Italia!

My Ohio roommate was in Italy for work, and graciously invited me to join her and travel Italy together. I flew in Bolonga, in northern Italy, for my first ever Italian adventure!

I connected through Amsterdam and got my first taste of Italians on the flight to Bologna. They are not rule followers or expected to wait their turn or in line. I finally made it off the plane and found the Marconi Express from the airport to the central train station with surprising ease. Guglielmo Marconi, the father of wireless, was a childhood idol of mine and it was wonderful to see him memorialized in his hometown. If you ever want to experience Cedar Point for a fraction of the price, I can highly recommend the Marconi Express. Seven minutes and twelve euro later, we arrived at the central station with the noise of the Millennium Force and the twists and turns and shaking of the Top Thrill Dragster. The small individual pods added to the mesmerizing if not isolating experience and I was grateful for solid ground. 

Michayla met me and we walked to the hotel. Bologna was filled with gorgeous porticos. The ancient rulings mandated them, as the roads were dusty and filled with sewage. The porticos offered shelter from the elements, as well as a place to sell their wares and meet together for discussions. The porticos are tall enough to accommodate a man astride a horse. It was absolutely incredible not to wake up with an alarm the next morning. I availed myself of a still surprisingly delicious egg salad sandwich, courtesy of KLM airlines the night before. I topped it off with some fruit and meats from breakfast before heading out into the town. There was a public train strike, and I found the rail workers filling the streets leading to the central square. 

Nonetheless, I explored the central area, the windy streets, and the beautiful churches. I found myself at the University of Bologna and entered their anatomic theatre. Here, students of medicine learned about the body from cadavers, placed on a central table. I also visited the beautiful law lecture hall as well and looked down into the courtyard. I was also rudely cut in line by a French father with his kids. I found a gorgeous church where I sat for a few minutes, admiring the architecture and reflecting on the beauty of Bologna. 

As I walked to the hotel, I stumbled across an outdoor flea market, and a record stand caught my eye. For the admirable price of 5 euro, I found an unopened record of Giuseppe Verde, an Italian composer, played by the orchestra of Bologna!! Further along, made my traditional foreign grocery stop, choosing an Aldi close to my destination. I bought a pack of pear juice boxes, peach and rise iced tea, strawberry chocolates and the most delicious box of raspberries ever. 

Once inside with Michayla, we headed out to a little stand she had found and shared delicious fried tortellini with parmesan cream sauce, and a mollo bollo, rolled bread dough stuffed with cheese and meat. 

After, we walked through the town to the convention center, where we boarded a bus for Reggio Emilio. It was absolutely incredible to visit this center and learn about their hands on philosophy for training. Much of what I heard on the tour further inspired me in my daily job. The tour ended with a brief time of refreshment. I downed a mixed fruit juice, thinned with sparkling water. We attended a tiny balsamic and cheese tasting. First, we got a raspberry, that was held out upside down and filled with a raspberry coolie and balsamic reduction. Next, we had a piece of candied grapefruit drenched in a pool of balsamic. Finally, we had giant chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano dipped in a balsamic. There were also tiny spoons to taste the 50+ yr. aged balsamic as well. There was a snack tray with fresh bread, more Parmigiano,  and some cold cuts as well. 

On the way home, we stopped for the first of Italian gelatos, and I had a lovely raspberry and pineapple combo. 

The next morning, I got up early and caught the first of the San Luca express. While many walk the pilgrimage up to San Luca, I knew my body would not appreciate the arduous climb up the world's longest portico, and I happily shelled out fir the tiny train to take me up there. The audio guide shared interesting facts about the gorgeous ride, but the breathtaking vistas from the top were truly special.  Due to time and tiredness, I opted not to climb the dome but return to the hotel via the train. 

After checking out, Michayla and I enjoyed a pasta lunch. I had verdi lasagna bolognes. Green lasagna noodles, layered with a delightful Bolognese sauce and bechamel. After lunch, we took the train down to Rome, passing gorgeous mountains and vistas through the Italian countryside. 

The train ride invigorated us, and after checking into our hotel, we made our way to the populous areas. Our first mapped stop was the Lego store. We saw a centurion in the window, and a beautiful "tapestry" of the Trevi Fountain as well. Along the way we passed the Spanish steps. We meandered through the beautiful, charming streets, and found the Pantheon as well. Our other destination was the Trevi Fountain. We asked a restaurant host if it was possible to get through their patio seating to the fountain, and he assured us it was. On the exit, his colleague handed us their business card, and after throwing a few pennies into the fountain we returned for dinner. We had Aperol spritz and carbonara and bruschetta in the gorgeous outdoor area. 

And this is where I stopped writing in the present, so now my brain has to go back to our delightful weekend in Rome. We saw the Colosseum, ate piles more pastas and gelatos, and managed to also find the prison where Paul and Silas were thrown into. We also went to the Vatican. It was incredible to see the artwork, as well as the beautiful basilica. We saw Peter’s crypt, and also attended mass. It was a truly wonderful time of worship in the heart of such a significant church. 

Rome also included some crazy bus rides and drivers, but it was a magical time, and I can’t wait to go back to Italy!