Bergamo Warnings Or Dangers

Strikes in Italy are becoming increasingly commonplace, particularly in the present political and economical climate. The strikes may be Nationwide, but are generally regional or affecting one city.

Many of the strikes affect the transport services - local buses/trains and planes particularly. Apparently Alitalia flights are particularly prone to cancellation due to strikes.

However, they are generally announced days in advance and last for about 4 hours. Sometimes they are even cancelled.

There are quite a few web-sites/blogs that list forthcoming strike details

The official strike website which is in Italian
www.slowtra.com
summerinitaly.com

Following our EurMeet reccy to Bergamo in May 2011, Gilly and I stopped off in Padova to meet up with oriettaIT and painterdavebefore heading to Venice Marco Polo(Gilly) and Treviso (me) for our flights back home.
Gilly had planned to catch the tram to Padova train station, then the train to Santa Lucia, Venice, spend a few hours wandering around Venice, then head to MPA. I had a later start.

I was quite surprised to get a text, warning me that there was a transport strike, so no bus/tram service, which meant Gilly had missed her train, and ended up getting a taxi straight to the airport, costing nearly 100Euros!!!

By the time I departed Padova, the traffic was running normally, and I arrived in Venice, just as the vaporetto workers returned to work - which meant that these waterbuses were extra crowded!

Prior to our December EurMeet reccy, Gilly had learned that a strike was planned for our day of departure - Oh yes, she wasn't going to be caught out again!
When she queried this at the TI office, the staff weren't aware of this, but checked and confirmed that there was a strike planned, but it wouldn't affect our transport arrangements (1A aeroporto bus to Orio al Serio) We still allowed ourselves, plenty of time, 'just in case'

If we had needed to get a taxi, it's only a 10 minute drive (around 25Euros).

So, check the websites, or hotel reception/TI office if you are planning a day out by public transport/needing to catch a flight/train etc.

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I only found two lots of public toilets in Bergamo, one set being at the railway station (I didn't use those). It is, of course, perfectly ok to go into a cafe/bar, buy an espresso or beer and ask to use their toilet.

The other set of toilets I found are in the Citadella, just off Largo Colle Aperto. Very clean and overseen by at least two very pleasantt gentlemen on different shifts (both cheerily wishing me 'Buongiorno' on each of my visits).

They cost 25 cents (as of June 2011). But they are of the squat type and if you are female and not used to this it may come as a bit of a shock.

There are hooks to hang bags etc, a pole to help you balance and a bidet. It's really much easier than you might think (although wearing a skirt does help enormously).

Squat or not, I really appreciated their existence...more than once. :-)

You'll find the toilets at the base of the Citadella tower. They're open from April to September, from 0830-1300 and from 1400-2000.

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The streets of Upper Bergamo are mainly constructed of stones or narrow bricks set into a base- they are bloomin' uncomfortable to walk on if you've got thin soled shoes or boots.

They are sometimes uneven, or with loose or raised pieces, and are slippery when wet.

Don't let this put you off walking around, just be careful and be aware of where you're putting your feet!

I had to smile at some of the smart Italian women that I saw, 'skipping along' in flimsy stiletto heels without a problem though.

Also be aware that the narrow winding streets of Upper Bergamo are used by cars and zippy scooters - How they get from A-B without scraping their paintwork is a mystery!
I was taken by surprise more than once by a car suddenly appearing down a narrow 'Alleyway'

If you do slip or fall - Medical Emergency - 'phone 118
Bergamo Hospital -035 269111
Bergamo Medical Service 035 455511

Pharmacies in Upper and lower cities. There is a pharmacy next door to the Funicular station.

You will find that in Bergamo there are loads of zebra crossing type things. Most of them also have little green and red men! 'Perfectly normal' I hear you thinking? Well, watch out when you are crossing the road!

When the little green man comes illuminates, allowing you to cross the road - it does not at the same time stop all other traffic coming. Basically, you have to kinda run over the crossing to avoid being run over yourself! I think it is traffic from the right that can still come even when there is a little green man (I can't remember, I got confused!).

Also, for the ones where there is no illuminated sign to say you can go - you need to take a deep breath and just go for it. The cars do not stop for you, and you could easily spend half an hour waiting at a crossing otherwise.

Yes. I must remind you to be careful walking on the narrow and steep street of Bergamo especially Citta Alta. The small streets are of hard stones or I would say cobble stones. Do not let yourself fall as it will surely hurt you. As a precautionary measures, be aware that you are in Citta Alta. There are small cars coming in this narrow and winding road.

The streets in the old city are very small. That is quite normal as they have been there long time before there were cars and vans!
Some parts are so tiny that the cars have to wait a long way down the streets to let others from the opposite direction pass.

They are using here signs we know as one direction street and we were very much surprised that still cars drove in both directions?
When we checked the other side, we noticed that same “one direction” sign again, but now with an additional “passage only for residents”.
So be very careful if you think you are driving in a one way direction street, you could be terrible mistaken

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Panoramic picture! Click on it to enjoy the full view!

Watch out for pigeons ;)
and everything they bring with them!
I have noticed that there were quite some pidgeons around the place, waiting for their good luck when you would drop your bread or when families come visiting the square and little kids throw bread to these birds.

I love animals but I am not so keen on this ones as they droppings are very destructive for buildings and statues and it is not hygienic anyways.
Not to mention if you go sit on something they have left for you on your chair :)

Lucky this didn't happened this time, but later on one of my next locations I visited in Italy, it did!

I found Bergamo rather expensive.
I know you pay more if you sit at a famous spot but 8 euro for some salad, a few pieces of mozarella, olives and a spoon of carrots and tuna fish is really costly.
4 euro's for 10 cl of wine? my goodness.
So you better watch out and compare prices, unless you have a lot of $$ in your wallet and don't care.