Some of you might have seen on Tara’s blog the mention of an upcoming trip to Bologna. The idea came from Natalie and then she and Tara teamed up to invite Asali and myself. All I can say to that is that it was some brilliant thinking on their part. I don’t remember the last time I had so much leisurely, unhurried fun with such wonderful people.
I’ve met Natalie 4 years ago when she was traveling through Croatia with her husband and it’s known that Asali and I have been friends for a while now. The person I was so eager to finally meet was Tara. I don’t want to gush now about how the perfume world has given me a chance to meet amazing people, but it has. I always imagined Tara as a strong but kind woman and the reality was very much like that. You might not be aware of her strength when you see her waify form but when you hear her voice, there is no mistaking the strength there.
Anyway, to get on to the actual trip. 🙂 We all met in Bologna, arriving one after the other and the six of us did some true Italian holidaying. If you are wondering who is number 6, well, a friend of Natalie’s husband also arrived from New York so we were truly an international band of tourists. Which actually turned out to be great because we did different things to make everyone happy and we shared stories from our particular backgrounds – making us get to know each other better and learn more about cultural differences. This was all underscored by sightseeing (churches and museums mostly), having lazy Italian lunches and dinners, and gelato and aperitivo in the meantime. Honestly, Italians know how to enjoy life. 🙂
And I miss the espresso now. I got quite used to it. And the fact that Italian guys don’t mind some causal flirting – hence the title of the post. We loved being called “ragazze”. 😀
So, in no particular order, here are some photos from the trip.
One of many beautiful buildings in Bologna
I love churches so I enjoyed visiting them but no longer remember which is which 🙂
Basilica di San Petronio
The Neptune sculpture that’s supposed to be on the fountain but is actually in Archeological museum as the fountain is undergoing reconstruction
A canal running through Bologna
Turns out there is no river in the river Po
The most amazing theatre I’ve ever seen (in Parma) – Teatro Farnese
Part of the Farnese palace is the library (HUGE!) – I want to live there
Parma cathedral
Baptistry in Parma
Basilica di San Luca
View from the San Luca basilica (it’s on top of a hill)
Asali doesn’t give up so we finally had a good enough selfie 😉
Tagged: aperitivo, Bologna, churches, Italy, perfume friends, Teatro Farnese, travel
All I am - a redhead 
Ines, I appreciate your words more than you know. I’ve been pushing myself to be strong these last few years and hearing people I respect, like you, describe me in that way makes me feel like I’m achieving that goal. The validation helps me enormously.
It was so good to finally meet you and you just as kind and genuine as I’d imagined. It makes me smile when I think how oblivious you are to the fact that you are a total catch 🙂
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Dear Tara, I cannot describe how much I admire your strength and bravery because it is obvious you had to have both to be where you are now. And I already look forward to the next time we get to spend time together.
Glad I could make you smile with my obliviousness. 😉 The thing is though, I feel so much happier and better in my own skin after this trip – talking to all of you had helped a lot.
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Mamma mia, che bella ragazze! Loved the photo of you and Asali! And so happy to hear that you got to meet Tara and renew your acquaintance with Natalie in a beautiful Italian city. Brings back good memories of when we went to Rome. ❤
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I love that photo of us too. ☺ I actually didn’t expect it to turn out so well after several failed attempts (I look awful in pictures usually).
I thought of our time in Rome often – I forgot how much I love being in Italy. And spending time with perfume people.
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Suzanne, Ines and I talked about you often, and our wonderful trips together.
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It sounds like a wonderful vacation! I hope to meet both you and Asali one day (one thing I can promise: there will be no selfies 😉 ). I miss Natalie (but I’m glad that somebody saw her: it means she didn’t disappear completely) and I completely agree with your description of Tara (the voice!!!).
Just in case you were restraining yourself, and you have more pictures, let’s say, of food or anything else from the vacation, I want to say – don’t. There are some of us who enjoys looking at pictures 🙂
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Ha, I know there would be no selfies (or other kind of pictures with you in them?). ☺
I thought food and wine wouldn’t be that interesting so I didn’t post those. Plus, I took them for later reference so they aren’t terribly good.
No, Natalie didn’t disappear (although you won’t be seeing pics of her either) and she’s looking better than ever. No wonder we got called ragazze. 😉
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I do not mind actual pictures – as long as they are not published online (but I mind selfies in general, no matter for which purposes 🙂 )
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So do I, in general. However, when you’re with friends and no one there to help you take a photo, I make an exemption 😉 So basically, no to selfies, yes to friendies or something to that extend…
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Wow that library!I am stuck on that. lol. Really want to explore Emilia Romagna soon..great post!
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Emilia Romagna is a great teritory for exploration. In whatever way you want it. ☺
I got stuck on that library too. It’s amazing.
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where else did you visit?? Hope I can soon too. Haha it is
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Just Parma but some of our company went to Ravenna too and enjoyed it a lot. But food and drinks! Amazing!
And Rome is always a great place to visit, although not in Emilia Romagna.
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Haha I have visited Rome thrice already. Fully an Italy lover 🙂 But yes Emilia Romagna is definitely high on my list. Thanks!
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[…] supportive and inspiring women. It was a real joy to finally meet Ines (read her lovely write-up here) and Asali (who designed my gorgeous blog header) and to get to know Natalie […]
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Thank you for that great memory write up dear Ines. Italy is da bomb! why can’t we just make little parfumista trips like that all the time? 😍
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Ah, I see that Natalie’s husband was there, as well as her husband’s friend. This all sounds like the best possible fun on every front, and a visual feast straight out of Merchant Ivory. That is a great selfie of you and Asali, even though it is of people who don’t like being in selfies as a rule. And I am that soldier. I was sorry to learn that there is no river in the River Po – though it made me smile – but in every other respect the trip did not disappoint. I quite agree about Tara and how immensely she has changed in recent years. I count myself lucky to know her. I hope one day to meet you and Asali. Natalie and I did manage a meet up in Nottingham, of all untouristy destinations. It did have a river though.
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