I slept nine hours last night and was out the door by 10 am this morning. Still no word from Leo and I am starting to worry. He had a blood transfusion last week to control anemia. Maybe he's in the hospital again. I sent another SMS text message again this am, along with an email.
First stop was the Bancomat ATM to pull euros to pay my hotel bill. I can budget my money better when I pay them in full for all nights.
I had a sinking feeling when the ATM returned one of my bank cards with the message "Please contact your bank." This has happened to me before. Now, I always divide my money between two accounts I can draw from, plus I have a credit card and some cash when I arrive.
Happily, the second card did work. I already had plenty of spending money with me because, as a habit, as each trip ends, I bring home about 500E to be used at the start of the next trip.
Before I left the USA, I had called to make arrangements with the second bank. The polite but not very experienced girl told me she would mark the account available for travel to Italy. In error, she had ok'd the credit card portion but not ATM withdrawal.
I walked back to my hotel and did some window shopping at Ferragamo. I saw some darling shoes which had originally been designed for Greta Garbo. I decided to enter.
Only cream colored Greta Garbo shoes were available in my size 38. Divinely comfortable, but not pratical. They would too hard to keep clean. The sales lady allowed me to test my Italian which was very nice.
The elegant relaxed atmosphere of the shop makes one want to try on shoes for hours. Surrounded by boxes of shoes, I made my one choice: a black soft leather flat, based on a design for Audrey Hepburn 1953 when she filmed Roman Holiday.
Now I know my future holds some new Ferragamo shoes. Cost was 400 E for this pair, because they are part of the older collection. How many other shoes have I bought and tried to wear, suffering through break-in time? I have been converted by happy feet.
I left my new shoes at the hotel and walked 10 minutes to Santa Maria Novella train station with a guilt free conscious. I bought tickets from the automated dispenser choosing, as Rosa had suggested, the Saturday, 7 am departure from Santa Maria Novella (SMN) to Cremona, with transfers at Bologna and Fidenza. Cost: 27 E for one-way, second class.
I sent Rosa and Marta a confirmation text message. Years ago, I had a bad experience with a missed transfer at Bologna. I feel confident now. I can do it. There is plenty of time to make each transfer, even if we run late. I will arrive at 10:20 in Cremona and Marta will meet me at the station.
The Fortenza da Basso is just 10 minute walk from SMN train station. I paid 3E for entrance to Mostra Internazionale dell'Artigianato. I researched the dates of this event before I purchased my plane tickets. This will be my third visit to this yearly fair.
What a nice surprise to see my ticket gives me an 8 E reduced price for the Picasso Exhibition next week!
I never heard a word of English spoken. My Italian is improving. I can now understand some conversations going on around me. I bought a iridescent lime green silk purse (from Milano) and a sterling silver - fresh water pearl bracelet.
I saw several older women selling their lace work. I secretly captured one picture of lacework still incomplete. I bought something I've been looking for: a handmade decoupage of a famous Medici villa and grounds. 20E. I attempted a conversation with the pleasant older woman who had made the decoupage and she understood me.
I was really famished after not having dinner last night and only a piece of chocolate for breakfast this morning. I choose a 3E panino (sandwich) of salami and cheese from a stand inside the Mostra.
After visiting all the exhibits, I found more food stalls outside, including a Tunisian village setup. Their food looked interesting, but 10 E was too expensive and the servings were too generous for my small appetite.
Instead, I bought fresh sliced strawberries with chocolate gelato. The weather was perfect and I was comfortable in my dress, leggings and sandals. It was warm enough to melt the gelato rather quickly.
As I was leaving I saw three men carrying a giant pan into the Spanish pavilion. I followed them to get pictures.
I left the Mostra around 3 pm and on foot, headed back to the central area of Firenze. With my shopping list in hand, I searched and found Italian stockings, books on tape, films on DVD and at the tiny little market, right next to my hotel, I found the perfect bread board, made of olive wood from Chianti for 39E. Feeling hungry and a little tired, I decided to leave all my treasures at the hotel and venture out for an early dinner and picture taking.
I had dinner at Trattoria le Antiche Carrozze, across from Ferragamo. At 6 pm, it was far too early for the normal Italian crowd, so I had the entire restaurant to myself. I had actually come here last night at 10:30, but the waiter said it was too late to begin a meal. Tonight, concerned he asked if I had eaten dinner last night. He apologized when I told him no, I had only eaten chocolate in my room. I'm speaking Italian and being understood. I am very pleased.
I choose something I've observed here on past trips, but have never eaten: Linguine al cartoccio di mare (13E) . It was heavenly, so I splurged with dessert too: Profiterole (5E)(filled with custard and topped with hot chocolate sauce). I ate every morsel.
After dinner, I walked until after 9, just enjoying the feel of the city. I finally received a text from Leo The doctors made a house visit today, so he's been occupied. Relieved, I texted back that maybe we can talk on Sunday. Tomorrow I'll be traveling all morning and then spending the afternoon doing something super special with Rosa. We're going to the Salsomaggiore Terme, a spa or something like a spa.
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