Amazing!

With each excursion we take, it never ceases to amaze me how proud the Italians, and the Florentines, especially, are of the art treasures that surround them.   On one of the many school excursions, we walked to Museo di San Salvi, which was once a monastery, to tour some of the works of Andrea del Sarto, especially his Cenacolo....his last supper painted on the walls of the refectory.  The entire experience of witnessing art that is over 500 years and the absolute beauty of it is mind blowing.

I’m having technical difficulties trying to download other photos from that day.  If I figure it out, I will add them to another post.

In the meantime, the following day we went to Pisa and Lucca......

Ta da!  The Leaning Tower of Pisa!!

Of course, I had to take the iconic photo like so many others have of “holding up the tower!”  So, silly!

We walked around Lucca and I took a bunch of photos, but these were the most impressive.  I can’t remember the name of the building with the beautiful arches, but just look at it, can you imagine what it took to build it!

Fast forward to 3 August 2022…..I didn’t realize I never posted this….Here it is….

I’m Back!!

 Ok, so I’ve been away from this blog forever and I’m not in Italy anymore.  Instead, I’m living my blessed and incredible life on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine, Florida.  I still love Italy and WILL go back someday, even though, at the moment, that may seem remote, it WILL happen.

So, what have I been doing for myself….I’m still pursuing my Art and trying to figure out if I will ever find and recognize that “sweet spot” that says “yes, that’s me!”  During Covid, I signed up for so many different art classes that it is hard to say which technique or medium I like best.  Since this is my first post in a long time, I will not include any details now…..previews to come later.  Suffice to say, it is a daily journey and even though, at times, it is frustrating, I still love it and seek it out!

I am still studying Italian and know that for me to learn a language I have to be immersed in it.  So, since I’m not in Italy now, I attend weekly lessons and everyday read and listen to the various Italian blogs, podcasts, etc. that come up on my different feeds.  For now, it satisfies my love for the language even if only on the surface.

Not sure what I can say to make this a more interesting read….It is early, it is quiet and I’m sitting here on the lanai, looking at butterflies flitting around, squirrels hopping along on the fence and, oh yes, let’s not forget the family of rabbits that are eating the bottom of my plants.

The sky is still hazy, but the sun shining on the bushes is highlighting all the different greens out there.  Beautiful!!

Small World!

The other night, we met Benedetta, the beautiful young Italian woman I stayed with 3 years ago, for dinner at a family style Trattoria.  It was hugs and kisses all around because she obviously is familiar with the restaurant and the people who own it.   It wasn’t crowded, so the chef came over to us and after some niceties explained what he had in the way of specials for the night....he mentioned crepes with a Calabrian Sausage and cheese.  So I mentioned that my genitori family) were from Calabria....ah, Dov’è (from where) he asks...I say Crotone, No? he says, I'm from Crotone, I say, the famiglia De Siena, No? he says, Negocio Tuborg? Ugo De Siena, oh my, says I, yes, my family.  Turns out they’ve been friends for 30 years and because Ugo owns a restaurant supply business that seems to have a corner on supplying Tuborg beer to restaurants, he used to supply a restaurant that the chef had in Crotone called Vecchio Roma.  He also knows my cousin Ugo’s daughter, Giuliana that I communicate with frequently.   How is this ppossible....it amazes me. Such a small world...I’m truly discovering that it is small world after all!  

Of course, I ordered the crepes as an appetizer and they were incredibly delicious. I have to make them when I get 
home......Calabrian sausage ground fine mixed with a bechamel sauce with Asiago, parmigiano and Emmanthal cheeses spread on a crepe, sliced, then put in the oven for a bit.  So, so good.  

Trust me they were delicious,

Catch up time!

I am so far behind in posting here.  So much to catch up on.....

I think I’ll start with Monday and go backwards....

After class yesterday we walked around the corner to Pino’s Sandwich Shop (again), and had a yummy panini!

It was a chicken cutlet sandwich with a salsa verde and mozzarella di Buffalo with a small glass of vino rosso to make it more special!

