Catching up on January 1

Happy New Year! (Now that January is almost over…no one said I’d have a timely blog.)

Since it is the new year, I get to pause and think about 2009…which has been a year full of interesting stuff – more change (the only constant), new schools, new role for Joe, another move (away from hotel living, sadly), plenty of adventures:

We started the year off in Singapore on our first cruise experience. The kids and I got to enjoy more of India’s treasures in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in February, Joe got snowed in in London when he flew in for late February meetings.

In early March we said good-byes to our hotel friends and those we’d become close to in Gurgaon.

And then off to London! St. Johns Wood has treated us well, even without room service and warm weather.

Claire jumped into first grade with both feet (home school was clearly a form of torture for all of us). Ava hit the road running at Abercorn – full-time as a pre-reception student in her red and gray uniform.

I spent March checking out houses, supermarkets and the general London lay of the land.

And April found us in Brussels, then moving into our Victorian-era leaky house.
From there it’s been a blur – a little of Ireland, some France, out and about in the UK and around Londontown – lots of theatre, galleries and museums, the queen’s birthday parade…all kinds of fun stuff.

Our first houseguests arrived in July and we did our best to show Grandma and brother-in-law around.

Late summer found us back in the US for the first time since October 08 – nice visit, great to be back in the driver’s seat!

And in no time we were back in school, 2nd grade and reception for the British school girl. I, too, went to school…a Jane Austen class wherein we studied 3 of her novels and took some field trips to her years-past stomping grounds.

For a change of scenery we visited friends in Germany in October, checking in on harvest and enjoying new wine festivals.

November: my parents as guests and the time flew, lovely Thanksgiving w/ friends here in town.

And of course we ended the year in Italy.

Now 2010 is underway and no doubt will prove as stimulating as the past year.
BUT for now, back to New Year’s Day in Bologna:

New Years Day dawned rainy – I took a walk around town while everyone else slept late (thank heavens the kids aren’t crack of dawners. Of course I there is that piece about having to peel them off the bed for school…)

We eventually rolled down for 10:00 breakfast and were well fed…loved the brie. Spectacular brie. Did I mention how good the brie was?

We then wandered down to the old city centre with Christmas tree in the square. Said tree had lights hooked up to bikes so to light the tree, one had to pedal. Fun fit concept so we all hopped on bikes and helped light the thing for a bit.

Then we checked out the Cathedral --

The Basilica di San Petronio. Dedicated to the city's patron saint, it is the biggest and most important church in Bologna. Its construction was started in 1390 and continued until the 1600's, when the roof and apse were completed.

The facade has remained unfinished. The main portal contains the Stories of the Old and New Testament, sculpted by Jacopo della Quercia, between 1425 and 1438. The solemn and majestic interior is divided into three naves supported by ten pillars. Twenty-two chapels open off the side naves. One contains an organ which still works – it was built around 1470 and is the oldest in the world still in use. (How’s that for good trivia?)

From there we headed to one of Bologna’s many towers (apparently there were dozens years ago; wealthy families showed their resources by building tall towers).

We climbed up one of them – 497 (?) steps – more than the Duomo. A series of wooden staircases with plenty of other people navigating them. I’m happy to report that we Americans didn’t huff and puff up or down (in contrast to a bunch of unfit – albeit trim – Italians – must be the smoking they do and the walking we do).

About these towers:

Between the 12th and the 13th century, the number of towers in the city was very high, possibly as many as 180 (more likely 80-100 total). (The richest families may have used them for offensive/defensive purposes.)

During the 13th century, many towers were taken down or demolished, and others simply collapsed. Many towers have subsequently been utilized in one way or the other: as prison, city tower, shop or residential building. The last demolitions took place during the 20th century, according to an ambitious, but retrospectively unfortunate, restructuring plan for the city.

Of the numerous towers originally present, fewer than twenty can still be seen today.

We climbed one of “The Two Towers,” both of them leaning (what’s the deal w/ leaning towers in Italy?). They are the symbol of the city (what, praytell does that tell you about Bologna? Town w/ towers that can’t stand straight and that managed to elude the teardown).

The taller one is called the Asinelli while the smaller but more leaning tower is called the Garisenda. Their names derive from the families which are traditionally credited for their construction between 1109 and 1119.

Over the years they’ve been struck by lightning, caught fire, suffered collapses, faced arson, have been used to study earth rotation, used as a sight post during war time and escaped bombing. They’ve also been written about in various literary pieces of note, including the Diving Comedy.

The kids were troopers during the climb (and throughout the meanderings of the day). After making our way back down we wandered through the colonnades, along wide, uncluttered streets – a sharp contrast to Florence and Venice where windy streets are the norm.

Lovely décor, nice shops, cafes, etc. – Bologna is delightful. Eventually we found a café for a bite and some decadent hot chocolate (w/ amaretto). Ham, cheese & salami paninis, too. Then we wandered through the university district – clearly quiet during the break.

We hit several churches (what would Italy be without Catholic churches) during our meanderings, eventually stopping for gelato before relaxing at the hotel.

For dinner we sought out a local pizzeria that was hopping. Joe and I shared the seafood appetizer and it ended up being HUGE. Octopus, squid, cuttlefish, shrimp, lobster tails – it was delicious. I then had the taglietelle ragu (also fabulous), Joe a roasted vegetable pizza and the kids: pasta (shock) and fish.

Great meal and a nice way to start the new year!