Cesena, Emilia Romagna

And I finally set foot in that special corner of "central Italy".

Perugia-Cesena via Ancona. And that's a pretty crap route, my friend. See, there's a direct bushway (thru the vineyards, so it should have been a scenic route too) between Perugia and Cesena or let's be more macro, between Umbria and Emilia Romagna, problem is (1) I got no car and (2) the train (courtesy of trenitalia of course) doesn't run between A and B in my agenda, most possibly given Umbria's little importance economic wise.

So there ya go buddy. Four bloody hours for a trip of just below 200kms. Fantastic. The anticipation, fortunately, buffers the boredom and worry.

Worry? What worry? Aint they say no worries mate.

Cesena is sandwiched between other "giants", eg. Bologna, Ravenna, Rimini, and Ancona.

I aint no expert on Cesena's historical bits. So would it be alright to pass the bucket now to the Indonesian romagnola: Tari. tarivancollem.blogspot.com

Enough to say that Cesena was a dominion of the Malatesta family (literally: headache; an aristrocrat who settled Cesena and Rimini in the 1500s) and true enough, the noble belligerent family gave enough headache as it warred with their neighbours the Sammarinese (of San Marino). Later on San Marino.

And to add the region is flat (landscape wise) no problems having a bike for any poor student (like moi!), dotted with numerous industries, big enough to feel half of western Europe, excellent access to the sea, beach, and generous portions of belle città (beautiful cities).

And enough to give a mention to the specialty of the region : the piadina romagnola. A nordic version of the pizza (of origin napolitain, of course, that one) easy enough to serve as jack of the trade tucker, good enough for lunch (fillings: cheese and salame, traditionally) or snack with more audacious, though popular with the ragazzi, toppings eg. nutella, or for that pre-dinner much with mates.


Bizarre menu in a Cesena restaurant, offering err... steamed naked men amongst other more normal dishes.


Cesenesi in bike


Fontana di Masini, Centro Cesena


Centro Cesena

ps. un caro abbraccio alla famiglia di V.Collem di Cesena. Grazie mille, of course, per tutta l'ospitalità e soprattutto dei tuoi cibi succelenti durante il mio breve soggiorno da voi. Era un gran piacere di avervi conosciuti. A dopo, magari in Umbria alla prossima. ciao ciao al piccolino, scimmia italo-indollandese vostra.