I've just found this article about Bologna.
Nice to read it.
Merry Christmas.
Massi

Ok, this year sounds to be a white christmas.
Cold, snow, ice...everthing looks right, at least outside my home.
Yesterday I had a walk.
Trees were covered by snow, the hills around white and the air clean.
The old town looks so great.
In front of he basilica of San Petronio there is the Santa Wood: there were the reindeer too, and it was so cold they really didn't look out of place here.
It was nice, children were playing with snow, and almost everybody was happy.
Even the God Nettuno was less serious than usual!
And then, when I was freezed enought, I came back home for lunch...well it was 6pm, but it wasn't already time for dinner.

I love travel, even when it is just a trip around the corner. This weekend I visited a small area of central Italy I never have seen before. It is a mountain area, between Umbria, Marche and Abruzzo Regions. First I found foggy weather, so It was not so nice drive through this "milky" atmosphere. But, when I approached the mountain pass everything changed. Over there sun was shining and I could see how I was sourrended by the beauty. The valley was filled by fog, the tops of the montains were covered by the snow and the air was so pure that I couldn't stop breathing.
I saw small villages, most oh them with this gorgeous houses made of stones. I could not even imagine how hard could be living there only 40 years ago, and I can imagine how nice could be spend some days in some of those places now! Hope i'll visit again this mountains, maybe this springtime.

This september I had a trip in Sicilia. I spent most of the time in the Barocco area. Noto, Modica, ragusa and Scicli. Simply marvellous. What I saw sometimes was simply close to perfection.
The colour of the stone, the ability of the architect and the stonemasons, the whole atmosphere of the old towns. Often the palaces where closed and abandoned but still so charming.
In the first picture i was sitting on the staircase in front of the cathedral of Noto (yes that little one is me). The second one is a view of Ragusa Ibla. Unfortunately the weather wasn't what I expected from Sicilia! It was often raining, quite cold (to be summer) and windy. This was a pity as I wanted to have more beach days than the ones I had. Anyway i'm looking forward to see all the island.

OK Vicki, this is for You!