Firenze, to you I must return...
After a long journey home filled with chaos, delays, cancelations, airport sleepovers, lost luggage and lots of snow, I'm fully settled in at home. After reuniting with most of my loves, it is as if nothing has changed. I felt like I was back where I was 4 months ago, but in a good way. No other way to describe it, but by saying that Italy felt like a dream.
Looking back on the most memorable 4 months of my life, I know I will never experience anything like it. It's crazy to think that I won't be returning "home" to my little Sant' Antonino apartment, waking up to the smell of fresh baked bsicotti from our downstairs bakery, or lounging in our living-room with the roomies watching random movies or screaming out 90's pop music, or walking by the Duomo and still being mesmerized by its size and beauty, or leaving the apartment at 12am like it was normal, or cooking for my roommates, or being greeted by the shop owners in the Mercato Centrale, or the Cappuccinos that I completely fell in love with at Artisti de Gusta (all other coffee has been a disappointment), or listening to the poetic language from locals, or drinking delicious vino, or the not-so-secret secret bakery.....ahhh I could go on and on and on but I'll refrain from such a thing.
I had prayed for snow since we got to Florence and it was answered on December 17, when Florence received the heaviest snow fall in many many years. I was like a little kid again, running through the streets picking up snow at ever possible corner. After an epic snowball fight with complete strangers, a ride around the carousal, a cappuccino, a waffle with Nutella and my body completely numb, I could not had asked for a better ending. Amazing place, amazing people, laughter and a littler chaos....
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| My favorite Piazza covered in white frost... the epic snowball fight began here. |
But the hardest part about saying goodbye was saying goodbye to the amazing people I met through the program. They will never be forgotten!
As welcoming as that "Welcome to Los Angeles" sign may be to some, it just wasn't the same for me. I think I left a little part of me in Florence that I may have to fetch in the near future!
see you soon love
B
Pisa....never to return again
Everyone who has visited Pisa all seem to say the same thing, "You only need a few short hours in Pisa." Oh boy how right they were. It was a rainy, cold day in Pisa, hence the gloomy background, and Alline, Jessica, and I decided it was time to take the typical tourist pictures with the leaning tower. We watched all the tourist take some hilarious pictures, then realized wait we are tourist!
So we climbed on things, felt retarded posing for 5 minutes for Jessica to get the right position, having random people take pictures of you while your posing and feeling retarded...but whatever we got some great pictures!
So we climbed on things, felt retarded posing for 5 minutes for Jessica to get the right position, having random people take pictures of you while your posing and feeling retarded...but whatever we got some great pictures!
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| Alline Hugging it |
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| Jessica kicking it |
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| Me pushing it with all my might! |
Minus the part where Alline almost got swipped, getting jipped with our Cappuccinos, wondering where all the normal people were, and the gloomy weather, Pisa was alright :)
Til next time!
Ciao Ciao
B
Secret Bakery....2:15am
Florentine Secrets....
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| the entrance, slightly cracked open... |
These locations have no signs, but the smell that hits you a few blocks away is a great indicator that you are on the right street. Word of mouth is how these places make business to locals, and from the line that was forming behind us, they aren't doing so bad.
You walk through the cracked door, and an Italian man is there to greet you. You give him your order (there isn't a menu) or point at something and that's that. Best of all. Its only ONE EURO! can't beat that! Where ever will I find these in the states?
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| my delectable croissant filled with chocolate |
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| The kitchen |
FAVOR ALERT!
So my blog got featured on Bus2Alps.com website, and it is now a finalist in the chance to win a free trip!.... So if you like my blogs, please support me here:
http://blog.bus2alps.com/2010/11/27/bus2alps-why-we-ride-blog-finalists/
I really appreciate it! Thanks!!
Ciao Ciao,
B
Florens 2010
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| Grass at the Duomo?! |
Grass in Florence? The (fake) David on top of the Duomo? I knew something had to be going on but what could it have been? So it was saturday evening and I decided to take a stroll through the streets of Florence hoping to do some discovering. And this is what I ran into...
International Week on Culture Heritage and Landscape
Piazza della Republica housed a huge food market where I managed to leave with some delicious goodies. I took my time and surveyed all the delectable options. Fruits, Veggies, cheeses, honey, cured meats and delightful sweets made of CHOCOLATE. Bought my favorite Pecorino Cheese and some fresh extra virgin olive oil (its OLIVE SEASON!). The man who sold it to me told me it was just bottled the day before! Also bought some sweets: dried orange peels dipped in dark chocolate. Man was it heavenly.
