That’s a bunch of Turkey….Just kidding it’s Bologna

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This Thanksgiving I was in Bologna, Italy spending it with two friends from back home. While Thanksgiving obviously isn’t celebrated outside of the States, most exchange schools put on a dinner for the Americans. Miguel, Ashlynn and I had dinner at a restaurant that made a “Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner”. They first brought out bruschetta, olives and other Italian foods. Next, came the pizza! I know, it sounds like I didn’t have Thanksgiving dinner at all, but that was just the appetizer.  Finally, after two hours of eating Italian foods and chatting with Americans and Italians, the turkey came out with an American flag sticking out of it along with sparklers. It might have been the most American turkey out there! Spending time with my friends on Thanksgiving was fun!Friday morning we woke up early to head to Florence. Miguel and Ashlynn had never been there, so I showed them around. We climbed to Piazza de Michelangelo and visited the basilica San Miniato al Monte. It was beautiful. The basilica overlooks the entire city of Florence at one of the highest points. The Romanesque basilica is said to be one of the most beautiful churches in Italy and I can confirm that it is my favorite so far. Although it is not the biggest, it is the most decorated by far. Geometric shapes cover the tiled floor and stripes are on all sides.

Every church that I have visited in Italy has unique characteristics. Some are simple, some are extravagant and some are big and some are small. What I love about Europe is that everything is old. We have very few places in the States that have such beautiful architecture and nothing is as old, clearly because we are the “New World”. I am lucky to have been able to see the east coast in the States. I’ve seen Plymouth Rock and Jamestown. The States has a different beauty that I love.

Being the adventurous person that I am, I led Miguel and Ashlynn through the streets of Florence not knowing where I was going. As we strolled thru the streets, we stumbled upon a Synagogue and decided to see what one was like. I have never been in a Synagogue before the one in Florence. There were palm trees in the garden in front of it.

Being thankful for family is something that I appreciate more now that I couldn’t spend time with them this year.

Now That's a Bunch of Bologna!

B-O-L-O-G-N-A

Now that the song is stuck in your head, you just pronounced the name of the town Bologna completely wrong. I traveled to Bologna to see my friend Miguel in the town that he is studying abroad in. A month ago he traveled to my town of Trieste to visit and now it was my turn. Bologna is beautiful. It is the largest city in the Emilia-Romagna Region in Northern Italy. The city of about 300,000 people dates back to 1000 BC and was first under the rule of the Etruscans then later Romans. Over 40-km-long  porticoes make the city of Bologna one of the most unique cities in Italy. There are over 600 arches in the city lining the streets. It is a beautiful site. Good thing I have a friend who lives here to be my tour guide. Bologna was once walled in and still parts of the wall is present here today. It is interesting to think that people would wall in their cities for protection. Could you imagine your hometown with a giant wall around it, letting only people who were from the town to enter. I only spent a brief time here in Bologna, but I enjoyed the time visited. To view more photos from Bologna please view Hannah Swick Photography- Bologna

Porticoes

Leaving Bologna to head to Cinqueterra!

-Ciao