Just thinking about dealing with Gestim is enough to give me a headache…read more I first discovered them over a year ago when I started a study-abroad program in Bologna. There were plenty of not-so-great student apartments in the city, so when I found one that looked decent, I was very happy. Me and my new roommate were so excited to start living in the new place (in a palazzo in Via San Felice), but our excitement quickly turned into extreme frustration, and it has been that way ever since. First of all, there was no gas in the apartment when we moved in. It took over two weeks to turn on the gas, and in the mean time the 5 of us in the apartment had to share two electric hot plates lent to us by the gentle doorman Jerry (he's honestly the best part about this place!). Second, there was NO HOT WATER in the apartment. Whereas in all other apartments in the palazzo the hot water comes naturally through the heating pipes, in ours it did not. It was January, mind you, so we were dealing with cold showers in 20 degree F weather. This situation was unresolved for months, and we were told to leave the water boiler on constantly in the bathrooms so we can have hot water -- which made our electric bill skyrocket to a ridiculous 500 euro. We eventually settled on a reimbursement agreement with Gestim, but they have not yet fulfilled their part. Third, they somehow messed up the address for our water bill, so we never received a single bill for the whole time we were there, and somehow they believe that is our fault. Because of these bills, they have STILL not returned our security deposit. It's been over nine months since I've left Bologna, and they're still holding onto it. They claim the water bills mysteriously took an additional four months to get to the agency, and every time we call they have a different excuse. It's nearly impossible to talk to the administrator, and they have since switched their administrator, who -- of course! -- did not know anything about our electric bill agreement, and who says there's nothing he can do to help us out. It's been nine months of calling, emailling, and having the directors of our study abroad programs contact them. We've even threatened to go a legal route (which would take forever given the Italian system), and nothing. Do yourself a favor and rent from anybody else; someone who agrees to give you your caparra back before you leave, and whose service is decent. You'll be glad you avoided this bunch!

When I travel, I have a tradition. I like to visit a major university in the city I'm visiting (if…read morethere is one). The reason? Well, a lot of colleges have beautiful campuses. With impressive architecture. And there's a nostalgia factor where I reminisce to my college days and the wonderful experience I had. Universita'studi Bologna is a great one to visit because it is the oldest university in the Western world. Mozart even studied here! It's walkable from the center of Bologna (though a bit of a hike). My buddy and I made our way over in the early evening. The college is part of the city. We weren't able to enter any buildings but we got to see several from the outside. Beyond getting a taste of the university, it's also a cool part of town to be in. You'll find lots of bars and restaurants (and moderately priced ones since they serve college students). We took advantage of that and had dinner in the area.

The oldest university in the western world, dating back to 1088. It is also the oldest university…read morein the world to be continuously open. The list of famous graduates is extensive. It's history is intertwined with many great names of science and literature, it is a keystone and a point of reference for European culture. We walked from the Piazza send Donato all the way down to Piazza Mercanzia. The campus is spread out along the Zamboni & we passed many academic buildings, dorms, the library, church, faculty center, temple.... Many buildings were very impressive and they were a lot of workman busy maintaining.