Hungry for Knowledge

There's always something new to be learnt. Everyday and everywhere.

Funnily enough a lot of the things that I've learnt as I continue to stumble through this bizarre jungle gym of a life, seem to have come not from my expensive education but from pure and simple experience. Cioè, quite simply from living it (surprise surprise).

Today, I learnt that the part of the human brain that controls our appetite and regulates how hungry or satiated we feel is called the appestat. How did I learn this?

By going to Appestat of course (and googling it whilst waiting for my saucisson sandwich).

It's a great little café-cum-pantry tucked away on Islington High Street, within skipping distance from Angel station, new to the 'hood at just 10 weeks old. I had originally planned to haul my laptop, and my arse, to The Coffee Works Project (which I still have yet to try) just a couple of doors down, but the low-key cosiness of Appestat prevailed and before I knew it I was inside.

They've got the simplicity of the decor spot on - not wannabe-rustic nor try-hard hipster; a small pantry-shop section at the entrance with cheeses chilling and cured meats resting and further along a nice lounging area for sitting with a cup of tea or coffee, alone or with a pal, as you like. Plain, clean, simple and functional furniture, friendly staff and no offensively loud music. Indeed, the perfect place to work your appestat.

The discovery of this haven was not my only lucky encounter of the day. I also bumped into an acquaintance precisely as I was being drawn in to this very café. In the end I had the added bonus of new friendly company with my cup of coffee.

I realise my opening remarks may have set a false tone to this post; it may have seemed, initially, as though I had something profound to say about the things that we learn in life. 

Alas, I don't. 

All I can say from my own jumbled efforts to reach the end of each day as unscathed as possible, is that no matter how hard I try to design and shape and select what I learn, what ends up sticking will often come either in an uncontrollable avalanche of events, at times emotionally shattering, or as little trinkets of knowledge and happenings that are swept up along the way and leave individual marks on me and the way I see things. What is more, no matter how hard I try to learn from my mistakes or avoid getting myself in certain situations, from time to time, I will always manage to wind up in those very situations. To put it more poetically, the poo on the road will always somehow find its way Conti the sole of your shoe when you least expect it (as, indeed, it did with me today. Literally.)

Maybe all one can really do, in that case, is learn to deal with it better when it happens. 

Today I discovered that I had the developed the ability to laugh and shrug things off
-albeit after some justified swearing-
and that this little trick is probably a big factor, if not the key, to happiness in my humble existence.

That and remembering to continue being curious, inquisitive and explorative.

Toodaloo

P.s. Do pick up after your dogs though folks. Spread the word.

Priorities

Prioritising is a very important skill. Especially as a student.

 Let's just make that clear.

So what to do when you have a dissertation to write and several exams to prepare for, 

but the ever seductive Italian summer sun is beckoning at you from your window?

Go to the Mercato della Terra of course.

It's grocery shopping after all.

(It's a chore... and a pressing one too. Therefore it is a priority.)

Once you've arrived, go ahead and get yourself a porchetta (or pesto) tigella.

Just getting brunch while waiting to be served at the veggie stall you see.

Two birds with one stone.

Then get some more food. You know, that way you don't need to eat till dinner.

Just saving yourself time mate, all strategic.

Upon arriving home, once you've stocked your fridge up with fresh veg,

only then is it time to lament.

Not only do you now have to work, but you've also had a taste of the warm rays of sunshine

on your pale, pasty skin (telling of how studious you have been up until now - so flaunt it.)

You've heard the buzz of people soaking it all up.

You know that everyone will be heading to the park for a nice snooze. 

Maybe join them later, have a quick walk - as a study break.

(Don't want to be overexerting yourself now.)

It is Saturday after all. 

And lest we forget, we are in Italy.

(What even is this "work" you keep on talking about?)

But in the meantime...

What to do, what to do.

Well, bring the park to you of course.
(I.e. drag your desk half way across your room to your window.)
(Your bed may have to do as a makeshift desk chair. But as long as your back holds - not a problem.)
Ecco, your dull workspace has now been converted into a lovely, park-like space. Sort of.

Once that's done,

Pop some fresh market mint into a tea pot and make some mint tea.

And play some Bob Marley. Or fitting music of your choice.

 Now, and only now, are you ready to start working.

Talk about prioritising perfection.

