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Picturesque Termoli, Italy

January 31, 2020

by Bo with No Comment Italy

Even though I love to write and explain places with a loooot of words, in this blog I am going to try to use less words and show you with pictures why I loved Termoli. During my research in Italy, I stayed a few nights in this harbour town as it was the place from where the ferries depart. I did not expect much of this village, but I was positively surprised! It turns out to be a very cute and colourful town with pastel coloured houses, beautiful sunsets and good food!

In the evening there is some music on the squares in the town and a lot of people go out for food or a drink. Even though I did not always have the best weather (got a lot of rain), this town had a particular atmosphere which I really liked! So now I am going to sh*t up and leave the work to the pictures! I recommend staying a night here before you go to the beautiful Tremiti Islands!

I mean.. Look at these houses!

How cute is this little house?!!

Perfect for the Gram right…?

To me this view looks like a painting.. Believe me, it’s not!

So now that the pictures caught your attention, I would like to share some general information on where to stay, where to eat and how to get there.

Dependance Ludovica

I found this apartment on Booking.com and is the in the middle of the centre! You will have your own full apartment, with bedroom, bathroom and living room with a small kitchen! For me this was perfect as I was able to go out for dinner but also cook something cheap at home. The apartment is very clean and cute and it has breakfast included which you can get a few streets away at a local coffee bar.

Il Mosto Selvatico

In this little restaurant with very kind staff, you can have a full Italian dinner. I loved this place because of the options for veggies including bruschetta and veggie salads. Combine this with some Italian wine.. Yummm..

How to get there?

Termoli has a train station that connects with big parts of Italy. When I arrived in Bari, I took a direct train to Termoli. During my time there, I also went twice to Rimini, which is also a direct train with the most beautiful scenery along the way! Check daily schedules and prices on: https://www.trenitalia.com/

Do you have a question or other remark? Leave a comment or contact me!

What to do on Isole Tremiti, Italy

January 17, 2020

by Bo with 2 Comments Italy

Besides doing research on this beautiful island archipelago, I also went around the islands of San Domino and San Nicola. In this blog I will tell you my favourite spots of these two islands and some general information on this destination

First off I would like to say that these islands are very VERY small, so you will not need too much time to discover them. However, they are definitely worth visiting as they are amazingly beautiful. With forests on San Domino and bright blue waters surrounding the islands, this destination is perfect for relaxation and activities like hiking and swimming.

I went around the island by foot and explored it in a few days, but I think if you have a full day, you can walk the whole island in one day! I just liked to cut it in a few parts and explore something else every day.

San Domino

Cala delle arene

This beach is located near the harbour and really looks like a tropical paradise. The sand is white and the water is blue and the trees are green, sounds like paradise to me right? The plus side of Isole Tremiti is that it is not that popular by the masses (yet) which is why this beach is nice and quiet! Unfortunately, when I was here there was a lot of rain and it was too cold to swim.

Cala Spido

When you are on top of the island of San Domino you will probably see a place with benches and tables where people eat their own snacks. From here, you will have a gorgeous view over Cala Spido. A path will lead you down to the water and will give you great opportunities to swim and snorkel!

Scoglio dell’Elefante

A bit further down the path you will encounter signs saying ‘Scoglio dell’Elefante’. This immediately made me happy as I loveee elephants and I wanted to see this place that is promising an elephant shaped rock. Once you get there, you will immediately see the rock and understand why they named it like this!

Il Faro di San Domino

All the way at the end of the island is the old lighthouse. It is mostly the walk towards the lighthouse that is beautiful with different kinds of scenery. I felt like the landscape changed once you got closer to the light house, or is that weird on a small island like San Domino haha?

Colle dell’Eremita

This spot is quite the walk but worth the view! It is a bit of a search but just try to follow the signs saying ‘Eremita’ and you will get there. From here you can spot three islands in one picture! Quite cool huh?

Cala dei Benedettini

This was one of my favourite places because there was literally no one around me and the place was insanely beautiful. I do not understand how an island like this can be so quiet in May? Anyway.. no real tips here, just climb over some rocks and enjoy the views! And if you are here in summer, enjoy a swim!

Viewpoint Grotta dei Pagliai

From this point near Grotta dei Pagliai you will have a beautiful view over the sea and the other islands. Take a moment to take in the beauty of this spot:

Where to eat and drink?

Of course, during your holiday in Italy you have to eat! As any other place in Italy, this island is perfect for a great pizza or another Italian dish! In May some restaurants were closed, but if you are here in summer, they will probably be open! Still I got a nice place to eat delicious pizza and a place to drink your cocktails!

