Florence

I went to Florence Italy October 4-12. It is a beautiful country and one I could easily see myself living in except for the Socialism and Communism springing up. I would have to live about an hour outside of Florence in the Tuscany countryside.

I often wish I was Elizabeth Montgomery in Bewitched so when I have these long ass plane rides I could wiggle my nose and be there and wiggle away the jet lag.

October 4 and 5: Started with breakfast at mom's house (thanks mom cos breakfast after that sucked big time). We had coffee, juice, fruit and muffins. Plane ride to Chicago was uneventful. There was a lady in the Chicago airport with hair to the floor and she did not hit 5'. PLane ride from Chicago to Brussels. Does American Airlines think I am a side of beef to hang in a meat locker, cos the plane sure felt like one. Note to self always get bulk head row when traveling to other countries. I was by the door and when I saw it was -60C when we crossed the ocean at night I understood partly while I froze to death. We did have chicken and rice around 6pm for dinner followed by the Mrs Pettigrew movie, it was ok. Then I watched Enchanted, nothing else to do and got my fill of sugar for the day. I tried to sleep but no, then at 10pm we got breakfast, it was really 7am in Brussels. Landed at Brussels with lots of cold wet wind from the rain, there was someone at our ramp so we unloaded in the middle of the ramp and were bussed to the back door of the airport. Through customs and security again. They don't post the gate until 45 minutes before departure (not a smart thing considering how large the airport is). I was so tired and hot I felt sick. Got on the plane to Brussels, laid out and slept as best as I could. The brat behind me and his mother were screaming the whole flight but I must have been tired. I missed the Alps but I needed the sleep. The little creep finally shut up when we landed. Death taxi ride to the hotel past a Blockbuster, where was Wal-Mart? Room is nice, and had a nap before we were to meet at 3pm in the lounge. Met the tour guide and rest of the group, we got rules for the week, no politics. Tell that to the Italians. We saw David first thing, this is one of 3 Davids we will see this week. We then wandered around and got acquainted with Florence. Group dinner was bruschetta, wine/water, pumpkin and gorgonzola pasta, stew and tiramisu. Oh my tummy was one happy camper. The government regulates public utilities, so no heat in the room. There was a towel heater but it did not work either.

October6: up for breakfast of bitter coffee (last coffee I had for the week), juice, dinner rolls, and yogurt. They think coffee is all you need for breakfast. Wandered around the city and ended up at the Duomo Museum. LUnch was pizza which is only thin crust and I dont care for the taste of their tomato sauce on their pizza. They put corn in their salad but it is good. There was a large protest while we were at the Bapistry. We got our train tickets to Rome for Saturday and went to the outlet store for yarn. It is behind the Duomo Museum. The city closes down from about 12/12:30-2:30 for lunch and siesta. Their store hours are odd, how on earth can you shop if you work there? I could have bought tons of yarn but no room in the suitcase. I did pick up some, pictures will be posted later. I then went to a yarn store I had seen online and recommended by our tour guide, who was also a knitter. Beatrice did not speak much English and I only know quanto costa (how much) but I had a great time talking to her. When I left she gave me a needlepoint canvas of the river we crossed to get to her shop, I was touched. Will post a picture of the canvas later. We were close to the Point Vecchio bridge and on the bridge there are jewelry stores that close up to look like a jewelry box at night, very cool. Sat on the bridge and people watched and then off to Happy HOur with the group. My first taste of gelato, pistachio, oh my I could become addicted. At their gelato stores they sell one square of waffle with nutella, I always though waffles were for breakfast but here they are like cookies. Dinner was at Nella's around the corner of the hotel, after that we walked to Groms for caramel gelato.

October7: Breakfast if you can call it that was late, so grabbed some bread and off we went. Walked to a monastery with a beautiful garden, could have sat inthe garden all day away from the city life. Had lunch at a cafeteria and had to have a salad. Then off to the market, they eat every scrap of meat here, brain, tongue, tripe, intestines, etc etc etc, I was grossed out. Afternoon was the Ufizzi Museum, I was more intriqued by the paintings on the ceiling than all the hundres of pieces of art, there were way too many people and it was hot. If I see one more painting of Mary/Jesus. Tried to get in the Feragammo museum but it is closed on Tuesdays, the lady actually ushered us out the door. Had chicken and potatoes with rosemary for dinner. The rosemary grows wild here like a tumble weed and is a huge bush.

