la burrrrrrrrrasca!

Soggiorno Pezzati Daniela
Florence, Italy

Oy. Finally woke up at 10 am after resetting alarm for 9 and then 10. Is OK, since on vacation, but cannot become habit. Think got something in eye as eye started to hurt v. badly before bed last night. Tried to flush it out but no luck. Eye feels better this morning but still some pain. If pain gets worse, will have to cover eye w/ gauze pad and tape in manner of pirate. Arrrrrrrr.

Set off, finally, after noon. Obtained museum hours at Tourist Info. Everything closed Mon. so decided to wander around Florence aimlessly for rest of day. Then hit AmEx office, changed $300 in t-checks (yay, money). Also bought tix to Venice at office (Eurostar this time. Also checked departure time, 12:38 pm). Then began wandering city.

Kicked off steps in Piazza Vecchio by police lady with clearly nothing better to do. Wandered some more and found selves on Ponte Vecchio! Goggled at gaudy jewelry. Crossed, bridge, sat down on Piazza de Pitti. Decided best plan for today was just to wander so wandered back, poking noses in many stores. Started comparison-shopping for wallets for Rogue. Amy splurged on leather-bound diary and sealing-wax stamp in stationery store. After walking along river (v. crowded, situational awareness is key!), ended up at Santa Croce, with tombs of many super-famous people like Galileo and Machiavelli, also Ninja Turtle Michaelangelo. Lit a candle for Nana and Granddad. Many many old rich guys buried in floor of church. Stepped all over their tombs.

Next wandered in direction of box office to buy tix for Verdi's Requiem on Tue or Wed at some church. On way found gaming shop! By looking pathetic & girly got card-shop boy to get me 2 boosters of Lord of the Rings in Italian for Rogue. Opened one pakc for me, nothing good, bleah. At box office got 2 tix for Wed. Decided to wander back to hotel and find grocery store for breakfast tomorrow.

Amy decides we need wine. But have no bottle opener. Like magic, kitchenware store appears. Now need wine. Poof, wine store right ahead. Amy buys decent Chianti. Also should mention, eye miraculously stopped hurting 10 min after left Santa Croce, while walking on Via Maurizio Bufalini. Miracle in manner of terra-cotta taking in milk. But unable to find grocery store. After much wailing and rending of garments, find tiny store where purchase bread, cookies, yogurt, & Marzolino cheese. Transaction conducted completely in Italian. Go Amy! Now home to snack and await opening of Italian restaurants (crazy late-eaters). Have cookies and glass of wine each in plastic toothpaste cups, v. good.

Off to Trattoria la Burrasca at 7 pm, recommended by Rick Steves' guidebook. American family met on way in says food excellent. Fresh mozzarella antipasti = unbelievably good. First course meat tortellini & something starting with 'r', tasting rather like stuffing also v. good. Second course 1/2 chicken = nice. Also had nice bottle of white wine, a bit tipsy by end of meal. Quite sure British couple next to us thought us ugly Americans. Paid bill, then went in search of gelato. Finally found, thank God, got crema & straciatella. Then home, where now writing and to bed soon, must get up early.

la burrrrrrrrrasca!

Soggiorno Pezzati Daniela
Florence, Italy

Oy. Finally woke up at 10 am after resetting alarm for 9 and then 10. Is OK, since on vacation, but cannot become habit. Think got something in eye as eye started to hurt v. badly before bed last night. Tried to flush it out but no luck. Eye feels better this morning but still some pain. If pain gets worse, will have to cover eye w/ gauze pad and tape in manner of pirate. Arrrrrrrr.

Set off, finally, after noon. Obtained museum hours at Tourist Info. Everything closed Mon. so decided to wander around Florence aimlessly for rest of day. Then hit AmEx office, changed $300 in t-checks (yay, money). Also bought tix to Venice at office (Eurostar this time. Also checked departure time, 12:38 pm). Then began wandering city.

Kicked off steps in Piazza Vecchio by police lady with clearly nothing better to do. Wandered some more and found selves on Ponte Vecchio! Goggled at gaudy jewelry. Crossed, bridge, sat down on Piazza de Pitti. Decided best plan for today was just to wander so wandered back, poking noses in many stores. Started comparison-shopping for wallets for Rogue. Amy splurged on leather-bound diary and sealing-wax stamp in stationery store. After walking along river (v. crowded, situational awareness is key!), ended up at Santa Croce, with tombs of many super-famous people like Galileo and Machiavelli, also Ninja Turtle Michaelangelo. Lit a candle for Nana and Granddad. Many many old rich guys buried in floor of church. Stepped all over their tombs.

Next wandered in direction of box office to buy tix for Verdi's Requiem on Tue or Wed at some church. On way found gaming shop! By looking pathetic & girly got card-shop boy to get me 2 boosters of Lord of the Rings in Italian for Rogue. Opened one pakc for me, nothing good, bleah. At box office got 2 tix for Wed. Decided to wander back to hotel and find grocery store for breakfast tomorrow.

Amy decides we need wine. But have no bottle opener. Like magic, kitchenware store appears. Now need wine. Poof, wine store right ahead. Amy buys decent Chianti. Also should mention, eye miraculously stopped hurting 10 min after left Santa Croce, while walking on Via Maurizio Bufalini. Miracle in manner of terra-cotta taking in milk. But unable to find grocery store. After much wailing and rending of garments, find tiny store where purchase bread, cookies, yogurt, & Marzolino cheese. Transaction conducted completely in Italian. Go Amy! Now home to snack and await opening of Italian restaurants (crazy late-eaters). Have cookies and glass of wine each in plastic toothpaste cups, v. good.

Off to Trattoria la Burrasca at 7 pm, recommended by Rick Steves' guidebook. American family met on way in says food excellent. Fresh mozzarella antipasti = unbelievably good. First course meat tortellini & something starting with 'r', tasting rather like stuffing also v. good. Second course 1/2 chicken = nice. Also had nice bottle of white wine, a bit tipsy by end of meal. Quite sure British couple next to us thought us ugly Americans. Paid bill, then went in search of gelato. Finally found, thank God, got crema & straciatella. Then home, where now writing and to bed soon, must get up early.