Bologna and the tips to visit it

First time ever in Bologna!

The first city I arrived to in Italy was Bologna. my flight had landed there. My feet touched the ground and I hope in the first bus that I could find that takes me to the station. I had to be in Rimini soon before the last train leaves. I reached the station, I had a lot of bags with me, so it was hard for me to run. I left one bag and go with the second to buy the ticket as soon as I arrive I see police standing around it thinking it was a bomb. They asked me to keep it with me as bags in the station is like leaving your bag alone in the airport. It is not acceptable. So, I had to take them both at the same time. Some people are nice, they were helping me into carrying it on the stairs. I reached the gate where I assumed I should be. Until one guy working there saw my ticket and told me I’m in the wrong direction as there is east and west in Bologna station. I had to run to reach the other gate. I reached it and found out that I no longer have my ticket. I dropped it while walking. The funny part it I saw it with a crazy lady in the station. But I could not take it from her. I go with the bags one more time I buy a new ticket and hoped in the train that was the last one going to Rimini. I reached Rimini after midnight where a new chapter opened in my life.

Bologna Winter!

The first time I went to Bologna was in December 31. We had planned to do new years eve there. What a bad idea it was. We took the train from Rimini at 10 and reached Bologna at around 11:45. We go directly to the main square for the count down. It was so crowded, and people were already drunk. You could smell things burning as a kind of ritual for them. We reached the countdown at the end, so we didn’t waste much time in the square. We went after it to a bar we heard about. Unfortunately, it was closed. Most of the bars were closed that night. I don’t know if it was because of their safety or maybe because the locals wanted to party as well. Not a lot of places were open on new years eve. It was a bit strange. We found out at the end a bar that was crowded with people with one more table available. We ran inside and take it. we wish we didn’t. people were so drunk that they were just spilling their drinks on us. They didn’t apologize, and it was not much to say as they were drunk and don’t know how to behave. We ordered our drinks and got something totally different. Not surprising right? At the end we left as nothing was going according to plan, we could not even hear each other talking or yelling at that time.

As we were walking around the centre to find a place, everything was either full or closed. We were hungry cold and needed to use the bathroom. It was such a bad combination. But I believe everybody must experience it. we found a bar that was serving food. The food looked so bad, but we needed to use the bathroom. We stood in line to use the bathroom, 2 hours to reach our turn. We only took water and left to the station thinking we could catch our train back to Rimini.

We reached the station, it was full of people. I never saw the station of Bologna so crowded and it was around 2 in the morning. We see the first train Is at 6:00 am. We couldn’t believe our eyes. We were already so tired from the night that we just wanted to sleep. We went to a restaurant in front of the station because we wanted to waste time in a warm place.

The service was so bad, and they were trying to steal from us while serving us. The food was so bad. The people there you could see them coming alone to the restaurant and getting drunk and making a fool out of there selves.

After eating and paying more than we should have, we went back to the station waited a bit more and caught the first train back to Rimini.

After that night I promised myself I would never go to another city to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Bologna with Eva!

Eva is one of my best friends in Lebanon. We met while we were working together. After I came to Italy she came to spend Christmas and New Years eve with me. I went to Bologna airport to pick her up. She came with 2 big bags, we had to put them in the station, so we could travel light around the streets In Bologna. we didn’t use gps to go, so we ended up in a small restaurant where the food was not the best. We were a bit upset of what bologna is when we left the restaurant. Until we found a street that lead us to the centre. The centre was something else. Even the decoration in Christmas were amazing were you could not miss taking a picture of them. We set in a very nice bar in the centre. It was on the balcony where you could see everybody passing buy. We finished our cappuccino and started touring around Bologna centre. Eva wanted to do a bit of shopping, so we started with the big shops. She bought a lot of stuff for her family back home. A lot of places were on discounts during Christmas period in Bologna. we met one of my friends there. She was international with her friend who was local in bologna. they showed us around the city. The magic things that Bologna has to offer. We even went to an ice cream shop where they sell one of the best ice cream that I had ever tried. We had the chance to see the centre during the day and on Christmas. As the sun was setting we could see the beauty of it even more with the Christmas lightning. In a short time we had to leave to catch the train back to Rimini.

