Not Quite Italian: Firenze, Friday May 25, 2012

I slept twelve hours last night. I was out the door by 10.30, past the Ponte Vecchio view and barely in time to check the Santo Spirito Piazza mercato. I was hungry for fruit but passed by the stands. I just made a quick run-through to look and took a great picture of Chiesa Santo Spirito.

The Mercato Vecchio is open until 2 and today was the only day on this trip I can work this in. I took some great pictures, especially of the little toy animals which give clear indication of what is in the meat/poultry cases.

Beef


Wild Boar (Cinghiale)

Bear who likes Honey

I bought fresh cherries. At another counter I found dried Amareno cherries. I asked for 2€ worth and the counterman scooped in exactly 100g. I was able to make a comment to him which he understood. I said 'you have an eye for this!' and he smiled and agreed with me.

The tourist season is in full force. It must be hard to be a vendor here, daily, dealing with the sameness of out of town people discovering these spices and foods for the first time. It's must be like living the film 'Groundhog's Day.' I am trying to speak, but speaking in the classroom is very different then speaking spontaneously out in public. This time when people try to speak to me in English, I reply 'I prefer that we speak in Italian.' I am understanding the prices without too much difficulty. I understand about 5 times better than I can speak. Making progress but it's slow with only these brief 10 day immersions. I crave a longer time period. Three or six months would be heavenly.

At Nerbone, I paid 3.50 € for a trippa panino (tripe), with red and green salsa. The red is chili and the green is either finely chopped parsley and maybe a bit of basil. I need to check further. I made eye contact with the sandwich maker and made a nice comment to him. I watched him making sandwich after sandwich. He was just working like a robot. I do prefer coming in the fall. These vendors are earning money but they are under stress too, with these crowds.

I took lots of pictures, but nothing else looked interesting to buy. I bought some Tuscano spices to take to Cremona. I know Marina likes this spice. It's awfully warm and humid today.

I walked back to the hotel though the Borgo San Lorenzo street market, but found no scarves. I am looking for only linen or light cotton ones. I like to have a scarf around my neck while at work because the air conditioning chills my neck. I took a quick look through Benneton.

I was so tired, I reached the hotel, ate a wonderful lunch with my new Alice magazine and then I slept for two hours.

In the afternoon, I craved milk and I needed to find flowers for Alessandro's memorial. In the San Ambrogio district I happened on a flower shop and found exactly what I wanted: Sun flowers! Alessandro used to bring me these happy flowers. I've never seen them growing in fields, but someday I will ! The vendor tied them up in cellophane and then paper. He left the bottom open so I can let them rest in water overnight.

I shopped for cheese, Parma proscuito, tomato, milk and bread for dinner. I took a number at the fresh cheese and salame counter. The counter man had no trouble understanding my Italian. I love those little rounds in soft cheese with the white moldy exterior.

I walked the aisles and saw two brands of spaghetti, which are in my shopping list. Each grocery store only carries certain brands. I have learned to buy as I see and not wait. A small pack of Kinder chocolates for tonight's dessert!

As I used to do before meeting Alessandro, I stopped for a hot chocolate at Vestri. But this time, because of the season, what a nice surprise: cold thick chocolate milk.

For a few minutes I stopped in at the church Santa Maria de' Ricci, which has evening musical recitals. I've lighted many candles here for Alessandro.

I trekked back to my hotel, taking pictures along the way. The lighting here is amazing. I kept seeing the word Love in shop windows. I need these good feelings for tomorrow.