We were up early for breakfast at the hotel- croissants on croissants on Nutella on croissants...something new. On our second day in Firenze, we had a guided tour of the city. As you can see, we had yet another gorgeous day in Italy ahead of us. The most exciting part of our guided tour for me was going to the Duomo. This Gothic cathedral, named in honor of Santa Maria del Fiore, was positively gorgeous inside. There were a few moments in which I caught myself with my mouth wide open- while gazing up at the artwork on the ceiling and staring mesmerized by the other religious imagery and relief/sculpture work that made the cathedral so incredibly stunning. I've always been an art history freak, but something about the art in Italy just brought me so much peace and pure joy.
I so badly wanted to climb the Duomo but my feet were killing me from all the walking and dancing we had done over the past few days. I had blisters all over my feet =[ on the tips of my toes, underneath my toes, on the balls of my feet- it was bad. While I was disappointed I didn't get to climb the Duomo, I got over it with the thought that I can't do everything during my first visit to Italy. I have to save some exciting things to do and see for when I return!
After our guided tour of Florence, we had a leather demonstration where we learned about the Medici family and how to tell the difference between real and fake leather. We also had the opportunity to look around the leather shop at all kinds of leather goods we couldn't afford. It was a huge tease but definitely an important part of the experience.
After our guided tour of Florence, we had a leather demonstration where we learned about the Medici family and how to tell the difference between real and fake leather. We also had the opportunity to look around the leather shop at all kinds of leather goods we couldn't afford. It was a huge tease but definitely an important part of the experience.
It didn't take long before all of us were hungry from all the walking and exploring. We ended up at this cute little trattoria where they had....wait for it....A GLUTEN FREE MENU! Even though I was still sporting my newfound fuck it attitude quite nicely where my cuisine selections were concerned, I figured why the hell not, I WILL ask you for your gluten free menu just because you said I could. Can I just tell you that this pizza- this GLUTEN FREE pizza- was one of the best pizzas I had over there? I mean really, it was that phenomenal. It sure as hell was better than any pizza (except for my mumma's) that I've ever had here in the States. Clearly you can tell I'm one happy sensitive bitch as I nomnom on that little slice of Heaven. UGH so good. |
Not long after I made my pizza plate sparkle, I was onto sweeter things. As I've said before, it wouldn't be a day well spent in Italia if we didn't get some gelato- somedays even more than once. Oops.
We headed back to our hotel to get cleaned up for our Tuscan wine tasting excursion, which would prove to be an absolute success in every way. I bought a special dress for this excursion at home before my trip. I had no intention of doing this, but the Tuscan wine tasting Gods planted the perfect Tuscan wine tasting dress right in front of my face in Macy's. I was so excited to wear it for the occasion!
We headed back to our hotel to get cleaned up for our Tuscan wine tasting excursion, which would prove to be an absolute success in every way. I bought a special dress for this excursion at home before my trip. I had no intention of doing this, but the Tuscan wine tasting Gods planted the perfect Tuscan wine tasting dress right in front of my face in Macy's. I was so excited to wear it for the occasion!
We got to the winery where we were greeted by Otto, the absolute sweetest moocher of a dog, who would become more like a child to all of us the drunker we got. We all sat around a table at an outdoor patio with a positively gorgeous view of the rolling Tuscan hills and gardens that dressed this woman's property so beautifully. While everything I had seen in Italy up to this point was gorgeous, I felt super spoiled taking in the beauty of everything around me at our wine tasting. There are no words. First we were treated to some delicious bread with prosciutto, salami, and olive oil. We had some bruschetta, which was to die for as well. Have you been able to catch on to the fact that absolutely all of the food I ate while in Italy was heavenly? Good. We tried several red and white wines at the tasting. It wasn't so much a tasting as it was a full-fledged drinking. I've always preferred white wine, myself, but I really enjoyed all the different wines we had that evening. I bought a bottle of "Reserve" wine for my dad while we were there, which is the top notch wine according to my dear friend Miguel. I believe him because I am certain the Reserve wine is what put me on my toosh when all was drank and gone. Our table conversation was all over the place that evening- politics, weight loss, Abercrombie and Fitch, superficiality, who can drink who under the table, and what it means to teach someone how to Dougie. Everything got wildly out of hand. By this I mean, our night ended with me holding Kev's hair and rubbing his back while I told him, "you're doing great." Classic Italy. |
The sunset in Tuscany was unlike anything you could imagine. The picture doesn't do it justice. None of my pictures do ANY of my trip justice. The beauty I was surrounded by day after day is only conceivable through experience- by being right there to witness it with your own eyes.
The sun set over the hills and another day in Italy had passed- but not without making memories that I'll cherish in my heart for a lifetime. All was more than well in my world. and the love I had for this place would only grow stronger in the coming days. Tomorrow: Siena e Assisi :]
The sun set over the hills and another day in Italy had passed- but not without making memories that I'll cherish in my heart for a lifetime. All was more than well in my world. and the love I had for this place would only grow stronger in the coming days. Tomorrow: Siena e Assisi :]