My friend

This is Arnold Imas.. he is 80y.o
He is an american American citizen, living in Italy for 40 years teaching English. ..
He is very nice and tells me everything. ..

He asked me about Facebook. . Ha ha

Hello Arnold !!!

Today also Arnold invited me to join lunch with Prof Andrea cavellini & wife Violeta and Prof Leila, a visiting professor from Algeria. Nice woman.

----- not forgetting nice hosts... Filippo at IQuattro Gatti (the 4 cats) and of course Catalina, and husband Elios, Julio 9 and Diego 7..... awesome people

Ciao

Must see in Bologna

Sala Borsa in piazza del Nettuno - cultural venue where ppl exchange books, cd etc.

Markets;

1) Mercato di Mezzo

Behind Piazza Maggiore at via Ugo Bassi
It's the oldest and most touristic market of the town so the prices are a bit high

Opening Time: Monday - Friday 7am - 1:15pm and 5:30pm - 7:30pm Saturday and Thursday 7am - 1:15pm but Altro is open every night but on Sunday until 12pm

2) Bologna Earth Market at via Azzo Gardino

http://www.earthmarkets.net/network/bologna

Open Saturday from 9am to 2pm (in Summer is Monday morning)


For other markets, see http://www.tastebologna.net/blog/bologna-food-markets

Outlets

Castel Guelfo The Style Outlets


Get free shuttle service from S Pietro Terme Train stn

Tax Free For purchases equal or higher than 154.45€ in a single receipt. Only in shops displaying the Global Blue, Tax Refund for Tourists, Premier Tax Free, Tax Free VAT Refund Service for Tourists brands.

Accommodation in Bologna

Gosh.. feeling nomadic right now.

Due to this Cosmo event going on, i hv to move here and there... so here goes.

1. I4 Gatti @ Via R  Audinot (Filippo)
€50 per night
+ Nice room, nice host, walking distance to the Faculty, shared fridge, stable WiFi
- Shared bathroom, level 3 by stairs, no TV in the room, old furniture

2. Bologna b&b @ Via San Vitale, 126
€50 & €80 (saturday) per night
+ many shops, halal mart,  stable WiFi
- Damn scary, 6 bed sharing dorm, door without lock, very old furniture, no fridge, no TV, no kitchen, NOTHING! Mixed with others, people can see u sleep through the wall. Doesn't feel safe at all! Stay only 1 night. Too scared

3. Catalina Airbnb @ Muro piazza
€35 per night
+ near to uni, nice host, she gave me her bike, fridge, TV, laundry, Wifi
- shared bath

4. San Giovanni, Collegio Erasmus (University guest house) @ Via De' Chiari
€45 (single room), €60 (double room)
+ Private toilet, TV in room, Level 1 got lift
- No fridge, no WiFi.. only cable, far from Faculty (bus only cost €1.50/75mins trip)

Preference given to university guest. Have to use university email domain.

I didn't know about this accommodation. Luckily Fabio N told me. The website was in Italian. Wish i knew earlier. Maybe can stay here for the entire month. Huh.

₩₩₩

Finally.. B&B Elios (no.3) is the best!!! Amazingly nice host, Catalina

Best part.. the room has balcony.. 

I will recommend her to everyone who's coming to bologna

Halal in Bologna

Finally.. found Bangla Bazar Halal at piazza Di Porta San Vitale at Via San Vitale.. cool

Piazza Aldrovandi.. a street with fruit stalls along it.. many other little shops.. cheese.. flower shop, shoes. Etc

Yay.. halal pizzeria found at 29A  via Guglielmo Oberdain... in fact there is another halal restaurant next door. One is €1 for a pizza, the other one is €8 per lunch. So choose yours... alhamdulillah 

K2Star

Halal indian food at via del lavoro.. didn't try myself. Just saw the ads in a postbox

Surviving in Bologna

Taxi from BLQ airport to via Audinot/via sarragoza is €17

Tourist simcard by WIND
€20, validity 1 mnth,  100 minutes Italy, 2GB. Guess what, when I active, they charged me €10... And I hv to top up!! Lorr