La Fenice

Like I already said: PIZZA! For non-veggies there are some other good options (of what I heard of other people) but I just liked the pizzas here. At one point I found myself eating pizza for 5 days in a row… whoops.. (think the restaurant was very happy I did my research on this island haha)

Cocktail bar

I do not know the name of this place anymore (I am not sure if it even has a name), but here you can find the cocktails on the island! The bar is close to the restaurant called l’Altro Faro, you will find it! It is owned by a local couple with hearts for Isole Tremiti. Besides the good cocktails, I liked their solution to banning single use plastics: using pasta as straws!

Where to stay?

Hotel Tramontana

There are not that many hotels on the island (you can only sleep on San Domino), but I stayed at hotel Tramontana. Owned by a family from Tremiti, this hotel offers everything you need: comfortable rooms with nice bathrooms and a good location on the island. Here I met a local who helped me translating all my interviews and showing me around!

San Nicola

This island is smaller than San Domino, but is home to a nice fortress. I would suggest to take the boat from San Domino to San Nicola and just wander around for a few hours. There is not really much to do, besides some spots to eat. Still, the views were amazing and I really enjoyed this island! It is very pretty and also very quiet, so you will have everything to yourself.

How to get there?

This archipelago is rather unknown and not accessible from a lot of places. You can either reach the islands by ferry or by helicopter (which is in low season surprisingly affordable, unfortunately I could not do it..). The ferry leaves from multiple towns, but I decided to go from Termoli.

Termoli is a small harbour town from where ferries daily depart. The trips takes around 45 minutes with nice views of the coastline! In summer there are more ferries than in the low season and one of the companies operating between the islands and Termoli is called ‘Tirrenia’. For daily schedules and prices go to: https://www.tirrenia.it/

Harbour of Termoli

If you have some questions or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

A Perfect Day in Bologna, Italy

December 13, 2019

by Bo with No Comment Italy

Bologna might not be the most famous city in Italy, but it is definitely worth a stop during your trip through Italy or as a nice city trip! In this blog, I will share my tips on how to spend a perfect full day in this amazing city. I was lucky to call Italy my home for 6 months, and I think Bologna turned into one of my favourite cities of the world!

Due Torre

I always love to start my city trip with seeing the city from above. This way you get a nice overview of a big part of the city and from here you can get clearer view on where you are in the city. This is why I would suggest to start your day (when it is also not so hot) by climbing one of the two towers. These towers mark the centre of Bologna and provide a beautiful view of the city. From here you can see why people call Bologna ‘La Rossa’ which is Italian for red.

The climb is rather scary (in my opinion) as you have to climb the tower by a never ending amount of wooden steps. It is quite exhausting if your condition is like mine haha, but then you will only appreciate the view more afterwards! You need to buy the tickets in advance as there is no ticket office at the tower itself and you need to buy a certain timeslot. The easiest way is to buy your ticket at Piazza Maggiore (the main square in the city) at the Bologna Welcome shop. Full price 5 euros, reduced price (e.g. kids, elderly and students) 3 euros.

Lunch at Osteria dell’Orsa

From the Due Torre go north to find the place to have lunch: Osteria dell’Orsa. Osterias are known as typical Italian restaurants with a homely atmosphere. As Bologna is the home of Tagliatelle al Ragu this is the best place to try some of the amazing Italian kitchen. As I am vegetarian I could not try the Ragu but I had tortellini filled with vegetables, which was also delicious. I recommend this place as there are lots of local people coming here, I was the only tourist at that time and it really felt like a local experience.

Finestrella

After lunch, you can walk a bit further and see the Finestrella. If you are in high season you do not have to look a lot to find it as you will probably see some tourists around it. But if you are in low season it can be a bit difficult to find. This is because it is only a small window which shows you a bit of the old canals of Bologna. Unfortunately, both times I went to see it, half of the houses at the canal were in construction. But it still was a cute experience.

Walk to Santuario di San Luca

If you are feeling active, you can decide to do the walk to the Sanctuary of San Luca. This basilic is located outside the centre of Bologna on top of a hill. The walk takes around 3 hours and a large part of the route will include the arches of Bologna. The walk is long, but it is a beautiful route with a lot of nice views (including the stadium of Bologna).

