Bologna
Last Week on the Road
My Epic Journey So Far
Today’s Weather Report
Day 121 in Bologna and the weather’s playing a game of “chase the gnome”! Scattered clouds winking at me from the sky, a cool 13.47°C, but feels like 12.36°C on my ceramic skin. It’s just humid enough (57%) to keep my paint fresh and shiny. But the wind at 4.63 m/s is fast enough to give me a gnome-sized combover. Good thing I’m bolted to the ground or I’d be a garden gnome kite! Ah, the adventurous life of a traveling gnome!
Bologna: Canal-dly Surprised!
One might wonder, how can one possibly have a journey within the same city? Well, let me tell you – it’s not about the distance covered, but the depth of the experience! In my journey from one side of Bologna to the other, I discovered something truly fascinating: the city’s hidden canals! Yes, you heard it right. Bologna, known as “La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa” (the Learned, the Fat, the Red) has a hidden, ancient network of canals, once used for transport and commerce! Isn’t that something?
As the famous Italian saying goes, “Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco” – Not all donuts come out with a hole. Not everything in life goes as planned, but sometimes, the unexpected turns out to be even better than the original plan. Who would have thought that a 0.0km journey could be so fascinating?
In the past four months, I’ve been on the road for 120 days, journeying through the charming towns of Legnago, Ferrara, and Imola, covering a total distance of 3379.4 kilometers. Each place, each culture, each language, has its own beauty and charm, and I’ve been privileged to experience it all.
Stay tuned for more of my adventures in beautiful Italy. Remember, “Chi viaggia vive due volte” – He who travels, lives twice!
Until next time, Arrivederci! (Goodbye!)
Wandering Bologna’s Streets
Gnome’s Petite Pastiche
Painted en plein air while taking in the sights of Bologna.
— Oliver the Gnome, aspiring artist
Bologna: Brains, Bellies, and Bolognese!
Yet, Bologna isn’t just about learning; it’s also about indulgence. The city’s nickname “la grassa” (the fat) comes from its culinary tradition. Bologna is the birthplace of ragù alla Bolognese, a hearty meat sauce that has warmed my ceramic heart during my visit. As the Italians say, “A tavola non si invecchia” – “At the table, one does not age”.
In Bologna, the old and the new, the intellectual and the sensual, coexist in a fascinating harmony. It’s a city that truly embodies the Italian spirit: Bold, vibrant, but always, always, a lover of life.
Belly and Soul Bologna!
Bologna, the gastronomic heart of Italy, is known as La Grassa or “The Fat One” for its rich, hearty cuisine. The city boasts the title of inventing the world-renowned Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, a pasta dish with a slow-cooked meat sauce. But beware, locals will frown upon you if you call it “spaghetti bolognese”!
The Bolognesi are also proud of their cured meats like Mortadella, a delicious, fatty sausage. Pop into any Salumeria (deli) and you’ll find a cornucopia of these delights.
“Bologna is a city that feeds the stomach and soul,” as a local once told me. Or in Italian, “Bologna è una città che nutre lo stomaco e l’anima.”
So, when in Bologna, eat as the Bolognesi do!
Bologna’s Gnome-Grown Gems
See you tomorrow!
Around the World on Foot, in Many, Many Days 