February Italy Trip: Rome Day 2

15 February Monday:

YL had pre-booked tickets online for the Colosseum for 15 Feb so we had an early 8am start :D By the way will totally recommended booking the tickets online in advance because the queue is absolutely crazy!!! We arrived slightly past 9am so went to collect tickets for the 0930 time slot. Was really glad that we went early because the crowds started coming in around 10am but by then we were more or less done. The tours are quite expensive especially if you want to see the arena so we didn't go and just walked around by ourselves. There were lots of exhibits but being not really history people we only briefly read the descriptions ... But anyway the Colosseum is HUGE and we were lucky to have sunny blue sky weather that morning!!!

Walked around the long road with all the ruins after that and then decided to go to the Roman Forum as our tickets included entry for that and the Palatino too - so actually it's cheaper to book online because we paid €16 in all for the Colosseum and Roman Forum/Palatino (which we later discovered had the same entrance) and normally the Roman Forum alone would've costed €12. Walked around a bit in the Roman Forum and went to climb up the hill for the panoramic view :) After that we went for lunch at this restaurant that I found on Google Maps called La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali. It had good reviews so we decided to give it a try and was not disappointed! I had chicken in truffle sauce which was really good and also a change from the usual pasta and pizza, while YL ordered a pasta and a seafood platter which consisted of prawns and calamari. Apparently the seafood isn't in season now so they used the frozen ones (it's stated on the menu). I also ordered dessert - white chocolate soufflé which was the most amazing thing I've ever tasted!!! Am honestly willing to go back just for the dessert again omg!!

Walked around more after that and saw the Altare della Patria but by then it was starting to get a bit cloudy and drizzled a bit. Also went to the Pantheon (we confused that with the Palatino) then Ponte Sant Anges and Vatican City! The queue for Vatican City was crazy so we decided to visit the Castel Sant'Angelo instead. Unfortunately the reduced price only applies for EU citizens and they only do student fares for selected degrees so we paid the full adult fare. Was quite nice exploring the castle and we concluded the tour with an amazing panoramic view of Rome at sunset with the silhouette of the Vatican Basilica!

Decided that we had done enough cultural activities for the day so we went to shop at the Brandy on Via Cola di Rienzo instead LOL. I didn't buy anything for once while YL was the one who bought stuff haha. We had made a dinner reservation at this restaurant called Le Cave near Piazza di Sant'Ignazio because we'd passed by during the walking tour the day before and happened to see some English football players (?? VIP for all I know) going for dinner there with a lot of security so we reckoned it should be good. We both got pasta - I ordered carbonara while YL got a tomato-based one. I found the carbonara to be quite salty and regretted not getting a tomato-based one too. They also had this strange blown-up cracker (biscuit/pastry/crust???) appetiser which was quite cool hahaha. No more gelato was too full after dinner so we just went back straight to the hotel and that was all for day 2 in Rome!

February Italy Trip: Rome Day 1

Blogging on the bus from Rome to Florence now! Been so busy for the past 3 days in Rome so haven't had the time to update, and I realise I only ever blog when I'm travelling lol. But anyway this is the €1 bus ride from Rome to Florence thanks to Flixbus' promotion hehehe super worth deal cause usually it's €9 by bus or by train but only if you book super in advance!!

14 Feb Sunday:

Met Yilin at the hotel, checked in, showered (couldn't shower at the hostel the night before cause no hot water and flooded), then we went out. The location of our hotel was great cause it was really near Cavour metro, so it only took us about 20 min to walk to the Colosseum area. First stop as always was the Trevi Fountain! Surprisingly there was lesser people than the last time when I went in January. Then we went for lunch at L'Archetto again, which has the BEST PASTA IN ROME ever. I've been craving it since the last time! Ordered the Pasticciati again, but service wasn't as great as last time probably because it was during peak lunch timing. 