I'd say you could all probably learn a thing or two from me...

Sakura image from here.

The Perfect Swiss Getaway

I've just returned from a couple of weeks outside the small city of Bologna, knee-deep in my overdraft but happily refreshed after treating my eyes (and nose) to a view other than red walls and poo-laiden porticos. (No offense Bologna.)

Zürich and London were my two stops, and since there are already plenty of pointers on where to go in the latter, I will take this opportunity to propose a couple for the former, just in case you ever manage to find the opportunity (and by all means, if you do, grab it) to drop by.

Having a sibling that has lived in Zürich for the past four years not only means free accommodation, but a lot of good spots already picked out for you. No guidebooks or faffing (though a couple of minutes perusing this page would be well spent).

A Poushe strudel to salivate over 

Skipping breakfast and moving on to lunch might not be such a bad idea when you head over for your mahoosive Poushe strudel.
They have sweet and savoury strudels as well as cakes and cookies, and for under 20 CHF you can get this big baby with as much salad as you can fit on the rest of your plate (stacking, piling, squishing are key techniques).
The Poushe I popped into was here and is not hard to reach from the city centre. Italy has left me ever grateful for clean, functioning public transport and Zurich definitely has that in the bag.


An Afternoon of Art at Kunsthaus Zürich 

I'm usually not much of a gallery-goer, but on this occasion was ordered to visit Kunsthaus by an artist friend back in Bo. I ended up spending an entire afternoon here. They have an expressionist exhibition on at the moment, until the 11th of May 2014, which is definitely worth a visit. As a student I paid 17 CHF (full price is 22) and spents hours devouring every detail with my eyes. (On Wednesdays you can visit the galleries main exhibits for free.)


A Peaceful Pause at Piazza


Piazza is perfect for a catch up coffee with a friend or a quiet tea break after a long day of strudel-munching and art-gazing.
I've been here on a few occassions now and there are always people tapping away on their laptops, sipping coffee with friends or having a quiet tea with a newspaper at hand.

It's located in Idaplatz and has been my go-to cafe for study sessions and blog-writing afternoons during all of my stays in Zürich. (It's also close to Poushe, the strudelhaus I mentioned above - bonus!)

Just outside, dotted along the piazza in which this place is located, there are some other small places worth a peek; stationary shops, restaurants and cafes.

Unwind by Bouldering at Minimum

After a long day of desk-work and tram-riding, there is nothing like a good climb.

This happens to be the place where I popped my bouldering cherry and I must say it has me hooked. It's a great way to build strength and is much more difficult than it looks, not to mention much less dull than pumping iron in the gym.

The nicely challenging routes, fascinatingly good-looking and muscular climbers, and vibe of the place are only a few of its charms that will having you going back for more.

It is open until late and has a nice cafe/bar area where you can sit for a break between climbs or have a lounge around with a beer and a slice of quiche afterwards. It's here.




So there we have it, a few things that you could fit in to a day or two if you ever visit Zürich.
A bit of an unplanned, off-topic post but hopefully of interest to some all the same.

To anyone staying in Bologna, it is only a 5 hour journey by train up to Zürich with one change at Milano Centrale. The views between Milan and Zürich, through the mountains and past the lakes, make the whole trip worthwhile and enjoyable and it is definitely a journey that I can recommend.

Happy Sunday!

Just when you think you've heard it all

I've mentioned before that Bologna is a small city which can at times be stiflingly so, especially coming from London.
But there is something much more delightful and pleasing about stumbling upon a new, unbeknownst trinket in a city the size of Bologna, that simply isn't experienced in the same way in a metropolis as large as London.

When it comes to London, I am fully in the know that I haven't even scraped the surface of the city; there are whole zones that I have never visited and many a main streets that I don't even know exists. Bear in mind, this is after two years of living in the very heart of it. The countless alleyways, various nooks and innumerable crannies mean that when you do stumble upon something new, it is a sort of unanticipated expectation; pleasant all the same but more a matter of what and when you will discover something, on any given expedition, than if you will or won't. You could stay in London your whole life and still have plenty of places waiting to be discovered, tucked away in the crease of a map or hiding behind a double decker bus. In comparison, Bologna comes across as much more conquerable, almost to the point of being boring; it is easy to forget that despite its modest size it is just as venous in its network of vicoli and backstreets.