Summer Bologna 2016

I always passed by bologna when taking the airport back to Rimini. But I never travelled in it until I started by internship where in the summer of 2017. I applied as a waitress in one of the hotels there.

In the summer bologna is so hot. There is no sea to get at least a bit of breeze I arrived the first day just to sign my contract and take my keys to my future house for the following 3 months. I was living in a compound with all the rest of the staff while at time I still haven’t officially met them yet. The next day I went to work. As soon as I arrived with my broken Italian, I was asking the way to reach my department. I realised the people who worked there didn’t even speak proper Italian. I was relieved that this hotel was an international hotel with international employees. They showed me the way to my department where the staff where busy to greet me that they only waved at me while I was introducing myself and they carried on with their duties. I wanted to help just to fit in but I remembered that I haven’t been trained yet. Who was I even trying to fool?

The restaurant was starting to get busy. So I carried on with the rhythm and started helping them out as much as I could in serving tables and refreshing them for the turnover. Still I haven’t spoken properly to anybody and I was still feeling a bit left out. After the busy time we had to remove the buffet and put everything back. By the end of the shit we had sat all together and took our lunch break. We started talking a bit but I could feel that the team was not that bounded with each other as if you could feel the drama. After lunch we had left work all together in the same bus. I was happy as I still didn’t know the address of our house completely, usually it takes me 5 times going back and forth to memorize a street. I am not too proud of it. I went home with one girl named Lydia. She is so sweet. She was from Dublin and had come here to Italy with her best friend who at that time I haven’t met yet. The next morning while I was waiting for the bus, I met Lydia and her best friend Justina. We became friends after that. They started training me as they had started 3 months before I did. We hit it instantly. Thanks to our sense of hummer being so related. In a couple of days, we created a strong bond.

Being both from Dublin the mentality was like mine. They were so easy going and fun. They didn’t make their lived difficult. They introduced me to an Irish bar there that I would had never found in a million years. We used to spend most of our times there.

We had a lot of nights going to the irish bar getting drunk that going to another discotic next to it to continue our night there. Our shift was mainly am in the morning as we were required to do the morning buffet for our guests at that time. Imagine leaving the party at 5:30 am in the morning going back home to get ready and go to work. The shift would had been so awful but we couldn’t care as we had our memories from the previous night floating in our heads. After working one month in the hotel I had to transfer in another hotel that was for the same owner but he had two hotels in the same city. I was so mad that I had to change work!

As I arrived at the new hotel. I met the manager there. She was so sweet. She started doing for me the orientation around the hotel. I got to see the difference in the training between this and the other hotel. Even the staff had a very good bond with one another. I met two friends for Lydia and Justina as they all went to the same school. There internship was a bit different than mine. Theirs had to be not less than 6 months while mine not more than 3 months. Thiers was obligatory while mine was optional. They had a big pressure on them. They could not joke around as the mark of this internship relies on their graduation.

In the other hotel I met a girl from Budapest the other from Dublin and the third from France. They were all so sweet. I was the eldest, 25 at that time and them still 20. I felt like I was their mom. Sad but it is true. In no time we started all going out. Both hotels staff started to unite and get together from time to time. After all we were all international students and didn’t know anybody outside the circle, so we only had. We never really had a lot of days off together and when we did we knew it would be worth it.