Once you have reached the top, you will be able to go to a small rooftop, from where you will have a nice view over the forest. You will also be able to see the Due Torre from a far distance. The nice thing about this rooftop is that you can only reach it by climbing a stairs inside the basilic. At this point, you will be in between the roof and the basilica’s inside, which creates a weird but special feeling). If you are too tired to walk back, you can also wait for the little train that will bring you back to the city centre.

Aperitivo

After this long and exhausting walk it is time for an Italian tradition that I really like: aperitivo. As Bologna is the main food capital, this is your place to be for a good aperitivo! The places I like are located next to Piazza Maggiore: Via Pescherie Vecchie and Via Clavature. Here you will find multiple spots where you can order nice plates full of Italian cheese or meat with a good glass of wine. But make sure that you do not eat too much as the last stop of this day will be a place to eat good old pizza!

Eat pizza at Zapap Pratello

A trip to Italy is of course not complete without eating a pizza! This little place has a terrace outside where you can sit and enjoy their delicious pizzas. I recommend having a pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella! They put the mozzarella on the pizza after it has been in the oven, so it melts a bit but the good flavour stays. I liked this place not only because of its good pizza, but also because of the feeling to be in a spot where also Italians eat. And of course, because I made a little friend here!

Besides these tips, Bologna has countless beautiful buildings, squares, churches, streets and shops to discover. To me, Bologna always felt like coming home. The whole atmosphere of the city is different than in the big tourist cities like Rome and Venice. It is cosy and the ambiance is amazing. I would suggest to eat as much Italian food and drink as much Italian wine as possible to get the real taste of Bologna!

Do you have any questions or another remark? Leave a comment or contact me!

My 7 favourite sunsets around the world

November 27, 2019

by Bo with No Comment Indonesia Italy Jordan Morocco Uncategorized

As I am from the Netherlands and it often rains in this country, I always prefer a destination with lots of sun to travel to. Not only brings the sun warmth and a nice tan (however, I always turn red immediately..) the sun is maybe at its most magical when it is about to set.

Lots of people come together to watch the sun disappear after a full day of activities. I always think about the places where the day will start after it ends where I am at that point in time. As I love to sleep, I prefer watching sunsets over sunrises.. Which is why I would like to share my 7 favourite places for watching the sunset that I have experienced so far.

Walakiri Beach, Sumba Indonesia

This beach was already mentioned in my Sumba highlights post, but I think it also deserves a spot in this list. The sunset here creates a beautiful image of mangrove tree silhouettes. These trees look like they are about to dance, which is why they are often called ‘Dancing Trees of Sumba’ and people pose with them as if they are dancing. This trip was very special to me as we went to Indonesia to do research about waste management on two islands: Sumba and Belitung. I will never forget the beautiful people we met and the experiences we had..

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Sleeping in the desert was on my bucket list already for a long time. To see the sun set in this desert with nothing around you and in full quietness is just magical. The desert gets filled with beautiful sunrays and colours and if you are lucky you see a family of camels passing. After the last string of light the desert is dark and you will see a sky full of stars..

Hassan II Mosque Casablanca, Morocco

This spot is perfect for the ones that love architecture and photography. The mosque with the colours of the sun shining created magical pictures. During sunset a lot of families come to the square in front of the mosque to enjoy a nice evening out. The Moroccan culture and architecture in combination with the colours of the sunset is the reason why this place is in this list.

Agadir beach, Morocco

Another spot in Morocco to enjoy a beautiful sunset is on the beach of Agadir. Now that I live here, I look out of my window every night to enjoy the sunset. Every single time I get amazed by the different colours of the sky. At one point, the whole sky turns a bright purple and in combination with the mountains in the background and the palm trees, this is a must see sunset!

Liberty Bridge Budapest, Hungary

For this next sunset we are going to Europe. Of course, to enjoy a nice sunset you do not have to fly for hours. There are a lot of beautiful places for sunsets closer to home. This next one is in Hungary, which I experienced with my sister during our interrail trip. In our hostel they told us to go to Liberty Bridge during sunset. During this time of the day, people from all over the city come to this bridge and climb on it to find the best spot to sit and watch the river. Here, the sun will set behind a mountain and you will have a beautiful view on the river and the city. The whole experience of sitting (or standing) on a bridge with lots of people around you is a unique way to end your day!

Termoli, Italy

I experienced this sunset when I was traveling alone through Italy for my research. Being alone while watching the sunset does not make it any less special. It made me more aware of how privileged I am to be able to travel and enjoy beautiful views like these. Termoli is a small harbour town in the region of Puglia and this sunset shining on the pastel coloured houses looked amazing.

