Firenze

Saturday found us headed to Florence on a high speed train in first class, thanks to Sammar and Kyle's expert travel shopping skills. Our arrival at our Tuscan style B and B, a stone's throw from the Duomo, was the perfect entry to a whole new Italian experience. Our host and his staff were full of local recommendations that enhanced our visit throughout the next four days. 

Why not start by taking a Tuscan cooking class in the home of a local family? We spent an evening with Manuela and her beautiful family learning how to cook traditional Tuscan recipes with local ingredients in her adorable and well equipped small family kitchen. Who knew you could soak bread in water and then crumble it into a delicious salad with tomatoes and cucumbers, and of course loads of fresh olive oil and basil? 

Sunday morning found us at Mass in the Duomo, seated under the dome next to the priest and his assistants. As the priest spoke and sang gently in Italian we were lulled into a trance, which was rudely interrupted when we knelt on the high wooden kneeler which caused our legs to cramp! Overall, an unforgettable experience and Sammar finally got to hear the organ play inside of a huge church. Later in the day we were introduced to the Ponte Vecchio, as we climbed to the top of Piazale Michaelangelo. After meeting the Monks who make liqueurs and looking at another beautiful church atop the hill, we played cards and had a few beers while waiting for the sun to set beyond the bridge. We strolled back through many piazzas, and enjoyed a beautiful evening. Florence is an endless array of narrow streets lined with four story buildings, and some of the most interesting doors and combinations of painted buildings and shutters you can imagine. Our many pictures will help us to remember but will not do the real ones justice for sure. 

Monday we were off to Chianti for our bicycle tour of the countryside. Of course you are required to drink some wine and eat some bread with olive oil befor you begin, while touring a castle and winery. We obliged and then climbed on to Speedy Gonzales, Marilyn Monroe, Brad Pitt, and Lance Armstrong (our bikes) for the day of touring....I'll let you guess whose was whose. I can't think of a better way to spend a day! The views were breathtaking on all sides and our guides were both fun and attentive as we wound our way through villages, fields of grapes, olive trees and sunflowers, and gorgeous views of hillsides and distant mountains throughout the day. Only one of us, aka Lance, was able to climb the treacherous hill, but we were all more than satisfied with our day int the countryside and would do it all again in a heartbeat. Pizza and beer topped off our day, and readied us for a day strolling through markets and piazzas on the next. 

We met a charming artist in one of the piazzas and were entertained by two musicians who just happened to break into the song that Helen and Pat danced to at their wedding (with only one of the two noticing) that caused an impromptu dance session in the square. Much attention was paid to local leather goods as we wound our way through the leather school and local merchants, and bought some precious gifts and souvenirs of our wonderful days in Italy. A special farewell dinner, and some final strolls through piazzas and markets, capped off our time together. OMG....I almost forgot to introduce you all to Ara, the business of our special friend from Sicily who has THE ABSOLUTE BEST gelato and cannolis we have ever tasted. All gelato flavors we tried were without parallel (almond, ricotta, strawberry, decadent chocolate, limon) and please consult Sammar on the filled at order cannolis with the light ricotta filling. We only regret that we couldn't convince him to travel back to the states with us. So arrivederci and grazie for an unforgettable first Italiano experience!

Superlatives and quotes for the trip

Most salami eaten - Pat, with Kyle at a close second since his B and B in Rome didn't offer it at breakfast

Most cannolis? - no contest here

Is that a church? Can we go in? - Helen

We can see the Duomo from our room? - Pat, three days after H exclaimed, Look at the Duomo! and took multiple pictures of it when we first entered the upstairs room and the innkeeper said, You have the best room in the place! Pats explanation, I thought he said that to all of his guests.....