Firenze, Italia
Good Morning, This morning we got up and went over to the Central Market for our cappuccino and brioche. Both were actually very good. I was interested in replacing my Napapijri pants which were bough here in Firenze in 2019. I seemed to recall that I got them at Rinascente just off of the Piazza Repubblica.
We got to the Rinascente but it just didn’t look right. The layout of the store was just wrong. Just about that time Mary recalled that it wasn’t Rinascente but COIN. Now, that seemed right. So, we walked to where, I thought, COIN was. It wasn’t there. So, I opened my phone and saw a COIN store but it was in all the wrong direction.
Well, we headed to the COIN store. It just looked and felt wrong, but we went in anyway. We found the men’s department, and found a very nice salesclerk who knew what it was I was looking for. I tried on several pairs including some by Baroni, but the Napapijri still fit better. The Baroni, another Italian Brand, looked better. We also purchased a shirt, only because they looked good together.
Then, we decided to resume the hunt for the baptismal gown. So, we took off in the direction of Anichini. The shortest route was to walk Lugarno degli Acciaiuole which follows the course of the Arno. The number of people on a Saturday was unbelievable. The groups of tourists simply packed the area and just stood in a massive group in the middle of the sidewalk or road with out a thought to anyone getting by. But, we worked our way towards Ainichni.
By the time we got to Piazza Goldnoi the crowd had begun to thin out. We took our right and then right again, and were there. We looked at a couple more dresses, but nothing hit our fancy. We then walked down Via della Vigna Nuova to Via degli Strozzi and ended up near the Piazza Repubblica. We were both ready to sit and relax. So, we decided to grab something small for lunch knowing we would have a big dinner.
We headed in the direction of apartment. Along the way we found ourselves in front of Trattoria La Madea on Via del Giglio. It looked good and we were basically spent. It felt good to sit down. Mary choose the Caprese Salad while to got Tortellini in Brodo. Caprese salads are evolving. Normally they are simply bufala mozzarella and tomatoes with some basil leaves. Now people are putting a basil pesto on it. Ok, that isn’t too different, but on this one they also added olives. Made it more Greek than Italian, at least to me.
Afterwords we continue our walk to the apartment. It only took about 3 minutes to walk the additional 200 or 300 meters to the apartment. I spent a lot of the afternoon working on plans for the spring and summer. We have added two days to the Africa trip. Yesterday I rearranged all the flights to and from Africa and Morocco. It all needed to be entered into TripIt. Now I just need to wait for Jody to give us an updated itinerary for Africa. We played cards until it was time to get ready for dinner.
Tonight, we are going to dinner at Trattoria Dall’Oste, our favorite steakhouse here in Firenze. Normally we would go to the one on Borgo San Lorenzo because that is where Karol works, but Karol has changed to the newest one on Via dei Cerchi. It is a little further away from the apartment. Why? Because we didn’t know she had changed locations, and we choose this one because of its proximity to the one on Borgo San Lorenzo.
We are meeting Serena Balestracci for dinner. Serena was our first Italian teacher and a guide for us in Firenze, probably twenty-five years ago. If you are every going to Firenze she is a great guide.
Serena met us outside our apartment, and we walked over to Dall’Oste. Even with a reservation we had to wait fifteen or so minutes for a table. Probably because we specifically asked to be placed in Karol’s station. We did finally get a table, Karol took good care of us. When the table next to us emptied out, Karol even put the two tables together for us so we could be more comfortable.
Serena and her sisters are a singing group. We learned they were preforming here in Firenze on the 22nd. The 22nd is also our last day of school and class will end at 13:00. We’ll grab the 14:18 train to Firenze so that we can catch their concert. It is held at Caffé Letterario in Piazza del Murate which is inside the old jail. Should be interesting.
There was a long line outside the door of Dall’Oste - at 21:30 when we left. We parted company with Serena and headed back to the apartment. We walked by the Trattoria Dall’Oste on Borgo San Lorenzo and noted that at 22:00 there was a long line outside that door as well. Yes, the steak is somehow that good.
It would be a while before I could possibly sleep, being so full. So, I went for a cigar and a walk. Almost all of the street vendors were gone from around the central market. The city was in fact cleaning the streets and getting ready for the new day. Now in Piazza del Mercato Centrale there was a long line. It is now 22:30. I thought they must be giving away something. No, it was a line to get into a restaurant – Trattoria Zà Zà. My mind just drew a blank. How could any restaurant be worth going to a 22:30. I mean dinner wouldn’t be done until the next day at best.
Online is says the following about Trattoria Zà Zà – “Trattoria Zà Zà is a typical Tuscan restaurant founded in 1977 and located in the heart of Florence, famous for its welcoming and unique atmosphere. Each room of the trattoria has a distinctive character, decorated with elements that recall the local tradition and the history of the city, creating an authentic and evocative atmosphere. The menu offers Tuscan dishes, prepared with fresh and genuine ingredients, according to traditional recipes. Among the specialties, the Florentine steak, ribollita and pici al sugo stand out. Frequented by tourists and Florentines, Zà Zà is an institution for those seeking an authentic Tuscan culinary experience.” Again, nothing “special”?
We’ll have to try it someday. Right now I think it will take an additional day or two to digest the great dinner we had.
Buonanotte and Ciao, Enrico & Maria
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