Monkey Mia, Australia

For this last sunset we have to travel all the way down under to Monkey Mia in Western Australia. We also have to travel far back in time as I experienced this sunset in 2007! But the fact that I still remember this place says it all. Imagine being at a tropical beach, watching the sun set and see a dolphin swimming right in front of that fire red sun. Do I need to say more, mate?

Liked this post? Or do you have another great sunset spot to share? Contact me!

5 favourite daytrips from Rimini, Italy

November 17, 2019

by Bo with No Comment Italy

Besides being a nice destination, Rimini is perfect for going on daytrips because of its location. In this blog I will share my 5 favourite daytrips that I did from Rimini and how to get there by public transport.

San Marino

The idea of a country in a country sounds so weird to me. However, Italy has two countries in the country: San Marino and Vatican city. From Rimini, you can get to San Marino in approximately 30 minutes by bus. You will get dropped off at the spot that is the most interesting for tourists. This is a small castle like settlement on a hill with paths going up to the towers. Along the way up you will pass a lot of tourist shops and restaurants. Besides the fact that this feels a bit like a tourist trap, it also feels like your going back in time. The little castles feel like a fairy tale. You do not need a awful lot of time up here, in about 2 to 3 hours you will have seen everything. I would suggest to just walk around and enjoy the beautiful views of San Marino and Italy.

How to get there and back?

There are two bus organisations operating between Rimini and San Marino: Benedettini and Bonelli. For both organisations I would suggest to buy a ticket of 5 euros (one way) in advance on the opposite side of the train station in Rimini. The bus to San Marino leaves from multiple stops like Arco di Augusto or in front of the trains station and I would suggest to check the updated timetable.

Ravenna

I love this little Italian city, which is also why I visited it multiple times. Ravenna is mostly known by its beautiful mosaic. On many street corners you can enjoy a small mosaic art piece, but the main attraction here is the Basilica di San Vitale. This big basilic has the most beautiful mosaic work inside I have ever seen in my life. With bright colours and gold shimmering in the sunlight this cathedral is a must-see when visiting Ravenna. On the same ground there is a small mausoleum where you can enjoy another beautiful and mosaic covered building. Furthermore, there are a few more places where you can see mosaic, but I think the two listed above are the best.

Another place worth to visit is the basilica di San Francesco, in which you can see a part covered in water. When you throw a small coin in the machine, the lights will turn on and you can see the water in the church. Also, if you are lucky you can see the fish swimming in the water. The next stop is Dante Alighieri’s tomb, this small tomb is dedicated to the famous Italian philosopher Dante Alighieri who lived from 1265 until 1321. My last tip for Ravenna is to have a visit at the Biblioteca Classense. This town library is covered in beautiful paintings and covered in mosaic floors.

How to get there and back?

From Rimini central station there is a direct train to Ravenna. You can buy your ticket at the station at the Trenitalia ticket machines. The train ride will take you around an hour and during this trip you will pass the station of Cesenatico, which will also be covered in this blog. Do not forget to validate your ticket before you board the train!

Bologna

The next daytrip option is the city famous for it Tagliatelle al Ragu and it often called the food capital of Italy: Bologna. In a day you will probably not be able to see everything and so this city is actually worth more days. But for this blog I will share the main highlights.

Besides good food, Bologna has a lot of nice buildings and streets to offer. One of the main squares is called Piazza Maggiore (the Big square). Here you will find a nice church and some streets for a great aperitivo! If you have never heard of the concept of Aperitivo I would like to refer you to one of my previous blogs about food in Rimini (button).

If you are feeling active and you like good views, I can recommend climbing the Due Torre. One of these towers (the highest one) is available for visitors and wooden steps will bring you up the roof. From the tower you can search for the second tower which seems gone, until you find it! From here you have a beautiful view over the city and you will understand why Bologna is called ‘La Rossa’ (red).

Enjoy some nice food at one of the pizzerias or osterias, I will share my favourites in my Bologna city guide and if you still feel active afterwards, you can walk all the way up to Basilica di San Luca. More information about this hike and more about Bologna will soon be on my website so stay tuned!

How to get there and back?

From Rimini station there are multiple direct trains to Bologna. It depends on the speed and time when you book how much it will cost. Most of the trains take around 2 hours and will cost a bit less than 10 euros one way. The station of Bologna is in the centre and after a 10 minute walk you will reach Piazza Maggiore. You can buy your train ticket again at a Trenitalia ticket machine. Do not forget to validate your ticket before you board the train!