We had a routine. We couldn’t stay home. We get up at 5:00am go to work. Finish at around 13:00 go home take a nap for around 1 hour. Shower and meet at the bus stop to go to the centre. We were a bit far from the centre. Me and Justina always thought about our morning wake up that we used to leave earlier than the others. One time I was doing am with Lydia and Julia the French girl. The three of us were doing the am shift. The night before we all had went out to party that me and Justina had to ditch them earlier. At 5:30 I had to wake up as soon as I did, I got a text from Lydia texting me that her and Julia just finished partying and they are still drunk that they don’t know how they can make it to work in 30 minutes. I knew they were in a such place. So I told them just call in sick. That day at work was so crowded. The occupancy was so high that the tables in the breakfast was full. It was only me and anther girl from Austria and the assistant. The assistant of course knew that Lydia and Julia were lying. She was super mad at them all the shift. People didn’t even feel sorry. The next day they had went to work and they had taken a remark from the manager of f and b. it wasn’t something to worry about, and as I told them at that time it is all memories just create them now and don’t forget your still young.

Bologna is such a nice place. It has magic in it. there is a place in Bologna where you talk and a person on the other side of the street could hear you. We used to do it all the time. You would hear people just saying non-sense to each other.

There is a window where you open it and see Venice. As if you were in Venice. It was such a nice place to witness and still a bit weird to see it in Bologna. the statue in the centre had also another say. Sundays were the weirdest. Everything would be closed even the road for you to take the bus they would change it.

I remember when we used to go Sundays to the centre to shop. Than drink our aperitive there with all the touristic. For me if I see a tourist enjoying the city where I am living in, I would start enjoying it. it is a small reminder that I should enjoy every single step in my life and not to take it for granted.

A lot of concerts used to play there. One-time Bruno Mars came. It was such an amazing day. It was full of international people than Italians. I believe they travelled just to meet him. Even live he has such an amazing voice. His presence on stage is something to remember.

On Saturdays after work we used to take our bikes to the park and do sunbathing at the pool. If I had to give a word to bologna I would say hot or green. I wasn’t living in the centre, so we were living a bit up where it was filled with trees and what comes with trees you ask? Bees. Which I used and still till today hate.

The first day I met my flatmate in Bologna, I had to wake her up to kill a bee for me. I didn’t want that to be our first meeting, but I couldn’t help myself. She was a bit strange sometimes, but she had a nice heart. Unfortunately, we are not in contact anymore. Sometimes you have friends just for the season and it is true.

The last month my third month in bologna was coming to an end. We started one by one leaving home, for me it meant going back to Rimini. As soon as one leaves they started to bring the new staff. The new staff were such different than us. They all came from rich background. Everyone used to speak around 5 languages. For them it was so bad to share the house with another person. They never cleaned the house as they were used to having people do that for them. We never clicked it off. One time us the old staff went to eat sushi we met the new ones by mistake in the restaurant and we had to sit all together. It was so awkward but now funny. They new we were trying to ignore them and same goes from their side.

One time my best friend had came as a surprise to visit me in Bologna. he was living in Rimini at that time and she was and still in Torino. As much as I kept saying Bologna was so hot and dry well it was not that day. With them they brought the cold and winter. It was such rainy day in Bologna when they came. We had found a very nice typical Italian restaurant in the centre. We never really went to an Italian restaurant that served primo secondo and dolce. It was that time that we had to try it. we sat outside., we all ordered the same. Antipasto at first and then it was followed with Riso con peace. We drank our coffee and carried on with our day as it also started to rain heavily. We found a small coffee where we could hide a bit and had a drink and decide what to do. We really wanted to go see a movie. But of course, we had a problem. Not everyday the movie is on in Italy plus it was not easy to find an English version. We started googling sites and calling people to find out if there is something open. Uncordially we didn’t find anything. We ended up going to the park and taking pictures as soon as the rain stopped. I also showed them the magic of bologna where they were impressed as well with it.

After that we went to the centre to get a gelato. It was the first time I see bologna after a rainy day. It still looked amazing. The people you can see them suddenly in their jumpers as if they were waiting for a winter day. We enjoyed our gelato on foot and we ended up in the Irish bar. I knew I had to present them to it. as it was my number one spot in bologna. it was half full of English people. They music was Irish like the one you would hear in the movie called PS. I love you.

