Oh What A Night....

Well, actually, oh what a day. Alex and I had the best time with my mom yesterday. Janeille arrived around 7PM on Monday night and she looked amazing! Apparently she got 8 hours of sleep on the plane, which was great for her. She thinks the guy next to her must have climbed over his seat to go to the bathroom...she remembers it a little bit. Hope she wasn't snoring!

Anyhow, she got to town and we took her to the apartment, which is great, but a little chilly. Then we took her to Gianni's, where we all had Linguine alle Vongole, and then split the Tagliata di Manzo. Usually I would eat both dishes by myself, but we got full fast on those clams. It was delicious and I am convinced that Gianni's Linguine with Clams is the best in the world!

After dinner we headed to our gelato spot. Alex and I had our usual and mom tried one called Fior di Latte. It is a very plain gelato, but she says it tasted just like buttercream frosting. She loved it!

Once we got back to the apartment, we talked awhile and then Alex headed home and I stayed with mom. I was so tired, but she was WIDE awake. We got to bed so late and then woke up at 11AM!!!!! For those of you who know my mom, you are probably in shock right now.

So, we got up, finally, showered and called Alex (who actually woke up long before we did.. amazing). He came over and thus began a wonderful day. We started out by heading to Piazza San Lorenzo to see the market. I bought the cutest scarf ever, and then we ducked into the Mercado Centrale. This is not the outside market where they sell cheap leather and clothing: This is Italian heaven. In the Mercato there are stalls where different companies sell food, food, food. There is cheese, fresh pasta, porcini mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, chocolate, olive oil, vinegar, every kind of salt you can imagine, and much more. It is amazing! The delis will make you sandwiches, and every single counter has a vacuum sealer so you can take anything home on the plane, and it is safely sealed! This place is amazing.

Janeille and I at the Mercato

We met an American girl named Eliza who has been living in Florence for three years. She works at a nice deli stand in the Mercato. She guided us through a tasting of Pecorino Fresca, aged Pecorino, and delicious Parmeggiano Reggiano. Then we tasted prosciutto and salame. Delicious! Mom and I will be returning today to pick up staples for the apartment.

Next, we headed upstairs to the fruit and vegetable market. This is a whole other level in the Mercato. Frutte e Verdure everywhere! We met an old woman named Mara who isisted on giving us the last of her golden grapes and a bunch of Clemetine for only 2 Euro. She talked with Alex and weighed the fruit many times to ensure we knew she was giving us a good deal. She was truly an Italian character.




After all this excitement, we returned a casa and unloaded before heading to lunch at a place called Leo. We ate late, but it was amazing. We all ordered something different and shared: Un Isalata con rucola, pera, kiwi, mais e grana (arugula, pears, kiwi, corn and parmesan), una pizza con funghi porcini e gorgonzola, e un piato del giorno, which had spinach, pasta bolognese, oven roasted potatoes, insalata caprese, pot roast, and who knows what else. It was so delicious and the converstaion was perfect. My mom and Alex get a long so well, it feels like they have always know eachother.

After lunch we headed to the Florence Archeological Museum, where we ventured in to Ancient Egypt. We saw mummies, and other great relics. They also had a lot of Etruscan art. By the time we were finished there, it was dark and cold, so we headed home for a rest and to prepare for the most important part of the day: DINNER!

Cenà a casa!

Alex and I have been taking it easy in anticipation for the arrival of my family, so we have been eating in a lot. Sounds boring...but it isn't. You see, when I first met Alex, he said this to me: I am honest, I am single, and I cook very well. I am not sure about the other two, but he was not lying about cooking well. The other night we went to the market and got pasta and all the fixin's for a delicious meal in. He made raviloi with homemade creamy mushroom sauce: Ravioli al Funghi. It was amazing! We ate the pasta and a salad in peace, while drinking a bottle of €3 wine (which is a good bottle in Italia). You see, mostly Italy is expensive, but there are key ingredients to your daily Italian lifestyle that are not: vino, pane, pasta, mozarella, cafè, e...e....e....e umm, what really more do we need, huh?

So, we ate slowly and as I filled up, Alex decided we needed more food! So, he whipped up one of his favorites, which is a fritatta made with ground beef, potatoes, onions, and a special super secret blend of exotic spices his mother sends him, which she learned how to blend from her mother in Iraq. Ummm, delicious! He also made some homemade Taziki, which is incredibly good and incredibly easy:

Mix 1/2 pint of plain yoghurt with garlic, cut up cucumber, 2 Tbls. of olive oil and salt to taste. Done. I like to add dill to mine.

So, as we are eating our second dinner, I mean really, it was like a second dinner, Alex shoves bread in my face. At this point I have had enough. "No! " I scream. "I cannot take any more of this. We have been eating for like an HOUR!" He looks at the clock, then to me with a "C'mon" look on his face. "Michy, baby, no. It has only been 58 minutes."

Yes, I Actually Went Running Today

OK. I know it has been a few days, but these few days have been really mundane. All except for the fact that, yes, I actually went running today. This weekend was spent dealing with Italian crapola in securing the apartment for my family. Without going into ridiculous details, the apartment people lied abut 4 times about various things, and are simply doodie heads. Madonna Ragazze! Anyhow, after many fights and battles, I secured the keys to the apartment this morning and I will say, it was worth the fight! I will give you all the details once I have taken pictures.

So, since I was so stressed out this weekend, I had a lot of energy built up and this morning I decided to go run. It was hard, I felt sick, and I don't feel any healthier. However, tomorrow is another day and I hope to run again. Or maybe the day after that.....

I am so excited, because my mom will be here in about 2 hours. We are taking her to Gianni's for Linguine alle Vongole. It is good my mom is easy going and enjoys the experience. She will be able to take it when Gianni tells her what she can and cannot eat. As a wonderful cook, I am sure she will appreciate his passion for the food he cooks and serves. Lord knows that I do.

I am also glad she is coming so we have an excuse to get gelato. I am afraid we missed the last two nights, which means my 3 free nights for eating gelato esista non più. In order to reach my goal of 42, I absolutely cannot miss another night of eating my new favorite flavor. What am I going to do if we go out of town for the night? Will you all forgive my failure? Aye aye aye!