October 8: Our tour guide took us across the river to an open air market. YOu see the little old Italian ladies arm in arm with their dress, sweaters on and their red and beige plaid bags to carry their groceries for the day back home. We also went to a palace. After the market we went to a chapel. Wandered around the other side of the river for awhile and then went to the Feragammo Museum. He made shoes for lots of movie stars and many of his shoes were just plain hideous. Group dinner was bruschetta, wine/water, 3kinds of pasta, roasted rosemary potatoes and pork, chicken, roast beef and pork ribs, tiramisu and puff creme pastry.

October 9: I have caught a cold and today was the one day I most wanted to experience of the trip, a bus ride to the Tuscany countryside. We trekked to the train station to catch our bus. We went about an hour outside of Florence, lots of vineyards, olive tree groves and rosemary. Our first stop was San Gimignano, it was market day. Walked all the day through the city and sat for awhile looking at the beautiful scenery. Off in the distance you can hear children playing, must be recess. There are people on cell phones which seems odd to me because I don't picture them as normal everyday people like me. Smack dab in the middle is a yellow cream Bentley, way cool. If I was going to pick a country to live in other than America, it would be here away from the major cities in the little cities in the country. I picture myself sitting on my veranda sipping a glass of Chianti knitting or reading or spinning. I would have a pashmina around my shoulder listening to the quiet of the evening. I envision getting up in the morning reading the paper, having my coffee and working in the garden, spinning wool for market day and picking tomatoes for lunch for bruschetta with mozarella. In the afternoon I would nap and perhaps spin more wool for market day. What a life of luxury it would be and a simple life at that. Meals here are a social event, they last 2-3-4 hours with several courses of people just sharing food and life. At home we scarf down our food in 30 minutes and never really take the time to enjoy it or our companions. Sad isn't it? We left San Gimgnano and went to a B&B for lunch. The lady there is a Countess and the winery has been in her family for over 400years. They make wine and olive oil there. We had bruschetta/white wine, cheeses/red wine, pancetta/red wine, and salami/brunella, and for dessert a very sweet wine with biscotti. We also went to a very teeny city behind a wall of stone that would take 5 minutes to walk from end to end. It was a beautiful day with just a light breeze and good drugs from the Pharmicia.

October 10: I stayed in and slept. I have not slept but the first night we have been here. The room is like a meat locker and the noise, oh my it is way too much. The rest of the group went to the Bargello Museum to see the queer David. The fake David is in a square that is being reworked. This was our last group dinner: Ribolatti(bread and bean soup), gnocchi and ravioli, beef flamed in cognac and rosemary roasted potatoes and caramel flan.

October 11: On the train to Rome, the first part of the trip was in a tunnel but the countryside was beautiful. I never saw what I could call a residential area, tons of apartments and small at that. They put their washer/dryers on the decks, I guess if you don't have room inside put them outside, heck they do in Arkansas, so...This hotel is smaller but nicer and much quieter. There was a protest just outside the train station, apparently the Communist party is trying to take over Italy again. Took the metro to the Coliseum. Ate McDonalds for lunch, I needed some American food, not all the heavy pasta I have consumed for the week. Wandered around Rome and then came back and went to dinner around the corner. I had a pear, parmesan cheese salad, that was one of the best meals I had or I was just hungry for some greens.

October 12: This was a 31 hour day with the 7 hour gain from Italy to America. The plane ride from Rome to NYC was 10 hours with Speed Racer and August Rush for the movies. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic about hour 5. Had two meals and finally got off the plane at NYC. A four hour layover and then to Chicago and then home about 11pm.

All in all it was a great trip but very tiring and the cold on top of that. If you ever get a chance to go to Italy do so, I loved Florence, Rome was ok but not first choice. I will post pictures later when I get them all sorted out.