As the day came to an end, my best friend had to leave and go to their cities. I was so happy to see a familiar face after being alone for 3 months. But I knew I would reunite with the again.

The last month I had to say goodbye to the girls as they were going back to Dublin. We had a nice lunch all together and I helped them pack. It was a sad day as I knew the chapter was closing. Our goodbye was a bit emotional as I was escorting them to the taxi. We knew our friendship was strong, but we didn’t know if we will meet again or not. We still haven’t met yet.

I had the following 20 days and I would be done with my contract. At that time, I was in the other hotel. Me and the other Dublin girl jenny and the girl from Budapest Nikole started to hang out a lot. The building they were living at had a rooftop accessible for the neighbours. We used to do BarbeQ upstairs and put music and start to sing alone sometimes the new staff would come and join in. we used to stay until midnight. Jenny and Nikole were a bit crazy, fun crazy of course. They never really cared about the consequences of their behaviour.

One time we were sitting and just talking the normal stuff such as what do you want to put on you bucket list. They both said a tattoo and we ended up going to the tattoo place where they had a matching tattoo. For me this was something I would never try. Even though they tried to convince me a lot!

The last week was a bit rough on me. I was having some problems with my roommate and I was saying completely goodbye to my chapter in bologna and going back to Rimini where I didn’t have a house anymore.

I used to go back and forth from Bologna to Rimini. I had to take some exams still at that time. When I used to step in Rimini I used to see it so small comparing to Bologna. I used to think international people were all in Rimini, but I was wrong when I saw Bologna.

Mercatos always attracts me in Italy. It doesn’t mean you are buying a bad quality it just means your not paying that much or better, you are investing in your money. Sadly, in bologna I never bought anything from the mercato and after leaving bologna I heard that the options there was really a lot.

With what is Bologna famous?

Bologna is famous of course for its pasta Bolognese. I used to have it a lot there. It was so delicious. The ice-cream shops were not something to remember comparing them to other shops in Italy. They have a lot of international chains of restaurants. The style of the people it did not amaze me like the ones in Rimini. But still bologna had its magic in it. a lot of concerts and a lot of famous people would come. When I hear about Italy I would think of Rome, Milano, Venice, Florence… but I never thought about bologna or even got an introduction about it. I’m surprised when I see people there.

What to see when you are in Bologna?

Saint Luca is also something worth visiting. It is inside of Bologna. it is up on the mountains. The best time to go there after the sunset where you can see the beauty of it. one of our friends had a car, we used to go with her. Bring some snacks and sit in the car and see the sun set setting.

Ibiza is a city next to Bologna. we went one time by train to it. it is famous for its tower that looks like it is falling. You see all the people holding their hands towards it. it is also full of tourists. Especially during the period that I was there.

Given that Bologna was the intersection point between a lot of cities. You can go to most of the cities in Italy directly. I went one time to Milano from Bologna. I didn’t feel the distance as it was not that far from it.

What not to do while living Bologna?

If you don’t have a car be careful when you go out late at night always check the time table of the busses. Bologna is not walking distance to reach your destination and in case you don’t want to pay for a taxi, I suggest you to always be alarmed for the bus time table.

Don’t be too social in Bologna with strangers. It could be a bit weird as the conservation starts with a question mark. You only see them pushing their chair and sitting with you.

As it is an international destination I recommend you find international friends. I didn’t get the chance to meet Italian Bolognese in Bologna to show me around the city, but I still had discovered it by myself. Even if Bologna has some secret places fill with magic, you don’t need a local person there to show you the way. I believe you could do it by yourself.

How to live in bologna with a student budget?

