Adventures in Italy: June 2013

Sunday, June 30, 2013

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Well, we are about to leave for our first day of school and I have butterflies just like I did when I was a kid........

Dinner with the Geehans and the Wilkes

Tonight we had dinner with some friends from home at one of our favorite restaurants in Florence, Il Latini. We had their house dinner which includes antipasti, two soups, two pastas, lamb, pork, chicken and steak, potatoes, spinach and peppers, all served family style. We drank the house Rosso during dinner, had a moscato after dinner, then vin santo with biscotti, then four different desserts AND limoncello. It was obscene...but delicious. Afterwards we hung out at our apartment. Nice evening to top off a nice day.

Sunday afternoon with the Vezzosos

At the Trattoria Tre Soldi

Angela and Tiziana reunited after too long

View from the Piazzale Michelangelo

The David in the Piazzale

Una bella giornata

Today, Livio, Tiziana and Nicolò drove all the way from Chieri for the day just to see Joel (who will not be here when they come for the weekend on July 12). They took us to an amazing restaurant called Trattoria Tre Soldi near Fiesole. We had so much fun and laughed so much together. They are truly warm, wonderful people and we are lucky to have them in our lives. When they return, they will also have Carlotta with them. Tonight we are having dinner with our friends from Oakwood. Truly a great day!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Our first day in Florence....

Borgo degli Albizi (our street) extends for about 1/2 mile from the Piazza San Pier Maggiore (on the east end), through the Piazza della Repubblica until the fork which becomes Via della Spada and Via della Scala.

Our dining table (with wine cooler in the background)

Kitchen

Living room

Stairs leading to Melissa's bedroom

View from our living room window

View from Angela's bedroom

Looking at the Ponte Vecchio from the Ponte di Santa Trinità

TRAVELING FROM MILANO TO FIRENZE

We took a high speed Italo train from Milan to Florence. It was beautiful and comfortable, but virtually empty. Getting to the elevated platform with all our luggage (and no elevator or escalator) was quite difficult, but we were afraid to wait for Nic to help us get there. When he arrived, he and Melissa went to get a coffee and something to eat and then we all waited for the train together. We had one stop in Bologna before arriving in Florence. We arrived at the Santa Maria Novella train station, where we were met at the train by our dear friend Daniele who took us to our apartment. It is absolutely wonderful. We will post pictures soon. Just getting settled. Did a little grocery shopping and checked out the neighborhood. Had a great lunch at a little place on the Piazza about 2 doors from our apartment entrance. Walked to the Duomo, saw our school, went to the Piazza della Signoria and the Piazza Repubblica, then across the Ponte Vecchio and back. They were setting up for a wedding reception on the Ponte Vecchio--it was the craziest thing I ever saw. Melissa and I are sitting at the dining room table, enjoying the beautiful breeze and the gorgeous view. Nicolò and his parents are coming tomorrow for lunch. It will be great to see Livio and Tiziana again -- it has been too long.