July 2 2012
Whilst I would like to think I was Miss Lucy Honeychurch (if you have no idea what I am on about you obviously haven’t read Forster or seen the wonderful Merchant Ivory film ..it is on my shelf at home if you haven’t seen it ), I think I am probably much more likely to be one of the old Miss Allans. My travelling companion “George” now thinks he will learn Italian overnight and has been practicing constantly. It is driving me totally crazy. He practiced half the night using an internet site. Of course he is convinced he will be an expert in one day.
Arrived in beautiful Firenze after a damn hot train ride (air-conditioning not working on the Eurostar). I know the constant mention of weather must drive everyone crazy but day after day of more than 40 Celsius is really wearing thin.
I have stayed at the really comfortable Hotel Casci before and was welcomed like a long lost relative. Paolo and his mother run a fantastic small Italian hotel. If you want a big hotel experience you shouldn’t stay here. If you like a much more traditional Italian experience then Hotel Casci is great. The world’s tiniest lift to the second floor, and then a busy reception with smiling Paolo. The rooms are basic but really comfortable. It is like staying in a friend’s house. We have a room with two beds, an open study, dressing space and quite a large bathroom with a bath and shower. We have breakfast in a very traditional dining room and we enjoy typical Italian food. Cereal, pastries and the usual bread, cheese and fruit. I have taken to drinking cappuccinos because the smell is so fantastic.
Out into the streets of Firenze to sigh and ahh over the Ponte Vecchio and the wonderful piazzas. Our hotel is only a few minutes from the spectacular white, green and pink Duoma so couldn’t be more central.
We visited the Uffizi, and of course the Botticelli works were our favourite. I have seen the Birth of Venus before but it still caused me to sigh.
The trusty Trip Advisor helped us find a great restaurant near Piazza San Paulo; Ristorante Accademia and we probably had the best meal we have had since being away. We ate so much. The mushroom and parmesan strudel and bruschetta that we shared were fantastic. The sun is so damn hot but oh such good tomatoes. Al had pasta with spicy sausage and went redder and redder. I felt slightly pleased that he got to experience serious hot flushes. The ravioli with black truffle was splendiferous and made me think of pigs fossicking for truffles and shady truffle deals aka Peter Mayle’s Year in Provence. Different country, but I heard about the pigs searching out truffles here today so I like to think that my truffles were found by a wonderful old Italian man with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and his pig.
We wandered miles to a large grassed area that the waiter told us about to watch the Italy Spagna soccer game on a big screen. It was very colourful. By the time that we got there it was pretty clear that Spagna would win so the Italians just drank, smoked and partied. No laws here about drinking in the street and no one has heard about lung cancer.
Mel told me she is enjoying the classic lines from Al – well today’s was a crack up. In the Uffizi. Hey mum do you have a spare sharp kitchen knife that I can borrow? What for says a hot and bothered mama. So I can take up whittling. Al what an earth are you on about now? Al – Are you trying to stifle my artistic streak? I am feeling very inspired by Michelangelo.
Dinner in Florence
The Duomo Florence
Piazza in Florence
Al and ‘Santa’ at the Uffizi
Sleeping under the stars 