Creepy Italian trees!

"There is something strange about these trees, it's like they know.  They know!  They know that we know that they know.  they are creepy, creepy italian trees."

Under the Tuscan Sun, one of my favorite quotes from the film.  These trees really are creepy and they are everywhere.

Are those all your shopping bags?????

Okay so let's cut to the chase, Milano was my heaven!  I got of the train and fell in love, not only at the station but with all the black leather pants, black boots up to your knees, mini-skirts, black scarves in 70 degree weather, I absolutely loved the chic-ness of the whole place.  I would live in Milan in a second if I could.

Once we arrived at the shopping section of the city it was all over from there.  Courtney and I with wallets in hand made our way through the 8 million tourists and began our trek to find me some purchases to lug back to the states.  My goal for the day was to buy a Louis Vuitton purse and a matching belt to go with it. Only to my surprise they are expensive, even in Milan.  I was expecting like anywhere from 250 Euros and up, but in order to get the number to come down to my range of money the purses kept getting smaller and smaller and smaller!  Eventually I decided that rent/car payment/weekend in vegas for my 30th/spa treatment for my return home, all were more worth it than the purse and belt.  I mean there are always knock off's :(.  I was saddened by this reality and moved on to try and find the next best thing.  Prada, Gucci, Dolce, Furla.  Well in the end Furla was it.  We made some purchases and broke the bank pretty much.  I enjoyed my purchasing as well as the time with my friend in this magical shopping city.  It was a great day overall.

Amongst the shopping there are a few things to note.  We found the twin of the cafe/restaurante from the movie "It's Complicated," with Meryl Streep.  Literally this place was identical.  It had brioche and cookies and a full menu with teas, cocoa's and milk and honey.  So adorable.  Courtney and I stopped on our way back to the train station for a treat.  They had the cutest shopping bags that you could purchase but we decided against it.  Would have made a cute gift idea.  Anyways so the funny part of the story is that this cafe was soo expensive.  I got a cioccolato caldo, "hot chocolate" and courtney got a "latte cioccolato" chocolate milk or something.  So we get them and mine literally is bittersweet chocolate warmed up to steaming hot.  It was beyond bitter.  Courtney's as you can see was the size of the table and was pretty much hot milk with cocoa powder sprinkled on top.

14 euros later, we ate a crepe and fruit and drank what we could of the hot milk and steaming bittersweet chocolate from our cups.  We laughed all the way to the train station about how much we paid for hot milk and a melted chocolate bar, hey it is Milano!

We did get to see the sites, shop alot and enjoy an expensive cup of hot milk!  Why not, you only live once right.

Okay well I must have some tea and sit down and do some writing, it's been on fire since I have been here, so I want to work on that before I have to go out and purchase some produce for the week.  This week we have no classes and we are workshopping it all week at multiple farms and areas in Florence.  Tomorrow is truffle digging, so I will post pic's and keep you posted on my travels.

Ciao ragazzi!

While the bird cooks....

Well hello there, so why my bird cooks and I wait patiently for a hot meal, I will then inform you about my past excursions last weekend to the one and only Venice!

So much to tell and many pictures to include.  So first off, it was right out of a movie, we book tickets at 8:28 am, for a 8:35 am departing train.  We literally, "HOME ALONE" it and run through the airport (really train station in my world) and board the train fast fast.  Because we are taking the "slow" train option, which most students typically do because of saving money, we are not guaranteed seats.  So we meander a bit, the group of us, and find some seats where at least two of us can sit together. We find seats and try and get comfortable on slow, yet snug train that apparently stops everywhere because everyone in Firenze in on it.  First stop, Bologna, and of course the two seats me and another girl traveling alongside me are in, are the ones of the polish grandmothers that just boarded here in Bologna, we must move.  So we stand in the hall way of the train, where low and behold there are seats that fold out of the wall, no lie, like are like half a circle, if you have a butt small enough to get on them, you sit against the walls of the train, dirty, yes, tight quarters, yes, feel every move of the train, YES!  Then of course what's a train without snacks and cappuccino for our lovely Italians!  A woman with a cart the size of the aisle begins to come down the aisle.  Now at this point it's been like 45 minutes and i'm barely on the fold out moon seat, amongst the 800 people that are also standing in the hallway of the train because they too save money and have no seats, and this woman insists on serving drinks, mind you HOT coffee, to the passengers.  It was ridiculous, needless to say we opted for the nice, quick, cleaner, fast train for the ride home!

