# Campari & Soda: 1, # Gelati: 2
I woke up late and had a leisurely breakfast. No classes to go to and no excursions planned. I've enjoyed my time at Academya Lingua but 4 weeks was enough. An intensive course is hard work and it would start to get to be a chore if I'd stayed longer.
Late morning I finally managed to get myself out of doors. On my way out I saw a woman leaving ahead of me. There is a button to open the gates between the rear and front parts of my apartment complex! You don't need to use a key after all. I can leave tomorrow without notes or stress. The button is high up on the wall, at the bottom of the stairs to the left of the gate, which is why I didn't spot it earlier.
My outing for the morning was a visit to the Chiesa di Santo Stefano which is in the piazza at the end of the street with the school. It isn't actually one church, it is seven. The original one was built in the 4th century. Over time the Bolognese decided the original church was too small/plain and added additonal churches, rather than rebuilding the existing one (except in one case). They are all joined together in to a single complex. I do not get the Bolognese fascination with churches. I don't believe I've seen so many large churches in so relatively small a city before.
After my last dose of culture, I went to the bar opposite the school for a farewell coffee and pistachio croissant (my standard pastry). Sadly, they had sold out of the croissants (called cornetti here - which makes me think of ice cream). I had to settle for a different pastry that was made with flaky pastry and filled with a paste of ground nuts (walnuts?) and apple. It was actually nicer than the croissant.
I was meeting Kim for a farewell dinner in the evening so I decided that would (have to) do for lunch. I went back to the apartment to tidy up and convince all my belongings that they really could fit into my suitcase. I succeeded but it took more persuasion that I had anticipated. I will either have to by small, light souvenirs from here or else a new suitcase. The wheels on this one squeak so perhaps the latter.
Late afternoon I headed out for an amble (aka passieggiata) around the city for one last time and had a farewell gelati. I got to the Piazza Maggiore just in time to see the busker-gymnasts packing up. I was annoyed as I'd planned to make a video. They were so skillful.
I then headed to a bar and had a farewell Campari & soda before meeting up with Kim. We had dinner at the Trattoria Buca di San Francesco. We had the full four courses and shared a bottle of wine. It was an excellent meal - good food, good wine and good company. The most entertaining part of the night was that the waiter took a shine to Kim. He flirted outrageously with her. At one point, just flat out asking her for her phone number. Kim was oblivous. She just thought he was being generically friendly!
After dinner we ambled around a bit more as the night was mild and the crowds were out in force. We had another, for me, farewell gelati. Just another gelati for Kim as she stays in Bologna for another week. Finally we parted with hugs and (genuine) promises to keep in touch.
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