Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts

Monday, January 19, 2015

In Fair Verona


Verona has to be one of the most breathtakingly romantic places on Earth, in its own unique decadent, timeless fashion. Few places made me want to wander and deliberately get lost as much as it happened in Verona. The infinite alleys, the terracota-coated rooftops, the river painted in teal tones, the view from the top of the hill and the secluded narrow streets looked like they were there to welcome lovers. And me, the single clumsy explorer, fell under the Veronese spell as though it was a secret ready to unwrap, soaking up the cinematographic atmosphere and spending hours trying to decide where to eat. Horse meat is a local specialty but I ended up in a pizzeria, couldn't help it. My taste buds weren't at their best as I was still nursing a bad cold but oh well, I enjoyed the food efficiently enough (no food pics this time, sorry!).

Friday, January 16, 2015

Ciao Bergamo!


Italy is one of my favourite countries for many reasons: landscape, food, language, people... you name it. I haven't been in many Italian cities yet but Bergamo will always be stuck in my sweetest memories. I refused to go to Milan because I needed to relax and stay away from big busy noisy cities for a while so Bergamo, this lovely place in Lombardy, felt like a nice alternative - not touristy, beautifully scenic, rich in history and heritage, well known for its medieval town, relatively safe for a solo explorer like me. And the culinary has so much to offer, from polenta cakes (polenta is a big thing in Bergamo) to mushroom risotto... and of course I have to mention the first meal I had when I arrived: casoncelli alla bergamasca (google it, just google it!). Needless to say, the red wine and the coconut panna cotta were to die for. Bergamo is unforgettable with its people ready for a chat over an espresso, the insane traffic all over Città Bassa, the quaint details in every corner, the sun filtered by the fog around the city walls, the dramatically dreamy Alpine backdrop showcasing a few snow-dusted peaks in the misty distance... Definitely a place to visit and to cherish, at least once in a lifetime.