Padua

This city is a bit further away than the others, but if you have time, definitely worth a visit. I did this in one day but Padua deserves more days. This cosy city is full with students which means that there are a lot of nice bars to drink or eat. Futher, Padua offers a beautiful and big cathedral: Basilica di Sant’Antonio. Another signature spot of Padua is the Prato Della Valle which is surrounded by multiple statues. And of course: you should not miss Palazzo Bo. Not only because it has my name haha, but because it is the oldest anatomic theatre in the world and is now home to the School of Law.

How to get there and back?

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Padua from Rimini is by taking the Flixbus. You can buy tickets in advance on their website. The ride takes around 4 hours and the bus provides you with WI-FI and comfortable seats.

Cesenatico

This last daytrip is especially nice when you go in the December period before Christmas. I visited this place when my parents came to Italy in the beginning of December. The whole town is covered in Christmas lights and the boats are decorated with Christmas stories. The little fishers village gets a romantic and cosy atmosphere with Christmas music playing on the speakers. Here I just suggest to walk around and enjoy the boats and the lights. If you decide to go in Summer, there is also a nice beach where you can go for a swim or work on your tan.

How to get there and back?

From Rimini station you can get a direct train in the same direction as Ravenna. This will only take you around 25 minutes and costs around 3 euros one way. You can buy the ticket at the station at a ticket machine of Trenitalia. Do not forget to validate your ticket before you board the train!

Rimini: so much more than parties and drunk tourists

October 18, 2019

by Bo with No Comment Italy

When you think of Rimini, you probably think of young party people going to clubs to get drunk. Rimini is famous for its big clubs and long beach. However, after living in Rimini for half a year, I think that Rimini has so much more to offer and is definitely worth a visit. In this blog I am going to share my favourite spots of Rimini and why Rimini is also worth a visit during the winter

Rimini: not just beach and clubs

Maybe not a lot of people might know that Rimini not only has a beach, it also has a very cute and old city centre. One of my favourite parts of Rimini is the area around the Ponte di Tiberio. This old bridge has 5 arches and was finished already 20 AD. When you cross this bridge coming from the city centre and immediately turn right you will arrive in my favourite street of Rimini called Via Marecchia. This little street has the cutest little pastel coloured houses like pink, yellow and blue. The flowers outside the windows of these houses and the wall paintings are the finishing touch.

During my time in Rimini I loved walking through this little street and watching the houses. At the end of the street you can turn right again and here is a bridge build on the water from where you can have a beautiful view on the Ponte di Tiberio and some of the cute houses. When you go back to the Ponte di Tiberio you will see on your left hand side a nice park, take the stairs down and you will see another nice wall painting. In spring and summer this park is very popular for chilling in the grass and enjoying the sun.

Arco di Augusto and surroundings

Another main sight of Rimini is the Arco di Augusto, which is located on the other side of the city. When you go through this arch you will see a big nice park that leads all the way to the beach. Everyday we walked through the park and underneath the arch which functioned as a gate to the city.

After this arch you will find two main squares: Piazza Tre Martiri and Piazza Cavour. You can recognize Piazza Tre Martiri by its big sun on the ground and the tower: Torre dell’Orologio. If you are coming from the Arco di Augusto and you reach the Piazza Tre Martiri and you turn right, you will reach the Tempio Malatestiano. If you reach the square from the arch and you go straight, you will reach Piazza Cavour. This square is surrounded by an old theatre: Teatro Amintore Galli and a building of what I think is the municipality building of Rimini. In the middle of the square you will find a nice fountain and on the opposite side of the municipality building you will see the Antica Pescheria, or what we always called ‘La Cantinetta’. In the early days this functioned as a fish marketplace, now it is used for nights out and meeting up with friends.

Piazza Tre Martiri

Why come to Rimini in the winter?

During the winter, the clubs alongside the beach close, the beach is not filled with sunbeds anymore and most of the tourists are gone, but the young people still want to party somewhere. This is the moment that going out moves from the beachside (with clubs like Coconuts or Carnaby) to the city centre to the old fish market. Here there are little bars like Neropaco, Guenda and Vinolta where you can have a nice drink and dance. On busy days the bars are packed with people and the fish market gets filled with people chatting outside. This felt so much cosier than going to the big clubs.

Besides going out in the winter, the city also gets fully decorated with Christmas lights. Big Christmas trees are put on every square and all the streets are lit by little lights. Rimini turned into a magical place during the winter and the good thing is: you can still enjoy world’s best ice cream!

