Bologna

So, Bologna you say... what do you think of? Red architecture and politics? Unfinished churches and tilty towers? Richly covered footpaths?

Of course not. If you're anything like me, you thought "spaghetti bolognaise". Well, the joke's on us! There's no such thing! Bolognaise sauce is never served on spaghetti! Truly, the grade of noodle is too skinny to be thought proper to accommodate the sauce, it is served on a wider flatter noodle. And that's just one of the things I learned about the region. Tortellini is another gastronomic invention, served in a thin soup. Flaky puff-pastry bread, creamy cheese, jams, preserved vegetables and house wine was the fare that we ate when I went to a local eatery with Claudia. I met her on a traveller's networking site, as she has that charming but mythical view that NZ is an Eden that is perfect, unspoilt, safe, friendly and beautiful. And I guess it is all those things, but not only.

She acted as a guide for an evening and instructed me on many various things from politics to history to architecture to food. And she arranged for her mates to put me up for the night in their traditional farmhouse. It's great when you find people so warm and genuine, and friendly. I guess that is Italy all right. The picture is of her and Pietro, her mate who hosted me for the night.