Europe 2007

Bologna - The Two Towers by Night

Literally translated, La Grassa is "The Fat", and rightly so. After the culianary disaster that is Venice, Bologna has set our stomachs (now slightly rounder) back on track with some magnificent home style pastas and antipasti the last two nights.

For those without the knowledge, Bologna is the birthplace of such luminaries as Mortadella, Tortellini (and its fat cousin Tortelloni), Lasagne, and Spaghetti Bolognese, which of course the locals don't call Bolognese, but instead Ragu (and they don't eat it with spaghetti either, but Tagliatelle).

We've partaken in these delights in two small trattoria in the student district of Bologna, and both nights the food and service have been wonderfully italian. Tonight in particular, when our food arriving at our table was accompanied by a flurry of activity, with no less than six bottles and shakers of assorted vinegars, herbs and spices arriving in quick succession. We also sampled the local Lambrusco (a sweet bubbly red), which was brilliant.

Outside of the delights our tastebuds have encountered, Bologna has also provided one of (if not THE) highlights of the trip so far, at least for Nick - a guided tour of the Ducati Factory and Museum. The Factory was fascinating, and we saw the very place our multistrada was constructed by loving Bolognese hands. The factory is quite small, and very hands on, which is enough to make any ducatisti gush with pride. There will be plenty of photos to follow (we took almost 100 in the museum alone). Also, we were quite welcome there, thanks the the recent exploits of Aussies Casey Stoner and Troy Bayliss in the Racing recently.

Nick and Loris Capirossi's MotoGP Bike

We're out of time now, so arrividerci!