Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Florence to Rome

Breakfast gelato implemented 10am





We spent our last day seeing David's "junk" and the Uffizi, although no pictures allowed at either place. The outdoor sculpture museum beside the Uffizi was impressive though so snapped a few last pics. It's outdoors but they do expect you to behave as if you were in a museum so there are guards out there to tell you not to climb on the sculptures, act a fool, set up your trinkets on a blanket to sell, etc. We did think it was funny that there is quite an extensive list of forbidden items, pictorially represented for the many languages spoken of course, and with a big red circle with a slash through it was a guitar. Yep, no hippies allowed up there strumming Bad Bad, Leroy Brown or I Gave my Love a Cherry. Well done, Florence. The guards are pretty grouchy at all the art museums, presumably because tourists are such idiots. They seem to especially delight in singling out and literally screaming at tourists who dare to sneak a photo of David. A guard in the Galleria actually yelled for everyone to be quiet because we were just getting too loud. This was in the entrance way where coats and umbrellas are kept. Tough crowd.

One more gelato before the train

We arrived in Rome after dark to Biblical Armageddon-y lightning, thunder and torrential rain that actually prevented us from going further than across the street to an Osteria, known to Lonely Planet as it turns out, and owned by a rugby player. It was a price fixe menu and giant rugby player waiters bring the food efficiently and with brute force, balancing multiple plates up their massive forearms. I didn't get a sense that they would take any crap from anybody and one should just sit and eat one's food, no matter what they brought. I can't imagine anyone ever complaining about their food at this particular restaurant--you would have to be very foolish. Olivia didn't finish her meatball, and the waiter looked at her, and gestured to the meatball, then turned to the kitchen and said, "Chef. Chef." So being that he was a playful chap and it was still raining a ridiculous amount, when he returned to the table, Allison and I asked in Italian for "la barca"--a boat. He really laughed, corrected us that we needed a "kayak" and said to Chip, pointing at me, "Spirito." Ahh, the power of the flirt. Two minutes later, Lambrusca and homemade biscotti showed up to our table, and he poured some for the girls and taught them how to dip the biscotti in the Lambrusca before eating. It was such a jolly meal. We waded home, stuffed our sneakers full of tissues and fell quickly asleep.

The byproduct of eating at 10pm is that every night in my dreams, I get to visit with everyone I've ever known or met in my life. There has been a rotating cast of thousands fueled by rigatoni, rolled beef, gelato and vino rosso. It's nice to see everyone but leaves me a little drained in the morning.

4 comments:

  1. But are they giving you towels, or postage stamps?!

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  2. Hey, Ms. Gelateria, I want to say thanks for your wonderful posts. I KNOW how hard it is to keep it rolling when traveling. I am deeply appreciative of your zeal and humor and talent. So don't stop!

    Secondly -- sorry about the rain. We have blue skies, just so you know. Would I rather be in Rome? Yes.

    Thirdly, how are you attending to November 4th? I am nervous, as the articles say that there is a 25% chance that the polls are simply wrong. (Ann links to this stuff -- she keeps me scared.) 25% is awfully high. I mean, I would not like to have that kind of statistic were I sick and looking to avoid a hasty demise.

    Anyway, eat, drink, be merry. What a trip! Your daughters will never be satisfied with Wisconsin Dells again.

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  3. Hi Julie, Faye gave me the blogsite, well knowing I would love it. Of course I had to backtrack and follow you all through Scotland before the luxury of visiting my ever favorite Italy. Marvelous blog! I was right back with you at the outdoor sculpture area in Florence. . . easiest trip in ages. Hello to the rest of the fam, from their farmer friends in Endicott. Wish we had your rain! Marilyn Bafus

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  4. Hey Marilyn!
    Glad I can bring you some pictures to remind you of your visits here. It's quite extraordinary to be in a city that is 2000 years old. It shows in the sidewalks. Almost broke my ankle twice yesterday. But all is forgiven when you think about how old the city is and it functions quite well as a modern city despite the wear and tear.

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