ARRIVAL IN BOLOGNA

We arrived at the airport and got settled in the lounge and Sharon was diligently studying her Italian.  

We had been able to send all our suitcases through without any extra charge.  We had asked the cost of sending the second bag and because the plane was full he said they were allowing people to check second bags free.  We were so happy!!!!!!!  So nice not to have to drag those heavy suitcases around and lift them into the overhead.  

She looked up just long enough so I could snap this picture.  

We got settled into our "digs".  It's a very comfortable apartment - 2 bedroom ,2 bath.  Nice kitchen but once again we didn't have an "american coffee maker, electric teapot, or toaster.  We did have towel warmers in the bathrooms and bidets so all is not bad.  

A nice patio where we can enjoy having coffee or as shown - wine :-)!

After settling in we set out to explore a bit.  Some of you are probaby wondering why we chose Bologna and not some other better known northern city like Verona or Vicenza, or even Milan.  We definitely looked into those places but the rents were extremely high and the selection especially limited.  Vicenza because of the military presence there offered no apartment availability.  I had heard some good things about Bologna so we checked into it and found a selection of apartments to chose from that we could afford even though this is the highest rent we've paid thus far.

After a few days of exploring I think we're definitey going to enjoy the city.  We love the colonnades which are everywhere in the city.  Protection from rain and sun.    

The city is a bit depressed.  As Carlotta our residence manager told us - it was such a beauitful city but the economy now in Italy is so poor things are suffering.  Bologna doesn't get the tourist revenues that the other more famous cities get which enables them to keep up their appearance. 

Many freso's are along the colonaded walls.  

Lots of eating places.  

The towers of the noble Bologna famiies, built between the end of the 11th and the first half of the 13 century, were a defensive means and at the same time, a status symbol.  The higher the twoer the greater your status.  There are more than 20 towers left of the original 100.  The exact location of 52 others is known.  The towers literally crowded the inner part of the city first, and most ancient, lines of walls definding an area of almost 50 acres. 
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We found the Wind store and got "connected.  New SIM card and another telephone number.  

Our street. 

We live half way between two major streets that take you down to the very center of the old city.  Easy walk.  Lots of restaurants on the street.  Great location.  We even found a shop that an electric teapot and a toaster so we are in business.  We still haven't found an american coffee pot so will continue to drink instant - not so good.

But,  we did find a great little coffee shop so we can go out and get a cup but always with milk in a big cup!

A morning in the beauty shop.  

The process and the finished product. 

Paula is the owner and we had so much fun with her and her partner Louisa,  They don't speak English and depite Sharon's studying and tutoring me, we don't speak Italian.  We had stopped in the day before and one of the customers was English speaking so we explained to her what we wanted done and she interpreted our wishes we showed up the next day and it all turned out well.  

Now we're ready for Easter!

These are hollow chocolate Easter eggs with a gift in a plastic egg inside.  They are located on the streets and in various stores and come in all sizes.  We were recipients of one from the grocery store - it was our initial shopping so we spent quite a lot.  I think that's why we got the egg.  We've been munching on it every since.  We had a little rubber footall shaped ball inside ours.  Now Sharon and I can play catch when we're not reading or blogging.  

We happened upon this little area on our way back to the apartment one day.  Lots of restaurants and wine bars.  My kind of place!  There's also an art gallery, pilates studio, and other little shops.  Just a cute place nearby.  

We walked through the gallery and at the other end we came out on a lovey square and  explored a bit but will put pictures from the Santo Stefano Basilica on another blog.

We made reservations for Easter lunch at a little restaurant right down the street that came highly recommended - Osteria Broccaindosso.  Don't you just love our Easter outfits.  Well maybe you've seen them before.  If you'll notice we really dressed up we put rings on and different earrings.  

We ordered a primo course, a secondo course, some Contorni (a vegetable and a potato side)and had dessert as well.  Way too much food.  We could have split everything and been fine.  

Sharon had a traditional dish in Bologna - Tortellini en Brodo.  She let me taste and it was soooooooo good!

I had a traditional pasta - homemade with sausage.  Also very good.  We were full after eating our primo curse.  

This was our second course.  We could certainly have split this.  Pork cutlet with ham and cheese.

As we were eating we noticed desserts were being delivered to the people aross from us.  We just had to ask if we could take a pciture.  They agreed!  That's four desserts.  You take what you want and then it is returned to the kitchen or passed to the next table.  The young lady s poke English so we were able to have a little conversation and she volunteered to take our picture. 

A nice light dessert.

The best thing that happened is they took our food to the kitchen and returned with a doggie bag.  We are now set for another meal.