Bologna is famous for it's food- bolognese pasta, lasagna and tortellini. I looove tortellini so I simply had to go lol. I ate pasta 3 times in two days- tortellini with cheese, tortellini with meat and ravioli and mushrooms. Yum lol. I had some great local wine ant the tortellini and cheese place. Another thing I love about Bologna is its porticos. So Italy is hot right. Bologna's porticos(covered sidewalks) block the sun, rain etc. And thank God for them becau...

Venice... Is easy to get lost in. It's charm lies in it's canal waterways and winding, narrow streets. Not to mention there's no cars! How refreshing. Venice is old. Time and water have weathered the city, but that means beyond every corner there is a charming building or church with history, one that looks like no other building. There are flowered balconies everywhere, and my new friend Lina had a certain affection for taking pictures of them. Anyway, piazza S...

Verona is the home to Juliet of Romeo and Juliet fame. I took a day trip there from Venice. I liked Verona- there was a sort of festival there the day I went, So I had some pizza and gelato, and listened to an Italian band. Then I headed to Juliet's house. Such a tourist trap but I went into the museum anyway. Of course the main attraction I staring on Juliet's balcony in the small courtyard. The museum also features a bed from a 60s movie production and art base...

I had one day in Lugano but I was sort of tired so I decided to take it easy. I saw a couple of churches, including a very old one with beautiful biblical paintings on the walls. Walking along the lake was gorgeous, especially going through a park they had there. It was quite hot, as Lugano is south, close to Italy. There was also an outdoor public pool nearby and I so wished I had brought my swimming gear with me. I had a plan- I was going to the funicular that...

Luzern is known for it's lake and the nearby mountains, it's easy to see why- it is gorgeous! The other thing it's known for is the lion monument, carved into natural rock. Mark Twain once said it is "the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world." I tend to agree- it is called "the dying Lion of Lucerne" after all. It was made in memory of Swiss mercenaries who were killed at the Tuileries in 1792. It sort of reminds me of Aslan dying in the Lion, the w...