After lunch we went to get gelato from the same store - Gelateria Valentino - again and I was wondering if the store owner recognised me LOL but he smiled at us!! And gave me a slightly bigger scoop hehehe. Walked around the shopping street then went to climb the Spanish Steps! Then we went to Brandy Melville at Via del Corso LOL. Spent a while in there and I bought a black velvet dress which was on sale for €10 while YL got a top and a burgundy jumper. We also went to a few more stores like Subdued and Double Agent which all seem to have the same style as Brandy but not as nice material. Then we came across this super nice store called Sophie Charlotte which is also kind of similar to Brandy style but they had cute stuff!! YL bought a dress and I got a pencil case with cactus print on it. They had the cutest pencil cases that says "Sophie" or "Charlotte" which imo makes great gifts HAHA I wish they had it in my name too.

YL had booked a free walking tour at about 1730h so we walked towards the Spanish Steps where the meeting point was. Was a bit late cause we had to go to the toilet and the tour guide seemed a bit annoyed when we arrived slightly before 1730 but the meeting time was supposed to be 1720 for registration. But the guy was really good!!! It's called "New Rome Free Tour" and the tour lasts 2 hours. Our guide was called Stefano and he spoke really good English and had an absolutely great sense of humour HAHA and now we know how to be proper Romans LOL. Anyway will highly recommend but I think this needs pre-booking online!! 

We ended the tour at 1930 at the Trevi Fountain and after that we went to a place called Pizza Ciro for dinner which was a restaurant that we passed by during the tour. Stefano had recommended it to us so we decided to give it a try and have some pizza after having pasta for lunch. It was not bad but the serving portions were huge!!! I don't really know how to compare pizza but I think I prefer the softer ones ...

Got another gelato after dinner - went for lemon sorbet and mixed berries this time. The owners were so amused to see us go back!! I told the guy I went like so many times in January but he didn't seem to remember. Nonetheless he saw us taking photos so offered to take one for us then this random stranger man entered the gelateria and offered to take a photo of all of us but we ended up with a mass selfie instead HAHA. Walked back to the hotel after that and that concludes day 1!!

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Oops only actually just posted this on the bus back to Milan LOL but gonna type my other posts now too!!

Italy Round 2: the 19-hour journey from Strasbourg to Rome

Spent the whole of yesterday on the bus! Well almost. But now I'm sitting in a random room in the hotel that we booked waiting for YL to arrive so doing a quick post while waiting!

My bus in Strasbourg departed at 5.15AM on Saturday. Was glad that Lizzie was heading to Rome too so we were bus partners!! We took Flixbus and it was really crowded so we had to find separate seats until like Freiburg or something then many people got off including the lady who was sitting next to me, so I asked Lizzie to come over to the front. It's so weird that it's actually a Germany - Switzerland line but they stop in Strasbourg which is like the only France stop?? But anyway yeah, slept on the bus but kept waking up when it stopped at Basel and Zurich. And I finally found the toilet on the bus omg!!! It was clean but the smell was awful so didn't really want to use it much but at least now I know where it is LOL it's actually like right by the rear exit of the bus but you have to turn the knob and I waited for ages thinking someone was inside when it was empty. But at least there's one, was so awful the last time when I had to hold for hours ......... So we sat in the bus for like maybe 7 hours?? There was no stops between Zurich and Milan but the view in Switzerland was absolutely amazing!!! So much snow woop woop! And we arrived in Milan much earlier like about 12nn instead of 12.45pm so that was great.

Lizzie and I got off the bus and we rushed to find a proper toilet LOL but alas we had to pay 50c for it at the station. Bought metro tickets and got off at the Duomo and weather was great! Super sunny and blue skies and there was some major celebrations going on because there were lots of kids in fancy dress costumes throwing confetti around but I had no idea what it was for. Also got reminded of Big Bang Theory when Sheldon says the singular form of confetti is confetto to which Amy replies why would you ever use the singular form LOL okay random but I found it funny haha. Anyway Lizzie and I went for lunch at this place called Pizza Pane e Companatico near the Duomo. The pasta was cheap and I had an Americano while Lizzie had a juice so was not a bad lunch. Lizzie had a train to catch at 3pm so by the time we finished it was about 2pm so she made her way to Centrale while I went to Brandy. 