So, when, with the guidance of your local friends, you veer into a sliver of the city that you have never explored, it is like uncovering a gem that you've been sitting on all along. Spending more time with my Bolognese friends has, unsurprisingly, led to a couple of new discoveries - little venues off the beaten track of Bolo, happily minding their own business, happily hidden, yet also happy to be found.

I present to you:

Bar Senza Nome

Literally meaning "Bar No Name" this cosy little venue serves nibbles and drinks and plays good music. It's quietly propped on one of the many alleyways of Bologna, just at the rear end of the Mercato delle Erbe. So what makes it so unique? Well, it was first described to me as il "Bar dei Sordi" which translates to "the Bar of the Deaf", as it is a bar run by a small group of deaf and mute people. Naturally, ordering your drink comes to involve a lot of hand-gesturing (even for Italian standards), exaggerated mouthing of words and a fair amount of lip-reading - because the staff are almost all deaf.

It's a simple bar that harbours a range of customers, from non-deaf to deaf and mute people, all flocking here for the same purpose: a drink and a chat in a relaxed space. It invites a mix of young customers silently conversing away with their hands, intermittently pausing for a sip of their drink, as well as older men gesturing to each other over mouthfuls of mortadella panini (unforeseen pro of sign language: you can talk with your mouth full without revealing the contents of it). The bartenders here are friendly, the appending toilet signs are handwritten and playfully drawn with pictures explaining the correct sign language for "WC" and the place tinkles with noise, chatter and music just like any other bar. Regardless of whether you can hear any of it or not, it is a welcoming space and enjoyable to everyone. For Bologna-dwellers out there that don't know of this place, this one I will leave for you to seek out. So keep your eyes peeled, or whatever functioning senses you have at your disposal (I, for one, am as blind as a bat), and go for a wander around the vicoli and vie behind the market... you might just manage to sniff it out too.

Opening times: Tues - Sat 15.00 - 3.00, Sun 15.00 - 23.00

Images one, two, and three.

Gelato Therapy

The plan was to be sat here writing a blog post having just got an exam out of the way.
Oh how naive of me to think that planning was something that people do here.

I ran to my exam venue this morning, a touch late, to discover that the exam had been moved to this time next Monday. To add insult to injury, just as I was rushing into the building, someone told me that my bag was wide open; I had been running like a lunatic down Bologna with my bag gaping open behind me (cheers to the 20 or so people I ran past who opted not to say anything). Truly truly, what balls. Che Palle. I will have you know that for the last exam I had, which was for the same module, I got to the venue 5 minutes early, only to be herded off like sheep with the rest of my classmates to a different venue. The exam started 15 minutes late. And had no time limit. And I had missed the memo that it was an open-dictionary exam, so I was permitted to use my mobile phone. This is the oldest university in Europe we are talking about; you'd think they'd have learnt a thing or two about running one over the past 925 years.

Anyway, since it turns out I still have a fair bit of revising to do so I will keep this post short and sweet. Quite literally. My top three gelato places in Bologna.

Let's start from the bottom.

3. La Sorbetteria Castiglione

La Sorbetteria Castiglione is located towards the end of Via Castiglione, towards the Giardini Margherita end. 
Though a bit on the sweet side, they have a lot of nice nutty flavours; with pralines of almonds and hazelnuts, mascarpone and coffee, and gianduja flavoured ice cream with chunks of giaduiotti in them. As far as I can tell they have also started a "gusti speciali menu" which includes flavours that are sugar-free. I have personally never tried one, but I've also seen people ordering bun-like things, which are then, I assume, filled with ice cream. Like an ice cream sandwich. If you have a sweet tooth, this is a good place to start your gelato journey.

2. Cremeria Funivia

This one was recommended to me by an ice-cream fanatic and to be honest, it pretty much ties with first place. It's a bit hidden, tucked away around a corner just opposite Piazza Cavour. Now, I am (officially) one of the most indecisive people on the planet, so it was no simple task to pick my flavours and I was slightly traumatised when I churped "Fior di Panna" out of panic, having caught the rather fed up look on the face of the lady serving me. "How boring. Should've got something else." was my initial after-thought. Until I tried it. If an ice cream shop can make their Fior di Panna as tasty as these people do theirs, they are definitely doing something right. My favourite thing from here is the affogato (ice cream popped into some freshly brewed coffee) with a scoop of Fiord di Panna or Alice, a mascarpone flavoured ice cream with a drizzle of chocolate on top.