So Venice, what a lagoon.  Due to recent rains that weekend there was some flooding near Saint Mark's and there was water and ramps for people to walk on to avoid the knee deep water.  People were, no lie, frolicking in it.  You cannot imagine. First off know how dirty the streets here are in Firenze, never mind Italy in general, nevermind a touristy place like Venice, and with all the pigeons and the lagoon water, I think I will not be splashing and ballerina dancing in the water....uhh no.  So back to the pretty...

So the gondola's were amazing, huge, but amazing.  They were quite expensive and the Venitians caught on that if it's 100 euro for a half an hour and 2 want to ride, well let's get six to split it and then it wont be so much, no no no, the more passengers the double the price.  It was like tourist heaven.  So no ride for me.  Shopping on the other hand that I did plenty of.  Got some new jewels and even found me a bracelet that fits the ankle of an infant, finally something to fit my wrist, and it's cute.  Bought a t-shirt for the grandmother and a few trinkets to bring back with me.  It was a gorgeous day, it called for rain and clouds, but it was 75 and sunny!  Perfect.  Pomodoro and mozzarella calzone in hand and shopping bag of jewels in the other.  Doesn't get any better.

My new favorite past-time!!

Schiacciata con l'uva

This was the incredible, edible lunch I had

This of course is after I killed the panino.  It was Mortadella, not a fan but with the crusty bread and the atmosphere I didn't notice it until it was gone.

These are the cookies I got to go with my lunch. They were shortbread stuck together with marmelade and raisins.  They were delicious.  Wish I could bring you all some to share.

Italian lunches are so exciting even when it is just a sandwich and cookies.  Well balanced for a "foodie" nevermind dietitian, but you only live once right?

Ciao!

Saturday Morning Dailies...

So my usual Saturday mornings in Firenze consist of many things, so many things that some would think it to be not very relaxing; but surrounded by this atmosphere I try to make the most of my Saturdays here and set aside my Sundays for church and resting.  

So the day starts early, anytime from 6 o'clock until 7 o'clock rise from sleep to have breakfast and catch up on the news.  I prepare my list of necessary items from the market.  Shopping bags in hand I bike to Saint Lorenzo, just five minutes away, to shop and see my usual vendors on the early mornings.  I first found my favorite butcher, whom is always mobbed and doesn't speak an ounce of English.  I do my best to convey what I want and get the chicken pieces I want for the week.  

I then go around the corner to my bakery woman.  There are always tons of Americans swarming around the counter.  You can spot an Italian versus and American by what they order.  A typical Italian orders enough food for the day or for a meal, and American orders for the month.  It is either they eat all that in one sitting or they have the nature to hoard what ever they need for food, just in case.  It is too funny, I still stock up on milk and cereal, it's a habit I cannot break, I love it.  So I get my usual cornettos, one filled with cream and one with marmelade.

Before I exit the Central Market I find the dried fruit and nuts guy.  He is right near the exit next to where I park my bike.  Today and only for a short time does he have these treats I am fond of.  My obsession with figs has grown since my arrival of their season here in Italy.  He has dried figs and sage leaves on a skewer.  They are delicious.  They taste so good, something to definitely be jealous about.  

After my jaunt to the Central Market I must ride home and get ready for my yoga class.  Today we are working on our sun salutations.  After my week in the vineyard I am sure that I am sore and need the stretching to correct any poor postures from the week.  The class is invigorating as usual and I am able to be present and rest.  After class I make my way to "the oven" the one and only bakery I shop at outside of the central market.  There I get a panino and a few snacks, I will supply pictures in a moment.  I sit in the piazza and people watch while I eat my lunch.  Sunny day, a seat in the piazza and panino in hand, it doesn't get any better than this.  After a few moments of retail therapy, I return home to prep for my homework and dinner this evening.  Quite the eventful day.  I am glad that I am welcomed home to a hot cup of tea and a blog to fill you all in on.

It was a great day today, I cannot wait for my trip to Venice tomorrow.  Who would have thought after all the treats I got to share in today that tomorrow would bring sweeter treats, those of Venice.  So much for the usual church and resting.  It's a reward for my hard work on the vineyards and of course for you all too, I am sure you are dying to hear about what's in Venice.  So stay tuned and I will do my best to bring extra batteries for the camera!

Ciao regazzi!

Grape Harvest Week is here...and now it's over!

Last Day Video at Montepaldi 

Click on this link it'll take you to the movie I made of me in the vineyard!!!  

Hello boys and girls, yes this is two posts at once, I know I was behind but I am feeling ambitious and fighting the urge to go do some retail therapy for the family at home. But yes this week consisted of our Agriculture group of 12 students traveling to the Villa Montepaldi Vineyard outside of Firenze. It was an amazing experience and I hope to post as much as I can to make you just a tad jealous that my hard working hours on a vineyard in Italy were oh....how can I put this.....no less than perfect.