The sales have unfortunately more or less ended :( Also found this amazingly HUGE Zara and Mango hahaha I need office clothes ... Like just on Friday I bought this really nice navy blazer from Mango at Rivetoile gah I don't know why I didn't go see the sales earlier!! Brandy wasn't having much sales and I regret not buying the Klum skirt when it was 10% off but hopefully can find it in Rome or Florence!! Didn't buy anything at the Duomo Brandy but went to the one at Via Statuto and bought a long sleeve top in burgundy (it looks like the Breanne top but I don't think it is) and a necklace! Meant to go to the other store at San Giovanni too but it was already 4pm by then and didn't want to risk missing my bus so decided to forgo it and made my way to Lampugnano instead.

Caught the bus in good time and (thankfully) found the toilet for the single decker buses too LOL. We had to stop halfway somewhere near Bologna and was so confusing cause the driver only spoke Italian and the people around me only spoke German omg I missed French-speaking places and generally the feeling of knowing the language of the place. But the driver was really nice and he used Google voice translate to translate for us (I didn't know there was such a function!!!) so basically we had to stop the bus and it will leave again at 2020h. Went to the convenience store and bought some Loackers to eat HAHA. The rest of the journey was pretty smooth after that and I had data so at least had some form of entertainment but holy moly I'd spent 14 hours on buses yesterday and including my 5-hour transit that would add up to a 19-hour journey which is even longer than going back to SG LOL?!? But tbh it was so cheap (think €11) and there probably wouldn't be any other alternatives even close to that price so yeah ...

Arrived in Rome at 12 midnight, also earlier than our scheduled time of 1225h so was great. Was glad that I've already been to Rome so knew how the metro works and all so managed to make my way from Tiburtina bus stop to Termini quite easily. I'd made a reservation for a hostel and also made another stupid mistake of not checking reviews until after I'd booked ... Was actually reading reviews on the bus lol and hoping that it wouldn't be as bad as it had sounded.

The hostel that I booked was called Two Ducks Hostel. Something that I also realised about Italy is that hostels / hotels almost never have buildings of their own LOL. It wasn't hard to find but was difficult trying to figure out which apartment the hostel was in. So I went up to the 5th floor where the reception was then there was a guy there who checked in for me and then led me to another building. I'd reserved a bed in a "6-bed female dorm" and he said that all the female rooms were in the other building so okay. It was about 5 min from the main building but we went up and he showed me my room which turned out to be a 4-bed room with only 2 other girls there who were already asleep which is actually better LOL. But it was a really basic room and was only €8 + €3.50 city tax per night (a bit expensive for that standard really) so €11.50 and couldn't really expect much. I was so budget!!! But the toilet wasn't great, was really flooded and wet and smelled and no hot water :( Bed was okay, I took the lower bunk of a double decker bed but saw reviews about bed bugs so didn't change into my sleeping clothes just in case ...

Woke up at 8am when one of the girls got up but stayed in bed until 10am HAHA was so tired out from the bus journey! One girl had already left but there was another girl so we talked a bit. She's from Poland and studying here and I told her it was my first time in a hostel so she looked really surprised then told me I look really young like 17 years old LOL. Then I packed my stuff and walked to the other hotel that YL booked and waiting for her here now as I type! 

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Okay she's just arrived so we're leaving now!

Happy Chinese New Year!

It's CNY again ayeee but I'm spending CNY eve alone and in the midst of cooking instant noodles like damn sad please?!?! It's always during CNY that I wish I could be home and this is already my third CNY that I've spent abroad :'( And I wanna eat all the CNY food!! LJ and I are thinking of going out for dinner tomorrow after class, I have 7 hours of class tomorrow which is absolutely dreadful and we only end at 6pm. But we haven't decided on where to eat yet so shall see HAHA.

