So I've just figured out that I am taking a really long and roundabout way to put pictures on this blog. Because Alfred and the internet are both not so dependable (for those of you who don't know, Alfred is my computer) I've been uploading pictures in 2s and 3s, and for some reason it loads them backwards, so I've been uploading them backwards (chronologically that is). Today I found out that Picasa (my picture software) AND Blogger are part of Google. So basically I can select the pictures I want on Picasa, say BlogThis, and they magically appear in a new entry. In under 15 seconds. I'm in shock. But that's not what I set out to blog about.
This weekend we stayed around Florence again after a great weekend last week. I probably didn't get done as much as I thought I would for just hanging around the villa, but what can you do? Not work harder, that's for sure ;) Hanging out with Laura and her friends (my new authentic Italians) was super fun! I grabbed 4 of my friends, and Laura and her friend picked us up and took us out to Florence. We got to see the actual Florence that Italians see. It was neat to be almost 'behind the scenes' I guess. I felt more legitimate. We sat in a bar, and after her friend Mauro joined us, had a big communal chat. Mixed English and Italian, with everyone speaking a little of everything. It was great! We managed to communicate pretty darn efficiently. Great. But, of course the night gets even better :) They took us up to the Piazza di Michelangelo to see the city at night - they said this a must. It was during this car ride that Laura told me that she'd never been to the Uffizi nor the Academia. I mean geez! I guess it's not as special when you grow up with Michelangelo's David in your backyard. Whatever. I told her we'd go before I leave. Alright, now the city was gorgeous all lit up. But I'm still not at the good part. Mauro had given Laura a ride up to the Piazza on his motorini. And of course riding a motorini in Italy is definitely on my To-Do list while I'm here. So when he turns and asks me if I not only want a ride, but would I like to drive it, I nearly screamed. Of COURSE I want to try driving it!! I was sooooo excited!! So he goes over the basics, I put on his super cool helmet, and zoom off! I was weaving around cars in no time. As Diana reminded me later, not only was I driving a motorini around Florence, but I was driving around a copy of the David. Sooo cool!! She's got pictures of it that I'll definitely be getting from her soon. Don't worry, you know I'll share them as soon as I get them. Possibly blow them up and put them on my wall :) Kidding about that, really I promise.
This weekend we stayed around Florence again after a great weekend last week. I probably didn't get done as much as I thought I would for just hanging around the villa, but what can you do? Not work harder, that's for sure ;) Hanging out with Laura and her friends (my new authentic Italians) was super fun! I grabbed 4 of my friends, and Laura and her friend picked us up and took us out to Florence. We got to see the actual Florence that Italians see. It was neat to be almost 'behind the scenes' I guess. I felt more legitimate. We sat in a bar, and after her friend Mauro joined us, had a big communal chat. Mixed English and Italian, with everyone speaking a little of everything. It was great! We managed to communicate pretty darn efficiently. Great. But, of course the night gets even better :) They took us up to the Piazza di Michelangelo to see the city at night - they said this a must. It was during this car ride that Laura told me that she'd never been to the Uffizi nor the Academia. I mean geez! I guess it's not as special when you grow up with Michelangelo's David in your backyard. Whatever. I told her we'd go before I leave. Alright, now the city was gorgeous all lit up. But I'm still not at the good part. Mauro had given Laura a ride up to the Piazza on his motorini. And of course riding a motorini in Italy is definitely on my To-Do list while I'm here. So when he turns and asks me if I not only want a ride, but would I like to drive it, I nearly screamed. Of COURSE I want to try driving it!! I was sooooo excited!! So he goes over the basics, I put on his super cool helmet, and zoom off! I was weaving around cars in no time. As Diana reminded me later, not only was I driving a motorini around Florence, but I was driving around a copy of the David. Sooo cool!! She's got pictures of it that I'll definitely be getting from her soon. Don't worry, you know I'll share them as soon as I get them. Possibly blow them up and put them on my wall :) Kidding about that, really I promise.
So that was Thursday. Sunday we did end up going to the Chestnut Festival in Marradi. Yet another great decision in Italy. It's been pretty warm here in Florence still, like 80s. I don't mean to rub this in your face, really truly. It's just that Fall is my favorite season, and they don't really have one here in the valley of Florence. But Marradi is about an hour and a half away in the mountains, and it finally felt like Fall. The air was crisp, the sun was out, the sky was clear, and it was gorgeous! We ate chestnut... everything! The pastries, cakes, nuts themselves, both roasted and not, wine, beer, salsa, everything. Most of it was great (the wine was waaaaaay too sweet for me). The best part of the festival, was that we were the only Americans there. We heard a British couple and a group of Spaniards, but other than that, we were the only foreigners. Yet another truly Italian experience. GREAT!!!!
