Advantages: Funny with some great description of the city Disadvantages: Not a serious crime thriller, not many suspects
Background:
This author was recommended to me again by my well read boss. Originally she introduced me to Donna Leon and she said she thought I would like this author too. As he also writes crime fiction with a Detective Aurelio Zen also based in Italy.
About the Author:
Michael Dibdin was born in Wolverhampton in March 1947. He qualified as a teacher in Alberta, before moving to Italy in 1979. This was when his writing career took of. Indeed in 1988 he won the Crime Writers Association Maccallan Gold Award for fiction and was shortlisted again in 1991. He wrote in total 18 highly acclaimed novels before his premature death in March 2007.
A synopsis of the book:
This book features the Inspector Aurelio Zen as the investigating officer. He is summoned with immediate effect to Bologna to oversee the Police investigation ...
Bologna. I have been twice in Bologna, once was fro concert on the outskirts, the second time for the wedding of my cousin with a guy from Bologna. I had a chance to visit a bit of the City when we went for the wedding, because we stayed there the night before. To be honest with you, Bologna is nothing special, although the centre is nice, but I remember it as a bit noisy. What was very good was the food we had the night before the wedding, and at the wedding. Tortellini are a speciality from Bologna, and you can also have plenty of good cheese Parmigiano and cured meat, like Prosciutto di Parma. What I found nice, are the mountains just out of Bologna, called Appennini. In summer it can be very stuffy in Bologna and the mountains are never too far away. Keep it in mind if you go there in summer and it is too hot. ...
CICLISTALOCO 14.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bologna (Italy)
Advantages: Great food, reasonable fixed price menu Disadvantages: None
On our recent trip to the Loire Valley Mr Tart and myself arrived in Tours quite late on our first night. We drove down to Tours from Paris. We were going to stop for something to eat on the way but in the end decided to make our way straight to Tours and get settled in the hotel and then find something close by. A couple of minutes from our hotel we came across this place and were really glad that we did.
LOCATION:
La Chope is located at 25 Avenue Grammont. Our hotel was on the same road so we just came across it. It is about a ten minute walk from Tours? old town. The restaurant doesn?t stand out and the sign is not particularly bright so make sure you look out for it.
THE EXPERIENCE:
La Chope (which apparently translates as the tankard) is actually a fish restaurant. I?m not really a fish person (ok, that ...
tartlette83 18.09.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of La Chope, Tours
Unique in Bologna, this bar and restaurant have been installed in the private chapel of the 1576 Palazzo Bentivoglio. In the university area, it is one of the most evocative venues in the city. As you enjoy your drink, you can admire the 16th-century frescoes. Young people patronize the place for its good food, generous drinks, recorded music, and the general ambience. Adjoining the restored chapel is a first-rate restaurant with a selection of savory regional dishes and some of the most inspired cakes in town. The menu is forever changing. Ask the waiter for the daily specials, often succulent pastas. Good-tasting soups such as a garbanzo ragú, are served daily. In addition to the restaurant and bar, there is also a library and exhibitions of modern art. On Saturday, live classical music is played. Just to relax and enjoy a drink, head for one of the big soft chairs in the rear, surrounded by a lot of books.
