The whole town reminded me of something out of a movie or a book. The oldest university in the world is in Bologna and most of the other buildings are very old as well, and the traditional Italian architecture is very prominent. Every time I turned a corner, I felt like I was staring at a post card. There's no other way to describe Bologna other than simply perfection.
Our first night in Bologna, Paige and I found this wonderful little Italian pizza restaurant where I got the biggest piece of pizza I have ever seen in my life, and it was absolutely delicious. The pizza was followed by the best gelato I've literally ever had in my life: vanilla gelato with green apple and pistachio pieces, and a little honey mixed in. I'm telling you, it was heaven on a cone. We also got very lucky and found a GREAT deal on a 4 star hotel. And when I say GREAT deal, I mean the hotel was cheaper than the hostel. Absolutely nothing could have been more perfect about this trip.
We spent day two just roaming the city. It was Sunday, so when we first went out that morning mass was just ending and as we walked down the streets, I could hear church bells ringing all over the city. The sound of the bells mixed with the warm Italian sun and the picturesque architecture of Bologna really made me feel like I was in a dream. I kept telling Paige she was going to have to drag me on the plane the next day, because there was no way I was leaving such perfection on my own terms.
That morning for breakfast we stopped at a bakery and had fresh baked croissants and espresso. I don't know if it was the location I was in or the food itself, but I really think that was one of the best meals I've ever had. The day only got better from there. Once we walked into the city, we stumbled upon some type of procession of people playing music, waving incense, and carrying around a statue of a saint. Perfectly Italian. I'm not sure exactly sure what the procession was for, but it was beautiful. The whole scene made Bologna even more dream like to me; I really was living in a movie. Paige and I kept running into the procession as we winded down the tiny streets of Bologna, and every time we ran into them, we had to stop and stare because it was really just that mesmerizing.
We ended the day with a nice dinner at an outdoor Italian cafe. Having already had pizza and gelato, there was one Italian staple still left on my list: spaghetti. So dinner was of course, the best spaghetti I've ever had in my life. Paige and I split a bottle of wine at the cafe and decided to call it a night. I've never been so sad for a day to end.
This may have been my first trip to Bologna, but it definitely will not be my last. The 2 days I spent there were by far the most I've felt at home since arriving in Europe. Everything I already knew and thought about Italy was once again solidified in my mind. I know I will be returning some day, and hopefully for much longer than 2 days.
Next stop: Lanzarote, Canary Islands. (I live a rough life, I know.)
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