Uffizi

The B&B that I am staying in doesn't have a breakfast room, I have a coupon for the cafe at the corner, which is awesome, cause I get to see real Italian life. Busy little joint as people come in for their shot of espresso on the way to work.

I decide to see if I can get into the Uffizi gallery today, or maybe Saturday. No lineup, pay my admission and go right in. Made a tourist mistake, thought I was buying a guide to the gallery, when what I bought was a book on the great masters displayed at the Uffizi. So not much help in the gallery, oh well.

After I was done at the gallery I walked up to the Piazzle Michelangelo. Great views of the city. And you can really appreciate how big the duomo is!

 View from Piazzale Michelangiolo

A couple more churches, 'cause it's Italy after all

 Beggar's door

Thanks to Janet, it was the best gelato! Vivoli; gelateria fiorentina artigianale.
I will be going back to this shop!!!

Had an enjoyable evening at the wine bar. We had a very nice Chianti Classico.

Florence

Arrived in Florence mid afternoon. Short walk to my B&B. Pleased with accommodation. Head out to meet up for my 'Florence at Twilight' tour. City is busy with tourists, but still mange to arrive at the meeting point early. So what to do: have gelato! Today's flavours, tiramisu and panacotta caramello, oh so good.

There are four of us on the tour. Our guide is Patrizia. Great couple hours learning about Florence. At the end she is providing restaurant recommendations. When she finds out where I am staying she tells me about an unique wine bar close. She offers to show me where it is as it's not too far from where her scooter is parked. It's closed. So off to a different bar for an aperitivo: for €10 you get a cocktail and a buffet. Perfect. Great conversation. We plan to meet up tomorrow night, to check out a different wine bar.

Lucca

Spent a couple quiet days in Lucca. Thanks Alix for turning me onto it. My Airbnb host met me just inside the city walls. Happy with the accommodation. Weather was great, so spent time outside walking on the rampart walls and thought the streets of the city. Sunday was flea market day, so that was fun, and did some window shopping yesterday. Enjoyed some yummy rum &raisin gelato. Not usually my favorite flavour, but the best gelato I've had. Also spent some time making new travel arrangements. Have decided to wrap up the trip after Rome. It's been fun, but enough for now.
Few shots of Lucca:

Walking on top of the wall.

Cinque Terre

Arrived in Cinque Terre early afternoon on October 14. Ran into a young couple from Fort Mac that were on the food tour. They gave me some info on the workings of the area, before they caught the train to go check out the other towns. I am staying in Monterosso for 3 nights. Find my Airbnb accommodation with no problem. Settle in and go for a quick tour if the town and dinner by the sea.

Only two trails are currently open. I am going to walk from Monterosso to Vernazza, 3.6 km. Nice walk, the trail is in good shape.

Looking back at Monterosso from the trail.

Approaching Vernazza

 Time for a gelato, before catching the train to Manarola.

My view while I have bruschetta and wine for lunch today.

I was planning on returning to Monterosso, but the first train coming was heading to Riomaggiore, so I went. Pretty busy town, didn't stay long.

Day 2
Thunderstorm overnight, but the sky is clearing. Going to take the train to Vernazza, and then walk to Corniglia (3.45km) the last town to visit. Trail is muddy in a few spots, but overall in good shape considering the rain.

Leaving Vernazza

First glimpse of Corniglia

Italian Days Food Tour

Happy Thanksgiving, since I knew that I wouldn't be eating turkey, why not spend the day eating Italian!
Picked up just before 7am. First stop is at a Parmigiano Reggiano production facility. Where we meet our guide, Fabio, who outlines the adgenda for the day, he advises us that we will be in a 'food coma' by the end of the day.

Ready to enter the factory.

Top one will age for 36 months, the middle one 24, and the bottom for only 12, and will likely be grated; too many air bubbles to age longer.

We sampled 1 and 3 year old cheeses.

Then breakfast: focaccia, sandwiches, salami, fruits and pastries. Sparkling red wine and espresso.

Next, Villa San Donnino, located in the Modenese countryside, to learn about traditional balsamic vinegar production. They have over 500 precious barrels.
Traditional Balsamic Vinegar Of Modena is produced from cooked grape must ripened by slow acidification due to natural fermentation and progressive concentration by means of a long aging process in a series of wooden casks.

The bottle on the left has been aged over 12 years, and the one on the right aged over 25 years. The consortium does the bottling, and this is the only shaped bottle used.

We tasted 'grocery store' balsamic vinegar. Then a 6 year old made in the traditional way. Then the 12 year and finally the 25 year old. The we had some balsamic jelly on fresh ricotta. And some of the 6 year old on vanilla ice cream, tasty.

Onto Prosciutto di Moderna.

In order to receive the PDO mark, it must be made according to the Standards of Identity with the European Union. The mark will be applied during the 14th month of curing.

Oh my, this stuff just melted in your mouth. They were slicing up a storm, and more sparkling red wine.

Then we were off to have a 'light' Italian lunch. NOT. Wine was flowing and the food was over the top. Started with 3 pasta dishes: tortellini with a cheese sauce, lasagna, and fettuccine bolognese. Fried mortadella, and another pastry item. There was fried custard and another that I think looked like a zuchinni fritter (I didn't have one, I knew there was still more food to come). Next the meat course, and vegetables. The slice of beef I had was so tender. Then more pastry with a dollop of jam. Then dessert: a rice cake, brownie with chantilly cream and panna cotta. Espressos all around, and of course a degestivo. Food coma achieved. Fantastic food tour! Dropped off just after 5pm.

2 days in Venice

Love the craziness of Venice upon our arrival, but it's also great that you can turn a corner and end up on a quiet street with no one around. I really would have liked to have had a GPS on to track the walk to see where we went.

Had a terrific dinner at the restuant in the square just outside our door. Jack had the rabbit, and I had fregola con zucca e cannella. Super yummy, could eat that anytime of the day. Had tiramasu for desert, with grappa on the side. Good Italian meal!

Murano, Burano and Torcello
Saturday morning, walked Jack to the bus stop, his holiday is finished. Then I made way to the water front to see about a tour to the some islands in the northern part of the lagoon.
First stop, Murano. Known for its glass works. Glass production was transferred out here in 1291, because of the fear of fires in the kilns. About 6,000 people live on Murano.

Second stop, Burano. Known for lace work and colourful houses. About 3,000 residents on Burano.

Final stop, Torcello. One of the first islands inhabited, now practically uninhabited.