September 30
To look up: Matt Armstrong; Emilia car driver
I woke up feeling like absolutely crud today but there was no way I was going to miss my 500e (yes) tour of Lamborghini and Ferrari today. I downed 2 Tylenol and got on the bus.
We walked the Lamborghini Usus factory (post chassis). Usus is the new hybrid SUV, I’ve seen a few in LA. Very little automation in this section, all cable dressing, custom interior piece install, bolting of chassis to engine, prior to test drive. All custom units, it was a rainbow of paint colors, blue, yellow, black, silver, white. No red, tho, they conceded that color to Ferrari.
We were told Ferrari won’t even take you as a customer if you are a tik toker, if you don’t have a serious lifestyle. Any non Ferrari part installed, puts you and any future owner on a blacklist, they will never service you again. So Italian, no?
The tours are mostly eye candy with little technical detail, the Lamborghini museum was good for sketching but wouldn’t satisfy a true supercar nerd. Ferrari had the best museum, over 10 rooms but the time allotted is simply not enough; after sketching the 1st room, I only had time to snap this pic as I blew by seeking the meetup point!! I was already famous as the last arrival to every departure. Gee kinda like my racing stats.
But the provided white tablecloth lunch was quite nice, gnocco fritto and 3 pasta dishes.
More interesting was the van conversations, listening to the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Most folks were very well travelled and on multi week trips, mostly retired. Oddly, being ex-HP brought out that most of them were also ex-hi tech folks, Microsoft, data centers, etc. Lots of Canadians and Aussies. One of the spouses had fallen on a Segway tour and broke a vertebrae – lesson, don’t leave home without travel insurance (I don’t). He was arguing with the insurance company about flying them home in lie-flat biz class. Also don’t forget you’ll pay for all services in cash until they reimburse you.
Now back at home in Bologna, I’ve been wanting to eat at this La Prosciutteria crazy tourist trap restaurant draped in fake flowers next to the hotel. They put an incredible porcetta in the window and I stare at it everytime I walk by.
Well I should have known better. Not a fan of stale bread. Nuff said.
Went to sleep at 9pm, no insta, no blogging.
October 1
Well it’s been a tough 48 hours as I battle a stomach bug but it’s getting better. I’m gonna blame the dates from the street stall. But I had to ship my extra luggage contents home today so I just finished a 2.5 hour ordeal with the Tabaccheria and Cartamarket to buy boxes and pack and print shipping labels. May the gods and all Italian nonnas curse and punish UPS’s website for eternity!! About 200e to ship 6 lb worth.
I shipped the bottom 9 books home. I kept the top 5 that I like the most, mostly Hahnemuhle and Fabriano and the small Stillman Birn Alpha, only one is watercolor paper, the rest 90-120lb multimedia. So I guess I brought 4 and ended up with 14 books. My favorite is the Fabriano Carnet de Voyage which I’d never seen before in the US. Perfect size for me. Still dont love Arches or the thicker Fabriano paper.
Will try to make the most of today although I should still rest. But – a girl’s gotta eat –
Just opposite the cursed La Prosciutteria is Ristorante Ciacco, also recommended by my hotel, and what a wonderful lunch.
The TDA Vino Spumante, Pinot Nero, metodo classico abbreviato (can’t figure out the winery name), is surprisingly rich and mineraly and grapey, almost a wee bit grappa-y, perfect with the seabass, but my favorite dish is the spinach with Parmesan! I love feeling special at fine dining where everything is perfect and delicious and the waiters notice your every need immediately. And the prices! I still can’t get over the 65e ($74) dinner at Donatello. This lunch was 55e, not quite the same value.
There is just something about Piazza Maggiore that has me coming back every day to draw it. I mean, if my studio had bar service I’d go everyday too!
Bar Vittoria Emanuele is my studio and the soundtrack is the buskers butchering John Denver and Sheryl Crow. I didn’t even realize she was singing John Denver till the lady next to me said OMG is that Country Roads???
Need to paint and post and blog, have two days to make up for!
