Imola 30-12-09

Originally it was meant to be a short half-day out around Bologna, but an accidental visit to the Biblioteca Comunale di Imola (BIM) and an excellent dinner at the Osteria del Vicolo Nuovo da Rosa e Ambra made the day.

The ceiling and the walls of the staircase of the library have been beautifully painted by using the trompe l'oeil technique make it look like richly sculptured vault and fresco. And some computers in the library were running on a Linux-based operating system.

The Osteria del Vicolo Nuovo da Rosa e Ambra (also an Enoteca) was featured in the Guide "Osterie D'Italia" (Slow Food Editore 2010). Running by a group of women (Rosa and/or Ambra are members of female sommelier association), the deco of the Osteria is very feminine (but not in a lustily sexy way) and homely. The food was excellent (all pasta were hand-made). They also served tap water (which is very rare in Italian restaurants or eating places), and encouraged you to take the unfinished bottle home. Strongly recommended.

Da Guido, Padova (2009-12-28)

Marketplace in Padova

A street food stall selling seafood in the marketplace in central Padova. The food looked delicious and desirable - just look at the expressions of people surrounding the stall. It bore much resemblance to night markets in Taiwan.

The stall and the wine bar, Osei, next to it are featured in the "Osterie D'Italia" guide (Slow Food Editore, 2010) (page 254):

Da Guido
Piazza della Frutta
Chiuso la domenica
Orario: 15.00 - 20.00, in estate 17.00 - 21.00

Sicuramente il banco posto nel punto migliore della città (el canton dee busie), di fianco al bar dei Osei dove potrete scegliere fra una selezione di buoni vini bianchi. Oltre ai folpi, canocchie, seppie, uova di seppia, cozze e vongole.

An Italian Farm

Visited an old farm house in north Italy. It's not deserted, but just not habitable for human beings. Only 9 hens and a cat live there now.

Bramall Hall on 19 December 2009

Got some inspirations of framing when seeing the Bramall Hall Park covered in snow. Yet another self-made amateur landscape photographer to be born? Ha ha.

Snowy Manchester - 20 December 2009

The white Christmas we'd been expecting, though its arrival was a few days early and resulted in some inconvenience.