My 12 favourite places to eat or drink in Rimini

October 18, 2019

by Bo with No Comment Italy

Italy, famous for its kitchen. With pizzas, pastas, spaghetti, risotto, lasagne, bruschetta and limoncello as examples there is something to like for everyone. Maybe this is also why I love this country so much and loved living here. When living in an Italian city you will definitely try out a lot of nice restaurants. At least that is what I did.. In this blog I am going to share my 12 favourite places to or drink in Rimini. Yummmm..

1. Il Cortile in Centro

Let’s just start immediately with my, by far, favourite restaurant in Rimini: Il Cortile in Centro. Here you can try out all kinds of pizza with the most creative combinations and ingredients. The staff is very friendly and the place is almost every night full, so make sure you book in advance! I have to be honest with you.. of all the times that I went to this restaurant I only tried two pizzas. This is because the one that I tried out first (Cedronella), became my favourite pizza ever immediately. With fresh burrata, mashed eggplant and sundried tomatoes. I had struggles choosing another pizza because this one was soooo good! I miss this place so much..

2. La Mi Mama

This second restaurant was my favourite for all other Italian dishes, like pastas. They have the most amazing vegan tagliatelle here. Everything is freshly made and they also offer the regions dish: piadine. Unfortunately they do not offer a vegetarian one. This restaurant is colourful and cosy and I love every dish as they also offer a lot of vegan and vegetarian options.

3. Loving hut

This little lunch restaurant is located near the campus of Rimini (Bologna University) and serves all kinds of vegan dishes. The atmosphere here is cosy and relaxed and it is very nice to have an all vegan restaurant. They change their menu every once in a while, which keeps in fun to try new things.

4. The White Bakery

If you had a tough night out and you are craving for a good breakfast, this is your place to be. The White Bakery is decorated in full American style and offers all kinds of pancakes, waffles and other sweet stuff. These dishes are super heavy but also so nice! This was our go to if we were craving something sweet.

5. Osteria de Borg

This restaurant is located on the other side of the Ponte di Tiberio and looks like a real Italian living room. They offer traditional dishes like tagliatelle con funghi. Very nice restaurant if you want something typical Italian.

6. Pastamadre

I visited this tiny restaurant with my mother when she was in Rimini. It is located close to the beach and only has 2 or 3 tables. The owner of the restaurant makes everything fresh and has 2 different dishes to choose from every day. I had one of the best eggplant lasagnes ever. He also uses only bio products, so do not look weird when he serves you wine in a paper cup!

7. Flower burger

Flower burger is located near the beachside. In this little restaurant chain you can order all kinds of vegan burgers in different colours with different ingredients. The different burgers make a very colourful atmosphere.

8. Bar Lento

This bar is perfect for when you have lots of work for school but cannot stand that boring room of yours anymore. Sit down and order a nice cup of coffee or one of their fresh lunch dishes. I loved to come here with my laptop and work the afternoon. In the bar there is also a small shop with cute vintage looking items.

9. Ice cream at La Romana

In this list of places a good ice cream place cannot miss of course. If you have never been here, you do not know what really good ice cream is. With the smallest size cone you can choose white or dark melted chocolate for in your cone. After that you can choose 2 flavours which are delicious and top it of with some whipped cream. In Italy it was always time for ice cream: experienced something good? Celebrate it with ice cream. Bad grade? Eat your feelings away with ice cream. Feeling bored? Just go for ice cream. Winter or summer it does not matter, Romana is your place to be!

Aperitivo

The last part of this blog is about a tradition in Italy that I love very much. This tradition is called: Aperitivo. Italians eat their dinner quite late, but before they go for dinner they do an aperitivo. This means that around 6 o clock you go for a drink and enjoy some nice snacks from a buffet. When you buy a drink, the aperitivo is (most of the times) for free! I will list my 3 favourite aperitivo bars in Rimini as this is a tradition that you want to experience!

10. La Hora Feliz

This small bar is perfect for drinking nice cocktails before going out or enjoying a drink and trying their aperitivo. Plates with fish, pasta, meat and salads are standing in the back of the bar waiting for the visitors to fill their plates. Of course, you should not eat too much if you want to go for dinner afterwards.

11. Etoile

This is another nice bar with blue painted walls and very nice choices for aperitivo. We often switched between La Hora Feliz and Etoile.

12. 3sei5

This is maybe not the best bar food-wise, but 3sei5 is the place to be for every football or sports match! Try to be here during an Italian champions league match and experience the fire of Italian supporters.