’ as I like the personal side of what you are talking about. I like the food, the people, the routines, the feelings you are describing. keep it up! Lizzy