 We hadn’t had gelato in a few days and I wanted to show Carol the lovely little Piazza della Passera , so, we walked to the Oltrarno (the other side of the Arno), for a small gelato.

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The photo shows a few spoonfuls missing of the delicious cioccolato and pistacchio!  So creamy and all natural ingredients!

We’ve come to realize that the only way we can continue to eat like this is if we walk and walk and walk......coming up how we managed to walk 47,000 steps and 18 miles this past weekend!

Included in our course of study here at Istituto Michelangelo is two cooking classes per week.  This week we enjoyed Risotto con Funghì (Risotto con porcini mushrooms)the first day, with not one,  but two desserts....Tiramisu and Torta di Mele (Apple).

Lots of fun and so good!

The next day Penne with Bolognese and a fruit tart for dessert......

Nothing I haven’t made before, but always something new to learn.

Last night we walked over to the Accademia Museum to see the David!  What can I say except....incredible!

On the way back we stopped for a refreshing gelato and after walking over 6 miles and 16,000 steps, collapsed, but not until we did our Italian homework! 🤪

Italians!

So, what is it about Italy and Italians that make people take a deep breath and sigh! There  are thousands of books that will tell you the reasons why, but for me, it starts with the Italians!

Their kindness, friendliness, willingness to share and, of course, their patience makes a trip here worth the effort.

Being an artist I truly appreciate beautiful paper that the Italians, especially the Florentines, create using dye baths in which they create designs in a solution of water and wallpaper paste with inks, then dip the plain paper in and over it and create a stunning one of a kind finished paper.  I’m sure you’ve seen these papers used on books, boxes, cards, etc. etc. etc.!  So, when we walked by Il Papiro, a shop that creates and sells these incredible products, we had to go in.  We, along with a few other aficionados were treated to a demonstration and of course, afterward we had to buy a few of the papers.  The young man who waited on us mentioned that he studied for a year at University of Alabama (Roll Tide as he was proud to say), so he was familiar with Jacksonville Beach.  We had  a nice conversation about his life, what he studied and how he ended up doing what he does.  Chalk up one delightful encounter!

Our next stop on this hot Florentine afternoon was to a grocery store to get water.  As we entered there were pots of fresh, fragrant flowers and, of course, basil and rosemary plants!  Then we were treated to a blast of cool air coming from the air conditioning.  Aah!  Delightful!  But, I was about to be treated to a wonderful surprise.

Some of you that know that for a few years I have been following a site on Facebook called A Girl in Florence.  This lovely young woman is Georgette and her handsome husband is Niccolò. So, imagine my surprise when I looked up from admiring a cheese and pasta display to see them standing on the other side of the display. Of course, I had to speak to her!  She thanked me for following her blog and I told her I would advise anyone reading this to follow her also.  You won’t be sorry, especially if you love Florence and, of course, Italy.


 And this is how we ended the day....I found this “sweet” guy, Alberto and his wife, Judith, on Facebook also.  The name of his site and shop is My Sugar!  The gelato was the creamiest and most delicious I have ever tasted.  Gelato heaven!

Here, at last!

Salve tutti,

I would have posted sooner, but I had technical problems, so here I am.....

My friend, Carol and I arrived late Saturday afternoon.  We were met at the airport by a driver from the Istituto Michelangelo and were taken directly to our apartment which is on Piazza Santa Croce!

This is the Chiesa (Church) of Santa Croce....

After we got settled, we walked to a nearby restaurant Francesco Vini, that I had enjoyed before and had  a quiet, pleasant dinner.....Risotto with carmelized pears and truffles and a  glass of white wine.

 So creamy and good!  It was too late for a gelato, so we’re saving that for another day!

Sunday, ah Sunday.....to give you an idea of our full our day was, we walked over 6 miles and 14,000 plus steps....first cappuccino and a brioche, next Mass at Santa Croce, then starting our walk over to Oltrarno (the other side of the Arno)...on the way we made many stops and met many wonderful Italians along the way.  I will tell you about them in my next posting!  Until then ci vediamo ...we will see you!