COOKING IN FLORENCE

Florence
Day 65 - Day 67
Margaret Pensione

Florence was such a beautiful place. It was so nice having a taste of Tuscany right at our doorstep. We strolled around, breathing in the Florentine air, eating at cafe's, admiring the architecture, smelling the pizzas and eating gelatos!

And of course...we had our visits to the Buffet Stazione Firenze for a few of the meals!!!!

Itàs so expensive here in Italy. Everywhere weàve been...is way far beyond anywhere else weàve been...food..accom..everything..if anyoneàs planning on a trip here, start saving. Our accomodation was shower and toilet in the dorm, and it was clean and gorgeous so there was no problem..but it seems everywhere else we checked out was more than 150 Euro..

But we had the soprano of our own. The owneràs son...honestly, had had the most musical voice...and was competing with the pigeons outside our door in the morning....gosh it was funny. (He also winked at Greg ..hm.)

We saw Michelangelo's David at the Galleria Degli Academia and lined up for an hour to see all the old Italians artists and sculptors at Palazzo Deli Uffizi where the converted palace itself was worth going for...but so was seeing Bottochelliàs, (Birth of Venus) the Costelloàs Michelangeloàs, Caravaggioàs work, Danteàs and Lippiàs..and of course Titaàs Venus..

Also popped into an equisite leather shop, knowing that Florence has the best leather in the world!

But..for us..the highlight wasnàt the Piazza della Signora River...or the Ponte Vecchio (which was brilliant).. it was the cooking class...done in Florentine style!

We met at the Piazza Tower...6 women and 2 guys from the US and us...and off we walked, to the complaints of the others, to the house where we did the cooking...

Two jovial italian chefs, and one named Nemo for short, took us on our cooking journey....we made stuffed rissoto tomatoes, gnochhi, chicken cattacoire, and authentic italian sauce..and ohlala, tiramisu....and the best part, we all ate it afterwards with gusto! Washed down with chianti with memories of chianti, the town just out of FLorence!

Bon Apetit! It was fabulous...it was like having a night out with friends..we shared our stories...and joked..and had fun..

Then we escorted 3 of them home to the Hilton...and disappeared around the corner t our luxorious accomodation..Margarets, one star..! It was so funny....private joke i guess..but anyway, i think we got embarrased at our one star compared to their 5 stars...and we laughed hysterically at our ventures to the train station eat!!!

Hmm..

I love Florence..itàs beautiful. Tuscany..with itàs Umbrian chocolates...(and Umbria is also the home of Pinnochio!)

Weàll be back here. FOR SURE.

Okies...off to Venice..xxx