We anticipated that Italy would be a little bit warmer than balmy Belgium and France; however, the Siberian winds had other plans. It's freezing, and snowy! But luckily we planned accordingly and have plenty of clothes to keep us warm on our daily outings. Today the high was 32 degrees with a 19 degree wind chill... that will be warm compared to the 7 degree wind chill predicted for Sunday! BRRRRR...
Florence does not disappoint. Lonely Planet told us it would be a living museum and were they ever right! This enchanting city is small enough to walk around, but large enough to become mesmerized. Tall layers of yellow and beige building line the cobble stoned streets. Around every corner is a wide piazza, a tower church, a sculpture or fountain. Never more in our lives did we wish we had taken an art history class because everything has a story to tell. We are fortunate that Tiffany has learned a lot about her adopted town and that her roommates are actually art history majors.
Speaking of roommates, Tiffany's roommates are amazing! When we arrived on Wednesday night, they had a pasta dinner waiting on the table for us! So sweet! They are so welcoming and hospitable, letting us take over their house for more than a week!
Pizza, pasta, cheese, salami, prosciutto, bread, wine, gelato, nutella filled pastries. Need we say more? Italy (and what we have experienced in Europe) uses fresh seasonal produce and ingredients. You eat what is available when it's available, and that's why everything is so delicious! Fresh ingredients = fresh food. Tonight we had gnocchi al Gorgonzola, spaghetti alla cabonara, tortellini al tartuffo, marinated artichokes, bread and balsamic, wine, and tiramisu. MMMM...
Did you know in Europe you must make eye contact with the person you are toasting your glass with or you will have bad luck? You also cannot cross arms while toasting across a table... or you guessed it, bad luck. We were wondering why everyone was looking at us with big googly eyes! Now you'll know why we're doing the same when we get home.
With so much of the world to explore and taste, we wonder where tomorrow will take us... and you!
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