Before I applied to the hotel, I knew I wouldn’t afford my summer while living in Rimini paying rent and without having a job. I found this hotel that takes students. The rent would be covered and in return you will be getting 300 euros per month. It is not much but at least for three month I knew I had a place to stay, let us not forget that also the food was included.

Do you need to speak Italian in Bologna?

Of course, it depends on the work you are doing there. But if it has to do with hospitality or some international chain, not speaking good Italian won’t be so hard on you.

How to spend your money wisely while living in Bologna?

Like other cities in Italy, Bologna has two kinds of supermarkets. The one which is expensive and the other one that it is not.

You should do a budget for at least week by week. Try not to eat a lot outside the house, unless if it is served by your work. Go have aperitive where it is filled with locals not foreigner it is always the best way to spend your money, also the quality would be better. Buy the public transportation per month so you won’t have to pay the ticket day by day. It always costs higher.

What you might dislike?

In the summer on a personal view I hated the bees, but this is my story as I was not living in the centre. We were staying in the compound for all the staff members.

If you cannot stand the heat, then bologna is not for you during the summer time but try to consider it in the winter than.

Winter in Bologna!

I can’t say a lot about the winter time. But during my stay I encountered some rainy days. It was filled with wind as if it was January time. I believe winter is a bit harsh, I also remember one of my friends who was living in Rimini was originally from Bologna, she was stuck in Rimini because it was snowing in Bologna. at that time no snow was coming towards Rimini.

Is it worth visiting it while visiting Italy?

In case you are traveling by to Italy and you are near Bologna I would recommend it. but if you are not intending to come to Italy, I would not recommend you come just to see Bologna. as Bologna can be done in 2 days and after that you would like to explore your vacation in a different city or maybe a different country.

Internship in Bologna?

I would highly recommend it. you would meet people from all over the world. You will gain experience and most importantly you would be having fun. I believe we should always explore our options and go a bit further.

Partying in Bologna?

Bologna could be a good place to go dancing, but unfortunately it doesn’t have that much of place to go to. It has a couple of discos who are opened once per week. In case you are there in the summer, they could also close for a month or so as a summer holiday. So, in case you would like to go party in Bologna I would not pull your hopes up.

Is it a place where you can hang out alone?

Italy is known to be a romantic place. Being alone in any city in Italy could not be so easy as people are so romantic. You could see them and imagine you and your partner are together. But of course, there is some sightseeing could be done alone but I recommend you visit

any city in Italy with a partner if he or she is present.

Why Bologna?

I didn’t pick Bologna, as it only happened by chance. I was just applying randomly to internships that one of them clicked to by demand.

Would I live again in Bologna?

At this moment in my life I would not think about it. as I am now living in another city that I will be sharing it with you shortly. I also have the love of my life here with me.

I believe every city has its own magic and story, and for me Bologna was the summer 2016 that I will keep remembering about it.

Are people stylish?

People in Bologna have a style. But so far after the people who live in Rimini I have not found people more stylish than them. So, in case you want to consider shopping or taking fashion advise Bologna is not for you.

The entertainment In Bologna?

You could always go out for aperitive in Bologna or only get something to drink while sitting in the centre. If you have friends, it is amazing but if your alone it could feel lonely at the end!

Which season is the best for Bologna?

After passing through all I could say Christmas in Bologna is very nice. You see the decoration of the lights. Especially after the sunset where the light would be reflecting on the sky. During December it is not raining and during that period I don’t remember it being even cold. It had a melody in the winter. I would recommend it winter with no doubt.

Last words about Bologna!

Bologna is a lovely city. It is in Emilia Romagna. It is not so big and not so small. Not big that you could take a metro because it doesn’t have and not to small that it could be considered to walk on foot when being in it. It is known for the magic it carried. I heard it had 7 magics but I would love to experience it before googling what are they. It is a truly touristic place. The prices are alright compared to other touristic places. You could find interesting things to do but it all depends on your interests and tastes. It is a place for people for all ages

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