iView Bologna

 Making music magic

 An oasis in a desert of bolognese (yes, those are french fries with my sashimi, don't judge)

 

 I've always been lucky in the roommate department

Ain't no party like a random street fair

The Night Market

Earlier this week, a friend of mine invited me to the Mercato della Terra-Bologna, a nighttime Slow Food market in the city center. I hadn’t heard much about the Slow Food movement in general so I was excited to see what it was all about. And with all the chaos of getting settled, I hadn’t really had a chance to explore Bologna at night. So we waited until the sun went down, and set off on an adventure.

We walked and walked, google mapping our way towards the unknown, finally turning down a suspicious alley and hoping that we wouldn’t be disappointed. We definitely were not.

The Mercato was quite the scene. Couples milled about from stall to stall examining cuts of organic meats and cheeses and families sat for a late dinner at the bar.

After a look around, and having a taste of a delicious organic beer, we ordered a chardonnay each from the bar and sat at one of the long communal tables. 

On our way out of the Mercato, we took a shot in the dark and turned into the nearby garden. We were determined to find the source of the heavy bass and guitar streaming through the night air. Wandering past the local university students drinking and playing cards on blankets spread over the grass, we came upon a large open green that overlooked an awesome urban park. There was a live rock band going strong, another bar, and a flea market of about 15 stalls! All tucked away amidst a massive old stone building.

I later learned that this space is the Parco del Cavaticcio, an urban renewal project that opened in 2011. The site is that of the old port of Bologna. Local partners, including the Mercato, maintain the space and there are events held there nearly everyday.

After another hour of browsing and enjoying the band, we headed home thoroughly pleased with ourselves for our ‘discovery’. The Mercato is open every Monday night during the summer, and every Saturday morning during the rest of the year. It’s located in the courtyard of the Cinema Lumière.

More about the Slow Food Movement here, very cool.

Permesso di Soggiorno

Italian for Residence Permit. Also translates to a week of your time and most of your sanity. But being a resident of Bologna does come with perks.

Bologna is a short little city, so this is the view you'll get from pretty much anything above 6 floors.

My flat is perfect. In a building above a cafe, close to school, and down the street from a main piazza. It's owned by a professor (currently taking leave) so the corridors are lined with books. Any subject you want, you could find it here. So far, I've found texts in Italian, English, German, Spanish and French!

There's a table for eating. 

And a sun room for sitting.

And a bedroom for sleeping. I have yet to unpack or decorate, but it's got all the essentials. A bed, a large desk, a window that overlooks the small piazza, and CLOSET SPACE. 

The best part are all the tiny details that make the place feel really homey.

Oh, and I have a roommate! Her name is Sirtaj, she's from Chandigarh, India, and she's pretty fantastic. Expect to see more of her (mostly in an upcoming expedition to an Indian restaurant here in Bologna).

Aemilia Hotel Bologna

the room

 the food (from the bar, the restaurant is closed for the holiday)

the view

How to move to Italy

How to move to Italy: In 9 simple steps

Prepare
Start by booking as many connections as possible on the worst airline you can think of.

Step 1- Excess baggage
Pack two overweight, over-sized suitcases. This will not only grant you the joy of paying the second checked bag fee, but you will also get to experience the exhilaration of searching for a carry-on bag, to repack 15 pounds worth of shoes, less than one hour before your flight departs.

Step 2- Run 
Run fast.

Step 3- The layover 
Try to include a four hour layover in a city where you’d much rather be out of the airport. Bonus points if you’re stuck in a terminal with no cell service. Calm your nerves with carbs.

Step 4- The omen
Find the creepiest child possible and sit behind them. This will provide six hours of bone chilling, airplane hide-and-seek.

Step 5- Due diligence 

Don’t forget to make sure that your bags have been checked through to your final destination! Make sure to assume the competence of every airline employee with whom you come in contact, this will matter later on.

Step 6- Deodorant 
At some point, around hour twenty-one, you will start to smell. Your deodorant will be at the very bottom of your bag.

Step 7- The upchuck 
Take the window seat next to the little girl who is sleeping peacefully. Not to worry, she will soon wake up and proceed to vomit for the entire two-hour flight.

Step 8- Lost 

This is where step five matters. The airline will lose your luggage. It’s important that you’ve made no effort to learn Italian. That would move things along too easily. You will arrive at your hotel, discouraged and luggage-less. You'll need something to wear after your shower. Make use of that infinity scarf you carry around for no real reason.

Step 9- The hunger games 
If possible, try to arrive in Italy during a holiday. Bonus points if the city is abandoned.

Try finding food.

That's it. You're done. You've officially moved to Italy. Congratulations.