Anyway been so busy after coming back from Italy that I haven't posted since Milan! I came back on the 10th Sunday afternoon and K came to pick me up from the gare. Then had classes starting from 11th and was so intense because at the beginning it was still choosing modules so I basically just went for everything and was so tired. Stayed in SXB that weekend, but the following weekend I went to London from 21-24 Jan. Spent 21st Thursday running errands on Oxford Street, 22nd Friday at Bicester and 23rd Saturday with Car then prinks at night with the Wasabi gang. Took the 1am bus to Stansted because my flight was at 7am, then got back to Basel and SXB at about noon. Went for classes then left SXB again for Paris on 28th Thursday for Car's birthday weekend, and J came to join us on Friday. Was good but so rainy the whole time! Also managed to see YX before I left and managed to meet Elles and Evan for brunch on Sunday right before my train so was a nice weekend! I left my towel at YX's place though hahaha gah. Arrived back in SXB in the afternoon. Then went for another 3 days of classes and took a blablacar to Brussels to see V!! Had a mini ESPS reunion in Brussels with A and Vicky and then I took a day trip to Antwerp on Friday because my blablacar got cancelled so I booked another one which leaves in the evening/ Got back on Friday night quite late and went library a bit on Saturday and today has just been packing and sorting out stuff :D

And I've also just had instant noodles for chuxi dinner hahaha fml. K has just woken up so shall see if we can go out for some proper food (I'm still quite hungry) ...

Day 9: Milan

Omg super tired today!! Woke up at 5.30am because my train from Bologna to Milan was at 7.05am, much regrets for booking morning trains LOL but I think they were the cheapest. The train was so empty haha I guess not many people want to travel early on a Saturday morning. Check-out was pretty smooth, I just had to leave the keys on the door and make sure I had everything with me. The B&B I was staying at is called Stazione Centrale and I'd booked it via booking.com. Thought it would be a hotel at first but turned out to be a private-apartment-turned-B&B with 3 bedrooms and a shared toilet. But the location was prime hahaha it was literally right outside the station like just across the road from the exit! Less than 1 minute to go between the two LOL. Anyway I had a double room all to myself, and breakfast was provided but it was just a tray of snacks haha but suits me anyway LOL. There was also an espresso machine which I didn't use since I don't drink coffee, but there were plenty of other drinks available too even soy milk!! And I had a constant supply of juice hahaha the owner was nice even though he didn't speak much English. Also the toilet was really clean haha just that the shower was a bit weird because the water kept alternating between scalding hot and cold lol. But all in all it was quite a nice stay! If I didn't have so much luggage with me I might've picked a location closer to the city centre though haha.

Anyway, the train ride took about 2 hours and I slept a bit on the train. Arrived in Milan at 9.10am then went to drop my bags at the hotel. I was supposed to meet M at this pasticceria called Ernst Knam for breakfast so I got the bus there. It's supposed to be quite a famous chocolaterie but I guess it might be from Milan? Anyway when we arrived they didn't have tables and seats so we just bought some cakes and chocolates and went to M's place nearby to eat instead. Was a good catch-up session!

Went back to the hotel afterwards to check-in before heading out for my Brandy shopping LOL. I basically spent the whole day shopping hahaha the weather was awful anyway it was a light spray sort of rain and very foggy and visibility was like only 1km?! So there wasn't much point in sightseeing in such bad weather. I did want to visit the castle at first but I still passed by it on the way out from Brandy LOLLOL it's actually in the middle of 2 stores hahaha ... Anyway, I went to the San Giovanni store first because the last time I went on a Sunday it was closed! It's quite small but they had a lot of home stuff and deco. They also had a lot of the summer floral prints somehow and I spotted a whole rack of Eve shorts on the upper floor but alas I already have them all! Also saw a few floral Jadas and other dresses and the Jacky dress which I'd been contemplating! As well as a paisley Kiara tank. Tried on a lot of button-up shirts but they were all really oversized and not very suitable for formal occasions. Didn't buy anything from that store cause I wanted to check out the other stores first.

Went to the Via Statuto store next! They had a lot of items on 30% off in the basement but they were mostly the stuff in the autumn colours like rust orange and mustard yellow and baby blue. All the Alena dresses were 30% so they were only €19!! But I already tried the baby blue and it looks so weird on me and I've gone off Alena dresses for now so didn't get any. In the end I bought a burgundy striped Luana top that was on sale for €10! Also saw a ton of scrunchies there but I have so many already omg.

