Work trip to Bologna, Italy - 11th to 12th July 2006

After a long day trip to a rather hot Frankfurt, it was straight back to the airport for a journey to an exceedingly hot Bologna, for a couple of days. Bologna is not the centre of the universe, nor even of Italy - landing at the airport made that clear. There are no airbridges in sight, so everybody has to get off theie plane using the steps, then get a bus. But the airport is small enough so that the bus ride to the terminal lasted for 20 seconds, if that. Once inside at passpost control, there were barriers around, but no officials in sight either - we had to wait 5 minutes from them to show up.

I was staying at the AC Hotel, part of a chain that is across Spain and now Italy too. The place is one of the best designed hotels I have seen, everything is a fantastic case study of impeccable interior design - all very modern and functional. The website is a good example, both the site design, and the photos it promises. The room itself was amazing - a flatscreen TV, wi-fi, free minibar, arty photos, all in all a fantastically designed and furnished room. The bathroom sink is a case in point, like a piece of glass with a dip made into it. They seem to give you the essentials like water and wi-fi for free, and make everything else you need available too. I will definitely be looking for them again.

Bologna was a steady 36 degrees for both days I was there, very hot indeed, and humid too. Of course, whilst at work, I enjoyed the lunchbreaks - doing what all Italians do and going for pizza. A huge and delicious pizza available for 5 Euros at most - some people don't know how lucky they are to be able to do that every day!

Finally, a shocking and surprising quietness about the World Cup victory was very noticeable in Italy - despite being 2 days ago, most Italians seem to be going around with quiet smiles on their faces, rather than the loudness that might be expected of them.