1. Cremeria Santo Stefano

So what was the tipping point that made me crown this place number one?
Pistacchio Salato. This is my all time favourite flavour of all the gelatos I have ever had. Here, they also sell chocolate and though I am usually not one to go for chocolate flavoured cake or ice cream, theirs is worth a try.
A small, independent shop, it sits unpretentiously along Via Santo Stefano, and the people working there are always very friendly (i.e. they never pressure you to make a choice, good for indecisive people like me!) I should mention, I am currently on a no-fructose diet (N.B. diet to be taken in its original form, therefore not some weight loss fad thing), mainly for health reasons, so naturally gelato is out of the question. Since type 2 diabetes has popped up a couple of times in my family, I take coming off of the sweet stuff quite seriously... but for this pistacchio salato flavoured ice cream, well even if I was a diabetic I think I could find it in me to bend the rules a bit.

A happy bunch at Cremeria Santo Stefano

A rather impromptu post, I must admit. I had other things to write about in mind, but to keep it simple given time restraints, another review it is. On the plus side, you can now start constructing your summer gelato schedule way in advance. For once I am early!

For anyone who is interested, you can read more about why coming off of sugar is something we should all be doing here. And for those of you that think this is some sort of ploy to get you to come and visit - you are not wrong.

Ciao until next time!



Images from: 
Body in Context,
Seriouseats,
Tripadvisor

The Wrong Way is the Right Way to go

Having begun to despair at the monotony of Bologna's restaurants (don't get me wrong, the food is great, it's just that when the same list of primi piatti, usually tortellini, lasagne and the like, and slight variations of very samey secondi, keep on popping up everywhere, eventually the appeal of eating out wares off) it came as a nice surprise to stumble upon a different type of restaurant.

I came across it when my sister was visiting me and we went for a little wonder down Via del Pratello, seeing as it was her first time in Bologna and that was one of my less explored parts of the city. We wondered about in search of - well neither of us really knew what we were in search of - so we simply wondered about aimlessly, until eventually we came across a little restaurant called "Il Rovescio" (which means "backwards," or "wrong way"). What attracted us most about the place was its menu which consisted of locally produced, mainly organic, foods as well as the cosy vibes that seemed to be pouring out of its buzzing interior. For those of you that don't know me personally, I am one to spend, what some may consider, an excessive amount of time in supermarkets checking the labels of products and deliberating over their origins; I do this with food and with cosmetic products and sometimes shopping can be a bit of an ordeal. I like to cook my own food (that way you know exactly what you're putting into your mouth) and to eat healthily, and where possible/worth the extra cost, I try to buy organic/responsibly sourced products. This could explain why I am always broke. Anyway you can understand my delight when I found this place.

So this little gem is located on a little street that branches off of Via del Pratello, and the idea is that they are a "ristorante a KM 0" cioè, serve locally produced foods.
They do their grocery shopping where I do mine every Saturday morning (at the Mercato della Terra about which I will dedicate a separate post to soon) and their menus change frequently, offering whatever fruit and veg is in season (which is another of their many charms in my opinion).

They also have a little pizza place called Il Forno del Rovescio, which serves wholegrain crust pizzas (as well as normal, white ones) with no additives, organic wines and beers, and a couple of other dishes that you can take away or have delivered to your front door. I ordered a pizza from them once to give it a try and was told that mine would take a while as they had just had another order and their means of delivery is by bicycle! Luckily, Bologna is rather small so it only took about half an hour anyway!

The only down-side that comes to mind is that, when my sister and I were there, a lot of their dishes were out of stock (it sounded like they had had a bit of a fridge problem so this could be why). I do appreciate it is difficult to effectively stock up for an organically themed menu, where things no doubt tend to go off much quicker etc. but it was a bit disappointing all the same. I'd say, if you're going to a small, independent restaurant that offers organic foods, be ready for them not to be able to offer everything on the menu - and see it more as a positive thing! Worth noting that everything that was available was great.
[A dinner would cost you around 20-30 euros per person including drinks.]

So there we have it; a cosy little venue that adds a bit of a twist to traditional Bolognese food; if they claim to be backwards, then backwards is definitely the way forward.