Sikh Festival in Italy

Last April, the Indian community from Punjab celebrated their Sikh festival. It's an annual celebration attended by hundreds of people. 

Mother and child watching the parade.

The sacred book

They parade barefoot

Performers entertain the audience with their unique performance.

A test of strength

Rose petals were thrown from a helicopter during the middle of the feast.

People from other religions can also participate in the celebration and are invited to eat inside their temple.

The Most Beautiful Park in Italy

    Last month, my friend and I went to visit a place dubbed as 'The Most Beautiful Park in Italy'. It is this 60-hectare paradise named Parco Giardino Sigurtà. It is a perfect place to visit during spring.  You can hire a golf cart or a bike to roam around. It has ponds, fountains, a mini-zoo, a hermit-house, function hall, bar, rose plantations and off course its famous tulips. Each flowerbed is carefully arranged by color, height and kind. No need to go to Holland! There are also different kinds of trees, shrubs, herbs and flowers!

Bees are busy this time of the year!

The ground is large enough for kids to run around without hurting themselves!

It includes ponds and fountains too.

Just a kilometer away from the park is this beautiful town called Borgetto. It is an old village situated near the river of Mincio. It's one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

Borghetto is a unique town where you can feed a swan while drinking cappuccino.

Love locks.

Boating after breakfast?

'Good luck',  the bucket says. There is always something interesting everywhere you look.

Hello Spring!

Venice Carnival 2014

     It's Carnival time in Italy! Everyone is just so happy to welcome the spring. On top my my bucket list for 2014 is to experience the Venice Carnival.

 I was met by thousands of tourists upon my arrival. Participants of the carnival are usually the rich who can afford to pay more or less than 3000 euros for each costume. They are very willing to have their pictures taken. Who wouldn't be?

The luxurious carnival can also be a place for poor East Europeans who take advantage of the thousands of tourists to beg.

Sweet music can be heard from anywhere.

Best place to read a newspaper.

Tourists, tourists, and more tourists!

A street art telling the sad truth about Venice.

It was a great day indeed! 

Parma (Part 2)

   Here are some photos I took of my short visit to the interesting Parma.

Some lovers left this on one of the bridges of Parma River.

The Baptistery of Parma

Typical Street

The city center

The park lake

Typical houses among some ruins.

      This cool guy with a magenta jacket shouted, "Coco, come here!", when I was next to him. I thought he was calling out for his dog or son etc. but suddenly I saw this goose flapping its wings from the other side of the lake. It started quacking, swimming and dancing excitedly towards him. The guy caressed the goose's wings and head for a while while it rubs its head to his palms. This happened for about 5 minutes. I've never thought there can be a connection between a man and a bird this intimate... or that these birds can recognize a name given to them.. Amazing!

Parma: A Quick Visit

Last Sunday, I went to visit Parma, little a town of Emilia Romagna. Have you ever heard of the Parmesan cheese? It came from this place. I had one of the most unforgettable experiences ever here which I will tell on my next entry. Here is a sweet little quote I saw along the Parma River. It means 

" There is no city without poetry."

I hope you had a HAPPY VALENTINE' S DAY!

University of Bologna stroll

     Hello! It's been raining in the northern parts of Europe these days. I'm so grateful that the last time I went to Bologna, the weather was perfect! My main destination was the University of Bologna.

     The University of Bologna (UniBo) is the oldest university in the world. It was founded in 1088. Among its famous alumni are Dante Alighieri, Albrecht Durer and Guglielmo Marconi. It is located along via Zamboni near the city center but it also has branches in Buenos Aires and four other Italian cities.

     I expected it be very very classical with highly maintained walls and porticoes with people dressed in expensive suits or uniforms but its actually not. The entrance of colleges are full of posters and different kinds of vandals. Some are poems, anti government quotes, curses and some are graffitis.

The entrance to the Faculty of Economics 

Entrance to the theater

Humanities building entrance

Chemistry building 

Entrance to the Fine Arts Building

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The Institute of Botany

Children on a trip at Orto Botanico, UniBo's garden

The Sala Borsa or public library is one of my favorite places. It is located in Piazza Maggiore.

Sala Borsa interior. I love the atmosphere. There is a piano inside where you can play from 6 pm onwards

Posters and ads

Posters




Though UniBo is full of senseless graffitis outside, it still maintained its legacy as one of the top schools in Italy and in the world.  I would love to study a course here someday.

Buona giornata a tutti!