Finally went to the Duomo store after that. It was super crowded omg. They had a lot of jeans at €15 but the materials were all really thin so I didn't really want to get them. Tried on a couple of other shirts and there was a striped Peyton top at 50% for €16 but it was too cropped for me but the other shirt fitted perfectly! Then I went to the 1st floor (they have a basement, ground loot and 1st floor) and there was a whole rack of skirts at €10!!! But they were mostly the corduroy skirts with the full front zip which I didn't like and some Raquel skirts that looked way too big. Picked out an Armelle skirt in the end and got that even though it was slightly too big but I'd been eyeing it for ages! The material isn't as nice as Topshop's denim skirts though to be honest, and I think the skirt is one of the items manufactured in China. There was also a bunch of accessories on sale so I got 3 quite cute necklaces! Kind of regret not buying more omg ...

Spent ages in the Duomo store so by the time I left it was already past 5pm. Went back to the San Giovanni store as it closes at 7pm and got the Jacky dress and Kiara tank there! The Kiara tank was the last piece in store omg! It wasn't on sale but the Jacky dress had 10% off hehe. Then went to the Via Statuto store again and got the burgundy corduroy skirt with the elastic band (even though I already have the one without but this fits better) and bought the Rosa pants in olive green!! It's super comfy omg. Almost bought the Lima pants, they had the navy and olive green ones at 30% off but didn't really like the material of the pants and would rather spend the same amount on a pair of Rosa's. I really wanted the corduroy skirt in black (been meaning to get that the whole trip omg) but they didn't have it in store and the other stores would've been closed by the time I reached since it was already 7.30pm by then T_T And almost got the other Rosa's in the lightest grey but decided against it at the last minute again hahaha no fate. But my skirt!!! Aish. Also regret not buying more Rosa's when they were €25 in Florence omg. But anyway I didn't buy that much stuff!!! Still a bit of stuff to add into my luggage but hopefully will be okay ...

Anyway so that concludes my day LOL omg I need to finish packing now and super sleepy will continue tomorrow!!

Day 8: Bologna

Last day in Bologna today! I actually really really love this place :) Meant to wake up at 9am so that I could go up to San Michele in Bosco during their opening hours, but ended up oversleeping until 11am hahaha so only left at about 12.20pm LOL. It was an hour's walk to the church but on the way I passed by Piazza 8 Agosto and there was a market there! So I googled and apparently it's a Friday/Saturday thing haha so lucky I caught it! But the weather was good so I wanted to get to the church while it was sunny.

Climbed up the hill to get to the church and arrived at the viewing point at about 1330. The view was so amazing and it was sunny! But really foggy so visibility was low. But it was nice hahaha. I perched myself up on a ledge at the car park and literally just sat there for like, half an hour LOL. 3 bus 30s passed by while I was sitting there hahaha but it felt so nice and peaceful. There were little people if not no one except for people waiting for the bus. So yeah, just sat there and took out my juice to drink LOL while facing the view. Felt so good but so good. Stayed there until about 1415 and unfortunately the fog didn't clear so I left reluctantly. The sun was also gone by then and I got a shock when I saw a building that was bright orange in the sun suddenly became really dark and scary looking LOL.

Took a leisurely stroll downhill and back to city centre and I really wanted to use the toilet so I stopped by this cafe on the way to get a snack as well. It's an espresso bar called BIOS and the owner was so friendly! He recommended me to try the mortadella sandwich, which is actually a local speciality. Mortadella is an Italian sausage originating from Bologna. So of course I had to try it since it's a local thing. I also got a hot chocolate and asked for soy milk to it and very thankful that I knew enough Italian to at least say "non bevo latte" LOL. Apparently it was the first time he made the hot chocolate with soy milk but he said the texture turned out good and sure it did! Also had chatted a bit and learned some Italian words like "mercato" for market and "felice anno nuovo" and how to pronounce words! He introduced himself as Bruno at the end when I was leaving and we shook hands. Love encounters like this when solo-tripping! Felt very very inspired hehe.

