Our Bolognese Weekend

Here are some highlights:

23.9.11

Ada and I went to the Biblioteca Salaborsa (the beautiful public library in Bologna that sits just off the Piazza Maggiore and on top of some ancient city ruins of Bononia). We go here about every other day. On Friday it was empty, a rarity. This meant Ada had full reign of the place and boy did she take advantage of it.

Later, Ada explored in the back yard with Dad while I made dinner. She ate lots of dirt at leaves. Her favorite. We ate leftover Chicken Tikka Masala (I had to search high and low for ginger, and even still it wasn't a great batch. Maybe we should stick to a more Mediterranean menu. . .)

After dinner we headed to the park (just a few minutes from our place, off Castiglione). Ada coughed up a leaf she had eaten earlier in the back yard. Nice work, Dad.

We took a detour on the way home and stopped by our  favorite gelateria (La Sorbettaria). Ada scored a free wafer by being extra cute and wearing shoes with cat faces on them. She was an extremely happy baby. And even happier when we shared the real goodness (oh chocolate gelato, why must you be so tasty?)

9.24.11

We made a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. We rode our bikes (about 5 - 10 minutes from our front door) to the base of the portico that leads all the way to the basilica (another 3.5 km that takes way longer than 5 - 10 minutes to walk). It's one of the longest porticoes in the world (666 arches. Yes, on purpose).

Panorama features are fun, but so hard to get straight. This was my best attempt.

On the way back down. Down, down, down, down (did we walk all the way up?) down, down.

Here's a view from half way up the Porto San Luca. Bologna is incredible. Seriously incredible.

We came home, wrestled Ada for hours trying to get her to sleep or eat, or do something besides whine (please can we get into a groove soon???) and soon after we put her to bed, my dream-come-true next door neighbor (go to about minute 2:29), Clementina brought over a cake for Ada. I guess when we poked our heads in to say hi earlier she told her she would (I truly wish I understood more Italian).

Well done, Ada. Very well done.