I haven’t even finished unpacking from the last four months in Belize and I’m already repacking for another trip tomorrow.
Bologna, Italy!
Monday starts off the second year of Emilia Romagna’s BlogVille project — I’m excited and honored to be a part of this very successful blog project again. From my prior stays in both Bologna and Rimini, it’s no secret I fell deeply in love with the region, so much so I brought my parents back for a couple days in December so they could experience the food, culture, and for my Dad, the motor valley.
Unfamiliar with what the BlogVille project is? The lengthy campaign brings a variety of bloggers to the region to share what makes this such a special part of Italy — everything from learning to make fresh egg pasta to exploring all the adventure opportunities that await travelers. The mantra for BlogVille is to “live like a local” and experience what real life is like in Emilia Romagna.
Bloggers are selected based on varying niches, experience, and readership base. Unlike many other hosted trips, the beauty of BlogVille is each blogger is free to explore what interests them most about Emilia Romagna. Much like last year, my focus will be primarily culinary related, but I will also be a bit more adventurous than last year.
Here’s a look at what I will be up to this coming week in and around Bologna, Italy!
Pasta School — Tagliatelle
While I participated in a pasta making class last year, I am all too ready to do this one again. Tagliatelle is a specialty of Bologna and it was the last pasta we made during class, and we were rushed a bit to get it finished in time for everyone to eat. Recently, I tried my hand at making fresh pasta at my apartment in Belize and it was fairly pathetic — definitely paying more attention this time around!
Wine and Food in Emilia Romagna
There is not one food I’ve had in Emilia Romagna that I’m not completely in love with. Mortadella, fresh pasta, Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar and the wines from the region have been unexpectedly good. They may not have as much fanfare attached to it as regions like Tuscany do, but the wines are definitely nice and pair well with the local cuisine.
Gelato Making Class
This is one I specifically asked for. Gelato is to Italy like dim sum is to Hong Kong. You’d be remiss in not trying it and after eating it nearly every day last year, I’m ready to take my love for gelato to the next level. Sadly, this is only a day class but it’s at the Gelato University (oh yes, there is such a thing) and they offer a full-intensive program for those interested in making it a business….oh yeah, it’s on my radar!
River Rafting near Piacenza
Well, here’s a first for me. I’ve been canoeing and kayaking, but I’ve never been river rafting. I’m a bit nervous about it, but last time I checked, I haven’t heard anything about massive rapids in the region so I should be ok! I am looking forward to checking out Piacenza and the nearby village of Bobbio, both of which are areas I did not get to explore during my BlogVille travels last year.
Look for lots of social media updates over the next week thanks to Emilia Romagna providing us with portable Wi-Fi devices. Please follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@poohstraveler) and Facebook (No Checked Bags and Our Tasty Travels) with the hashtag #BlogVille to see everything we post this week.
