Bologna, You Weird Little Gem (and My Damp Socks)
okay, so. bologna. i didn’t really plan to come here. i was supposed to be in florence, you know, the usual tourist trap. but my train got…rerouted. something about track maintenance. honestly, i’m not even mad. florence is lovely, sure, but bologna? bologna’s got character.
i just checked and it’s…a persistent drizzle. like, the kind that soaks through your shoes and makes everything feel vaguely melancholic. hope you like that kind of thing. i’m currently huddled in a tiny cafe, nursing a cappuccino that’s probably 80% foam, and trying to dry my socks on the radiator. glamorous, right?
this place is…different. it’s not trying to be anything it’s not. no perfectly curated instagram squares, no aggressively charming waiters. just…real. i spent the afternoon wandering around, getting hopelessly lost in the porticoes - seriously, those things are a maze! - and stumbling upon the most amazing little shops. i found a vintage record store (obviously) and a place selling handmade pasta. i’m pretty sure i ate my weight in tortellini.
“Don’t go to the Piazza Maggiore after midnight. Apparently, there’s a…situation. Something about students and questionable decisions.”
and the food! oh my god, the food. i’ve been reading up on the local cuisine - check out TripAdvisor's Bologna food guide - and it’s insane. ragu, mortadella, tagliatelle… i’m already planning my next meal. i overheard a couple arguing about whether to put cream in their ragu. cream! apparently, that’s a cardinal sin here.
if you get bored, modena and ferrara are just a short train ride away. i’m thinking of popping over to modena tomorrow to check out the balsamic vinegar factories. i mean, when in italy, right?
“The Gelateria Gianni is the only place to get gelato. Don’t even bother trying anywhere else. Trust me.”
my neighbors seem…chill. mostly older folks walking their tiny dogs. i saw one guy watering his window boxes with a watering can that looked like it was older than me. it’s a good vibe.
okay, quick pro-tip list, because i’m feeling slightly organized for a moment:
Wear waterproof shoes. seriously. the drizzle is relentless.
*Learn a few basic italian phrases. even just “grazie” and “prego” will get you far.
*Get lost. seriously, just wander. you’ll find the best stuff that way.
*Eat all the pasta. no regrets.
*Check out Yelp for some hidden gems:* Yelp's Bologna recommendations
“Don’t ask for ketchup. They’ll look at you like you’ve grown a second head.”
i’m also trying to find a decent map of the city. the tourist information center was…unhelpful. someone on a local forum (Bologna Uncovered) suggested a specific shop near the university. i’ll check it out tomorrow.
right now, i’m just going to finish my cappuccino and try to salvage my socks. bologna, you’re weird, you’re damp, and you’re growing on me. i’m also looking at some apartments on Idealista. maybe i’ll just stay forever.