I also stopped at Palazzo Strozzi where the crafts market was and purchased a braided leather bracelet. After enjoying the crazy atmosphere of lovely Italians out and about in the piazza, I took my recently purchased sweets and decided I would get lost across the river. Stumbled into many little shops and interesting stores. Had a blast doing it and have yet to discover more of it!
Here are some photos I shot that day...
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| This little girl was too adorable in her coat! |
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| My artisan bracelet |
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| Artichokes: Italians pride themselves on it! |
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| creepy clown |
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| CHEEEEEESE |
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| Piazza della Republica |
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| Roasting hazelnuts I believe |
Ciao Ciao until next time,
B
Quando piove a Firenze...
The weather in Florence is incredibly unpredictable. One day its beautiful and sunny, and the next you find yourself stranded in the streets during a downpour with no umbrella. But I'm starting to appreciate these rainy days more and more. Its my time to relax, catch up on much needed sleep, and often get creative in the kitchen. Sadly, as the calendar days quickly pass before me and my travel days are tentatively over (a depleting bank account is to blame), these days spent indoors have me reaching out to some old hobbies. Sketching, reading, and of course COOKING. So I'm taking this time to share some of my new favorite Italian combinations that will have you appreciate the simple things.
Fresh PEARS from the farmers market, so juicy and ripe along with
aged (or fresh) Pecorino di Pienza cheese (purchase from the cheese farmer himself)
Freshly baked BREAD toasted in a pan with olive oil
Hungarian Salami
HONEY with a saltier cheese is just indredible
A great morning at Mercato Centrale
Garden Fresh Salad:
Radishes, Cucumbers, Bell Peppers, Salami, Pecorino Cheese, Lettuce
Drizzled in a Balsamic reduction
When little time prevails..
Farfalle Pasta with Zucchini, Cherries tomatoes, mushrooms
onions, tuna, fresh MOZZARELLA and a smash of Marsala Wine
seasoned with: salt, pepper, oregeno, basil, garlic powder
an unusual combination...
Pasta with PESTO, mozzarella
Over medium fried EGG
Radishes
Keep a look out for my Italian Cuisines from Italian Restaurants! A London Blog, and Florens 2010.
Ciao Ciao,
B
Barcelona...
Beautiful, Cultured, Full of life
Yes Barcelona is full of distinguishable art and sightseeing wonders, yet all I really wanted to do was be apart of the day-to-day lives of the Spanish. Our first night in Barcelona we tasted the coastal cuisine at a restaurant overlooking the docks in Barceloneta. We feasted on the largest dish (and first dish I've tried) of Seafood Paella. To foreigners, this is said to be Spain's national dish, but in fact it isn't (originated in the region of Valencia). Regardless, it was the most delectably, scrumptious dish I had in Spain.
One of the days me and Christine (my travel buddy) decided to check out Barceloneta during the day and boy were we blown away. The weather was just perfect; sun was shinning and the wind was slightly blowing a cool breeze. With no agenda, or any idea what the city had to offer, we just started walking and stumbled on some pretty spectacular places. We did some damage at the local mall we found right off the docks in Port Vell (we're girls we can't help it), found a little antique flee market, dipped our toes in the ocean, and lunched at a restaurant on the beach. After feasting on fajitas and nachos, we bumped into a festival called the "Obra Social La Ciaxa. It was promoting unity among the community and the world (just love it!). This incredible band played music and the whole crowd was dancing away (spotted the cutest old lady just having a ball). I knew I should have been born Latin! I have a new appreciation for Latin MUSIC.
Our night finished at an authentic SALSA club. Saw incredible professionals, fell in love with Latin ballroom, accomplished my only goal in Spain and Danced the night away...
The following day we rented bikes and returned to the beach cities and rode them down the boardwalk and throughout the city. Reminded me of home just a little. The weather was still sunny but just a tad chilly. Nothing beats bike riding through unfamiliar places. Why I didn’t study in Spain is beyond me. .(I still love you Italy)
I’ll be seeing you soon Spain!
Ciao Ciao
Beatrice
The Seasons are a changin'.....
A warm cup of Caffe Macchiato (thanks italian professor), God's word, drawing pencils, and cozy PJ's started off my morning. I can't remember the last time I ever had a lazy day quite like this one! It was chilly outside all day with some scattered showers, exactly what Fall should feel like. As much as I do love Summer, Fall is starting to grow on me. I was tempted the other day to purchase a cinnamon candle and kitchen towels with orange leaves on them (Don't worry I stopped myself from such nonsense) to decorate the apartment! I may just give in and get the towels tho, that can be justified right?. BUT anyway its the season for boots, jackets, coats, scarves gloves, pumpkin spice, orange leaves, windy afternoons! I LOVE AUTUMN! There I said it.
