This morning was not so unlike most mornings. I wake up at 08:45 and log on to check my e-mail, Facebook, and other websites. Then I turn on my tablet and check in on my Clash of Clans base, run a few attacks and upgrades in Boom Beach, and then work the farm on Hay Day. Cinzia joins me about an hour later. She makes herself a café and is on her tablet doing much of the same. Later in the morning one of us will check restaurants or attractions in Bologna and as lunchtime rolls around we’ll get ourselves out of the apartment.
Today I found a highly rated trattoria that just happens to be around the block with a view of the canal. We arrived at 13:00 only to be told that they were full. We've encountered this before where the host says, “We’re full” as they stand in front of several empty tables. This just means that the restaurant has a private party and is closed to outsiders. No problem. This is Bologna and there’s another restaurant right next to it. They are busy but have a table for two.
We share an antipasto of bruschetta topped with bresaola, goat cheese, and arugula. I order the veal Milanese with fried potatoes and Cinzia orders the veal with fresh porcini. With her usual quarter liter of local sparking white wine it runs €48. We walk back to the apartment to pick up our camera and head to the piazza to watch the crowds enjoying the final day of MortadellaBO, window shop, and see some of the city.
The crowds are thick as the downtown streets are closed to vehicle traffic, but not as crazy as Saturday. After a while we decide to stop for a drink. When Cinzia tried an “Antico Spritz” in Senigallia she liked it better than the Aperol Spritz, but we didn't know what alcohol they mixed with the prosecco and soda water. Earlier in the week we passed a bar that featured a red liquor called “Rosso Antico” and figured out that this was the liquor. She had ordered an Antico Spritz and indeed it was. So we headed back to this bar for a drink (or two) and sat at a table outside to watch the crowds pass by.
We share an antipasto of bruschetta topped with bresaola, goat cheese, and arugula. I order the veal Milanese with fried potatoes and Cinzia orders the veal with fresh porcini. With her usual quarter liter of local sparking white wine it runs €48. We walk back to the apartment to pick up our camera and head to the piazza to watch the crowds enjoying the final day of MortadellaBO, window shop, and see some of the city.
The crowds are thick as the downtown streets are closed to vehicle traffic, but not as crazy as Saturday. After a while we decide to stop for a drink. When Cinzia tried an “Antico Spritz” in Senigallia she liked it better than the Aperol Spritz, but we didn't know what alcohol they mixed with the prosecco and soda water. Earlier in the week we passed a bar that featured a red liquor called “Rosso Antico” and figured out that this was the liquor. She had ordered an Antico Spritz and indeed it was. So we headed back to this bar for a drink (or two) and sat at a table outside to watch the crowds pass by.
After drinks we decided to go to Bombocrep. Along the way we passed one of the churches we had wanted to visit. It was opened, so we duck inside to look around. Like so many of these big old churches, they are in dire need of repair. Water damage is visible on the ceilings and walls of several of the side chapels, and paintings and sculptures are in need of restoration. Enormous alters are covered in gold gilding while dirt hides around every corner. Most are empty, even on a Sunday. We agree that eventually they’ll become museums so entrance fees paid by tourists can maintain the structure and its artwork.
Back outside we pass near the university where the porticos are filled with bars and restaurants catering to the students. Somewhere in there lies Bombocrep. After studying the vast menu I decide on #127, named “strudel” which contains apple jam, raisins, cinnamon, and cream. Cinzia goes with #120 which has Nutella and Bailey’s. Both are hot and sprinkled with powdered sugar. There are only 2 stools inside at a small counter and 2 tables outside where you can stand to eat your crepe. The stools are empty, so we park ourselves inside. We’re reading the various signage on the walls and see that they offer a BomboCard where you earn points. The BomboCard is €1 and you earn 1 point per euro that you spend. According to the redemption chart after 250 points you get a Bombocrep T-shirt (400 points gets you a 5kg container of Nutella). Rewards start at only 10 points, so I buy a card and receive 8 points for today’s purchase. I should have noticed this frequent customer card sooner. Sitting on my dresser back in the apartment are receipts from our 5 previous crepes. I have to imagine university students here can rack up a lot of points in 4 years. I know I would. We seem to be averaging a crepe a day and are here for 60 nights. With crepes ranging from €3,50-€4,40 each, we could earn around 240 points. Even if I make it to 250 points I’d be so fat I doubt they’d have a T-shirt that large – but they say life’s about the journey, not the destination.
Back outside we pass near the university where the porticos are filled with bars and restaurants catering to the students. Somewhere in there lies Bombocrep. After studying the vast menu I decide on #127, named “strudel” which contains apple jam, raisins, cinnamon, and cream. Cinzia goes with #120 which has Nutella and Bailey’s. Both are hot and sprinkled with powdered sugar. There are only 2 stools inside at a small counter and 2 tables outside where you can stand to eat your crepe. The stools are empty, so we park ourselves inside. We’re reading the various signage on the walls and see that they offer a BomboCard where you earn points. The BomboCard is €1 and you earn 1 point per euro that you spend. According to the redemption chart after 250 points you get a Bombocrep T-shirt (400 points gets you a 5kg container of Nutella). Rewards start at only 10 points, so I buy a card and receive 8 points for today’s purchase. I should have noticed this frequent customer card sooner. Sitting on my dresser back in the apartment are receipts from our 5 previous crepes. I have to imagine university students here can rack up a lot of points in 4 years. I know I would. We seem to be averaging a crepe a day and are here for 60 nights. With crepes ranging from €3,50-€4,40 each, we could earn around 240 points. Even if I make it to 250 points I’d be so fat I doubt they’d have a T-shirt that large – but they say life’s about the journey, not the destination.