Pisa - There's a Leaning Tower!

We treated ourselves to a day out in Pisa to see the leaning tower, and to discover if this Tuscan city might have something else to attract visitors. We followed the tourist trail marked on the map and didn't find much to interest us, and we were re-acquainted with the time-honoured tradition of closing all the shops at midday for the customary four hour siesta. 

Nonetheless, we enjoyed a very nice lunch at a bar on the Main Street, walked up inside the famous tower to the viewing area, visited the Duomo, (who knew Pisa had such a magnificent duomo?) and finished the day at our new favourite place back in Bologna for wine and snacks - bread, cheese, meats and grilled vegetables. Dinner not required.

Bologna (cont.)

It was a bit damp today, but wet streets are quite nice to look at, also.  This is one of the main thoroughfares, via Indipendenza.  There are 40 kilometres of covered porticos in Bologna, many of them with beautiful frescoes adorning the ceilings.

As in most Italian towns, there is always something going on - today there was a mini-festival featuring singers, musicians and other cultural performers.  These three girls could really belt out a tune.

It's our second time in Bologna.  Last time was four years ago, when we visited hoping to see The famous Neptune's Fountain in the main piazza.  The fountain was there, but it was switched off and dry.  Nothing has changed.  There is still no water in the fountain.  The wheels of restoration are very slow in Italy and nothing happens overnight.

These lads were performing feats of gymnastics in the main square as we passed by this morning.  You can't see that from this shot, so you'll have to take my word for it.  :-)

In Piazza Maggiore it is traditional for anyone who wants to speak publicly to be able to do so, from this little footstool which is passed from speaker to speaker as people gather around listening to impassioned speeches about all manner of things from political issues to bicycle safety.  It's fascinating and would be even more fascinating if we understood Italian...

Bellissima Bologna....

Here we are in Bologna, or "Fat City" as it is sometimes referred to by Italians who don't live here. It's a town that's central to the food culture of Italy - think Bolognese sauce (of course!), Parma ham, Modena balsamic vinegar, veal parmigiana and Parmesan cheese for starters.  

There are so many things to see and do (and eat) in Bologna that it's hard to know where to start. 

Our journey over the next two weeks will take us to some of the magnificent university libraries, a plethora of churches, numerous restaurants, the opera, food tours, and a cemetery thrown in for good measure. 

What follows are just some first impressions of the city - please check back for further updates.  The first photo is the view from our apartment balcony - even great on this overcast day!

Night Reflections, Vespa Tour and Food, Food, Food

Today we spent some time touring around Rome on Vespa motor scooters (as passengers) and saw many great things in and around the city. What follows is a collection of photos taken last night and during our scooter ride. The evening was spent on a foodies' walking tour of the Trastevere area where we were forced to stop at eight different locations to eat and drink some fabulous food and wine! Such is life in Rome. 

Rome - The Eternal City

We have visited Rome several times before, but there are always "new" things to see - not new to Rome, but new to us.  Sometimes there are slight differences, sometimes there are slight disappointments (the Trevi Fountain, my absolute favourite site, is currently covered in ugly scaffolding while it undergoes repair work) but Rome is always magnificent. 

Here are a few shots we've taken over the past couple of days - along the Tiber River, around Campo Di Fiori, the Jewish ghetto area and the Great Synagogue of Rome.  We're staying in Rome for another few nights, so more photos will be added.