So what better way to spend it than in pjs, with a blanket, a coffee and drawing pencils. All my roommates were gone for the day attending the EuroChocolate Festival in Perugia (of course left it to the last minute to purchase my ticket and lucked out). As much as I do love CHOCOLATE, it was great to have the apartment to myself. I got all the peace and quiet I needed to prepare myself for the following week: MIDTERMS!. Also it was my first weekend in Florence in a month and a half!
ok dinner time! ciao ciao
M’illumino d’immenso...Toscana
Toscana: semplice, bella, pacifica
Simple, Beautiful, Peaceful
"I flood myself with the light of the immense"
Giuseppe Ungaretti
(borrowed from a fellow blogger)
The Tuscan Countryside is everything you can image it to be. Century-old farm houses, beautiful, untouched landscapes, olive trees at every corner, and the quiet air that surrounds it all. The most mesmerizing part of Tuscany is that it has been preserved and thankfully secluded from the industrial, materialistic lifestyle. Although you may still find all the amenities of today's technology, something about the air, the landscapes and the local people tell me it's different.
In Arezzo, a well preserved Medieval town situated in the center of Tuscany, we toured the many churches of the city and roamed the ancient cobble streets. The school provided us with a 3 hour guided tour, who rambled on about the different artists and paintings that the city boasted. Although beautiful and majestic, I stood astonished at the complexities of them all.
After the guided tour we had some free time so we found this lovely little outdoor farmer's market and indulged ourselves in some sweet and savory bites. I was like a freakin kid in candy shop! We got to sample a variety of cheeses and salamis. My oh my, they were delightful additions to my lunch.
Hannah, Jessica, headed for this beautiful hilltop park where we ate, better acquainted ourselves, and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of Arezzo.
This is what comes to mind when I think of Italian cuisine
Fresh, Fresh, Fresh!
(Mind you, I went on this trip not knowing a soul but I ended up meeting some lovely new additions to my Italian travels. I only have one being to thank <3)
Our hotel was in Cortona, a revamped monastery with all its beautiful tuscan charm. We had a walking tour of Cortona, which just reassured me that choosing Italy was the best decision of my life. When I think of Italy, Tuscan country side is what I was envisioning. It was even better than the images I had in my mind.
The gang I was with decided to take more time back down the hillside town. Cortona is situated up top a hill so every single street is inclined! (Thank you stairmaster). All I wanted was a blanket, a great book and a secluded location to just soak it all in. But instead we decided to get a little lost and discover Cortona for yourselves. It was brilliantly filled with olives trees, tall grasses, and countryside views as far as we could see.
The night concluded with a fabulous five course meal at a local restaurant where I finally indulged in Florentine steak, which is said to be the best steak in Italy. We did the classic Italian dinner, following our meal with quite the intellectual conversation and wine.
The next morning for breakfast we had a lovely conversation with a British couple from America who just bought a home in Cortona (Under the Tuscan Sun much?). Even they were surprised but their own realization that today was the long awaited day they would receive the keys to their new life. I envied them, but hey you never know what the future holds right? :)
Pienza followed breakfast where we stopped at a local cheese production farm where they produced Pecorino di Pienza. The owner produces the cheese and his brothers produce the sheep's milk. Now that is family business. October through November, sheep milk is not at its best because the sheep are normally pregnant so we didn't quite get to see the production but the explanation was fantastic.
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| The lovely cheese I couldn't help but purchase |
After, the owner and his wife prepared for us a little feast. My new favorite combo: Cheese and honey!
Cheese, cold cuts, fruit, Tuscan bread, fresh Ricotta
Montepulciano: the city of Vino Nobile. After a walk through yet another hill top city, we went wine tasting in this medieval town. The wine cellar we visited what was said to be the most beautifully preserved cellar is all of Europe according to BBC.
That concluded my tour of the Tuscan countryside. It was a nice break from tall buildings, busy streets, and tourist crowds.
Lesson learned: Simplicitiy. Real Italian cooking doesn't have more than 4 ingredients: always fresh and local. Plain, simple, and delish. THAT's IT!
Life is best lived with simple ingredients.
Ciao ciao, until next time
Beatrice
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