Walked towards city centre and went to Brandy to buy the jeans. Spotted this other lattice front dress in burgundy at 50% off and tried it on and it looked so nice!! So I bought that and the jeans. The staff recognised me I think HAHA. After that I went to see the library cause the interior designs are super nice! Then wanted to get a gelato and I actually walked all the way to Grom already before realising that I should actually try the San Crispino one since I don't know if they have it anywhere else besides Rome and Bologna. But totally didn't expect to see it here I thought it was just Rome! So I turned back and went back instead since it's near Brandy. Got the San Crispino flavour which is actually miele al crema (honey in cream) and also had clementine sorbet to go with. Weird combi but really refreshing HAHA I want to become a gelato pairer LOLLOL.

Was quite dark by then so came back to the B&B to put down my stuff then went out again to catch the market before it closed! The stalls were all packing up by then but luckily the bracelet store was still open and I got my rainbow bracelets. Saw them this morning for only €0.60 as compared to €1 everywhere else haha perks of being in a smaller city. Then browsed around a bit for phone cases but didn't see anything that caught my eye. Went back to the Chinese restaurant again to get takeaway for dinner cause I miss Chinese food so much haha it does taste like homecooked food!! Then came back and met the B&B owner again and he gave me 2 more packets of juice and I asked about check-out for tomorrow. Ate dinner and then been basically chilling and finding new music on Spotify and Shazam. Need to pack cause leaving tomorrow but omg I love Bologna sad to leave!!!

Day 7: Bologna

Finally beginning my solo travels proper here in Bologna!! But can't believe my Italy trip is ending haha sigh and I actually wish I had more alone time cause this was after all supposed to be a break for myself but oh well.

Woke up really late this morning like 10am and stayed in bed until 11am LOL but the good thing about solo-tripping is that NO ONE can tell me what to do HAHA absolutely love the freedom of doing things at my own pace. But it was also nice that time in Germany with XC and Nice with Steph haha because we all like to sleep more HAHAHA. But yeah, felt slightly sheepish for waking up so late when I opened my door and met the B&B owner LOL. And omg the Duolingo Italian courses finally came in useful cause he asked me if I would like to drink coffee so I was trying to explain "non bevo caffè" because "non dolce" LOL. Then he asked me what I would like to drink when I suddenly recalled the word for juice so I said "bevo succo" and he understood!! And he was so nice he even went to take 2 more packets of juice to give me HAHA I guess food vocabulary is probably the most useful when travelling ... But I've also picked up some new phrases and new food vocab HEHEHE really like Italian I've always wanted to learn!

Anyway left the B&B at 12 and omg so thankful once again that it's SO CLOSE to the station. I mean I don't mind walking to city centre but I will mind walking a longer distance with all my current luggage. Stepped out of the station and I felt so so rejuvenated all of the sudden and the sun was shiny and it actually felt warm despite the temperature being only 5 degrees. So yes, the freedom and uncertainty of everything was exhilarating :D I didn't have any plan of what to do but I did mark out a few places I wanted to see and also I had to go see the Brandy so I kind of just walked in the general direction of the city centre. Wandered off to Parco Montagnola and saw a beautiful set of stairs lol so obsessed with pretty stairs. And the best part was there was literally NO ONE on the streets at noon and everything was so clean and calm under the glorious sun I fell in love with this city almost instantly. Calm and serene and just as I like it.

Crossed the road to Piazzo dell'8 Agosto afterwards and saw a few people chilling in the plaza but like no tourists at all?!?! Shiokkkkk :D Also finally no umbrella / selfie stick men LOL in fact Bologna actually gives me a sort of vibe like Strasbourg somehow. I still remember how fascinated I was by everything on the first Sunday I arrived and it was 35 deg and so sunny and everything was so beautiful . Walked towards Piazza Maggiore and saw considerably more people there but still not very crowded at all. Saw the Fontana del Nettuno and the cathedral and the towers then decided to go to Brandy since it was nearby. 

