Thanks for all the tips
I want to thank everyone who has made a suggestion for this trip. I'm taking note of all of them -- but it may be for the next trip to Italy. On the way to and from the Great Monuments of European Civilization, I duck in and out of likely looking places to have dinner and get their cards. (Another advantage to going everywhere on foot.) But by the time we get back to our hotel, we are so wiped out we barely drag ourselves out again for dinner at the nearest ristorante.
Exciting news. ...
...The front desk called me yesterday and I knew how to answer because of my Italian CDs. "Pronto." Unfortunately, that unleashed a string of rapid-fire Italian, of which I only understood a few isolated words like "but" and "then" and "tell me."
I was complaining to my husband that my CDs hadn't taught me any useful words like "glass," but then I realized you don't need the word in Italian. If you order a glass of wine and the waiter understands English, you still get a pitcher.
I have found one person who doesn't roll his/her eyes and laugh at my Italian (including my husband and daughter), and that's the hotel maid. She's actually grateful since she doesn't speak a word of English, and I can say "Now is fine" and "I wish to eat lunch at one o'clock" (I didn't learn any plural or third person verbs yet), meaning that's when we won't be in the room.
(Photo by me)
Comments
Do yourself a favor if you are in Florence and go to La Giostra. I was there last week and it was amazing. The spaghetti with shaved white truffles was one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten and the little goat melted off the bone. The chef is wonderful and eccentric.
Posted by: Jay | September 21, 2007 12:19 PM
It really sounds like you're having a grand time! And I love all the pictures and vignettes. It's just like a travel show except with a real person.
Posted by: Janet | September 21, 2007 3:13 PM