When I got to Brandy even the store was kinda empty too so it was amazing :D I think shopping should be a highly personal activity. I always feel so stressed like ugh when I shop with people cause I would feel really bad for making them wait whereas if I'm alone I don't have to care how long I take. The whole store was having like 10-50% sales and I tried on some jeans and the olive green Rosa sweatpants that I thought wouldn't suit me but turned out not too bad after all!!!i so regret not buying them in Florence cause they were €25 there for some reason omg while here it's €27 after 10% off. Poor decisions sigh. Also tried on the Bruce skirt / Sena skirt (the one with the elastic band) and it's a much better fit than the one without but I already have that one which is the one P got for me from Canada gah so Idk if I should just buy it again with the elastic band. GAH. But I will get the black one on the last day of the trip I guess since it's only €23.40 now, I just don't want to have to carry them around now. Also Basel is having like 20% off storewide until end Jan but I'm not even going there this month on their open days OMG mega sianness. Anyway I couldn't decide between the 36 or the 38 it's always annoying to be in between sizes but I was surprised I could fit into the 36!! Italian sizes are +4 from European sizes so the 36 is actually like an EUR32 omg. I could fit into 36 but it's just the legs aren't very stretchy even though the waist fits me perfectly while the 38 fits nicely if not a bit loose on the legs but quite a gap on my waist. Or maybe their sizes just run big LOL no way am I a W24 now ugh. The staff were really nice too haha and it's still quite funny to see guys working in Brandy but so cool haha. was about to get the jeans when I saw this white cotton button up shirt so I thought maybe I could get it for work or formal events. It turned out slightly too casual for formal attire but the material was SO SO COMFORTABLE and also it was 50% off so only €14.50!! So I decided to get that first and come back for the jeans tomorrow. Turned out to be a good choice after all cause later today I saw a post on BM's insta featuring the same shirt with the Sena / Bruce skirt so now I guess I know what to wear with my skirts!! And oh yes the paper bags at this store are also different from the usual Brandy bags because this one had the store address printed on it so cute HAHA. And I love the Italian stores they always have all the scrunchies in the old floral prints and I'm so obsessed with them lol.

Bought my Brandy then came out of the store and was feeling a bit hungry so I walked a bit more then I spotted a gelato shop called Gelateria Gianni. I don't know why Google maps show the location as that because it's actually like right outside the two towers so maybe they moved or something. Anyway I tried strawberry cheesecake and this flavour called il signore degli anelli which has hazelnuts and it was so good!!! They have a lot of other interesting flavours too so might go back to try more. Then while I was eating I spotted il gelato di San Crispino omg didn't know they have it in Bologna also!! I didn't get to try the honey flavour in Rome so might try it here. Then everyone's been saying Grom omg too many gelatos not enough time ...

Are my gelato and continued walking to San Domenico church and it was so near I arrived even before I finished my gelato LOL. Went inside to see, they have a  museum with free entry inside and even though I'm not religious I like the calmness of old churches. Didn't have anymore places to see after that LOL Bologna is really small haha so I went to look at postcards for inspiration LOL TRAVELLING HACK HAHAHA. Was quite hungry by then so walking around to find a restaurant but it was an awkward timing like 4pm so not many restaurants were open. Also saw a Cruciani store they are so pretty and I'm so obsessed lol! Ended up at this restaurant called Mangiassieme in the end cause it was one of the few open and I was planning to go back early cause it was so cold and cloudy (no more sun) and I'm really quite sick (argh fml) so wanted to have an early dinner and rest early.

At Mangiassieme it was quite empty like there were only 2 other people in the restaurant but that suited me fine. I learnt the word yesterday for one person that is "solo" so it came in useful today hahaha. Got a spaghetti bolognese since I am in Bologna after all LOL. But my sense of taste is probably messed up from my cold so I thought it was not too bad but the spaghetti could've been softer. Had a panna cotta to follow hehehe was good but probably not so good for my throat lol. There was no service charge but they have coperto here which was something I've not seen in a while! So that concluded my first solo meal in Italy haha I know eating is an inherently social activity but eating alone actually made me eat much slower and enjoy the food more cause I can take as long as I want!

Was contemplating to visit Brandh again after dinner but too far so came back to the B&B. Finally had cash so could pay my city tax. Then just laid on the bed and fell asleep lol and now I've just showered and gonna go back to sleep again cause I have a headache :( Hopefully I can recover before Milan omg ...