yoga, pitti, boboli, study day

Plenty of things to see and do near the pitti palace, near the Odeon, right around the corner. Thought I´d do yoga first, then bring food for picnicing on the gardens, after going thru the Pitti palace to see that and the boboli gardens. Study day. Relaxing, studying Italy and Italian, Norwegian, and history of the buildings designs, history, architectural details. Very enjoyable day today, and spent some of it tasting ordinary foods from a local supermarket grocery store, which has everything from fresh seasonal fruits, and veggies, and cheeses, breads, sweets of all variety and selection. Purple artichokes, fresh and in packs of steamed chokes in spicy oil. Fresh salads already washed. No cooking, so only things for picnicing, which is easy, as they´ve got fresh steamed veggies in packs, fresh cooked pastas in different shapes including the twisted tiny kind of spinach and herb with sauces, and the long think hollow spaghetti...am tired forgetting the exact names of these. Lots of different desserts, and a really delicious, focaccia like bread. I don´t really at all like Tuscan bread, it´s unfortunately insipid, tasteless, bland, dry, even when freshly from the oven just baked from a homemade recipe. It looks very pretty though. This focaccia like bread is delicious though! Just ever so lightly salted with extra fine sea salt.

Lovely, hot weather today, with blue skies, warm breezes. Fantastic summerly weather, making remind myself it is actually January still--well, tomorrow begins February though. Lovely valentine weather...each day I see more and more valentine decorations,)

All these photos were not taken today (yesterday) but I don´t want to take new duplicates just to have the correct date. Yesterday, was a study day, inside and outside, and these are some of the places where I studied and spent the day. It was hot and sunny out, even on the days these photos were taken, though some look a bit overcast as the sun made the blue fade out on the photos.

 Punting on the backs: or atleast that´s what we called it in Cambridge...not sure what it´s called here. This was at one of the local bridges....

 Lots of things in bloom or flowering, daisies and such, and the above stinging nettles (great for steeping an infusion or tea).

Part of some of the Roman Wall around town

 A wonderful scented large Bay hedge surrounding the park I was studying in...

Not all these were taken recently, but I didn´t want to take duplicates. Some of the food I got for  studying:)

Mardi Gras,Carnevale di Firenze, Borg Ognissanti Feb 9

Last weekend in Santa Croce plaza, were displays of the upcoming carnivale floats, as Carnivale is in February, even in Florence. Will try to add photos when time, though I can´t see that I actually took any that day:(.

New Orleans has Mardi Gras, and each year regardless of what country I´m in, we make a King Cake! It´s a glorified colorful large loop of cinnamon bun type cake, filled or not, then iced and/or sprinkled on top with the three colors of Mardi Gras: gold (yellow), purple (deep violet), dark green (grass green).  Last year on mardi gras, though they don´t celebrate it, I got to see a "float" anyway: a huge fire truck, with water hoses wrapped over and over along a back bar, in the mardi gras colors: gold, green, purple. Each color ended up being about 3 feet wide by twice that width hanging down, so it seemed like it was a special surprise for mardi gras, in a land which has probably never heard of it,).

will add my recipe for mardi gras King Cake on the other blog. Year before last I made the King Cake into the shape of a Blue Crab. But usually I just make a large loop or one large bun of a cake. Most often, I don´t fill the cake with anything other than basic cinnamon-butter-sugar. If you´re in New Orleans, you can get many fillings, such as apple, cherry, blueberry cheesecake...all fine and good, but too fiddly to make at home, and mostly we just like it a bit more traditional and simple. Usually at home, I decorate it with raisins, or colored powdered sugar glaze or colored sugar, but not both, and usually neither. The color makes it more mardi gras, but it we like ours less sweet.
Thought I´d´make a special Italian Carnevale King Cake this year...

squat toilet photos: How to use a squat toilet

Edit: How to use the squat toilet. This one, as it has no visible flush, I was a bit unsure if I was supposed to use the shower hose (barely shown in first photo) for rinsing off myself, or the toilet area. Luckily, I was only peeing, and just used the paper towels to wipe off, both myself, and more to wipe off the wet floor. It was a very nice restaurant, I had a nice skirt on, leggings, and hiking boots, so taking off my "pants"  and "shoes" completely, as many people suggest/do, was not an option. The floor was WET. Even if I could have easily taken off my clothes from the waist down, and taken off my boots, and wool socks and leggings, I would not have. The thought of stepping onto a wet floor and wet toilet area, clean or not, was not appealing! The room was exceptionally clean, and clean smelling, but was wet--though I saw no easy way to turn on the shower hose, so did not use it at all.

The room was much smaller than appears in photos--apparently the camera adds 10 lbs and several square feet!,)

In the above photo, the wall was where the sink is cut off, and the door started where the sink stopped. I have the door open slightly ajar to take photo. My hiking boots were just slightly able to fit with overlapping over the toilet area. I barely had room to turn around, or hike up my skirt, whilst quickly simultaneously pulling down my leggings and such. Whilst trying to shut the accordian door, not sure you can tell where it is or see it in photo. The accordian door is where the yellow tile ends.

This looks huge in this photo! I swear it was not. Finished ok, but was a bit stressed out, as the customers were right on the other side of the door, and I felt everyone could hear me, or that at any minute someone would come in! I was worried the lock latch was working, as it was hard to tell. So, not the most relaxing toilet experience, but atleast it was extremely clean, and smelled clean. The sink was working, there were paper towels (for hands, but I used them to wipe off, myself and the floor, and my hands, then threw them into the waste basket).

I can not image how those who take off their shoes/sandals, socks all their clothes from the waist down, hang up their clothing, shoes, etc in a daypack to keep off the floor, manage! I felt like just doing what I did, it took forever. If someone would have come in on me, it would have been bad enough, let alone if I had been striped naked waist downwards. Plus in that tiny, wet space, it would have been a huge difficulty to even getting off things, without everything getting wet...blah blah blah etc.

Really, mostly it was easy. Just awkward space. I´d suggest men have it much easier! And if I´d been on my period...there was no discreet way to deal with that either, or to rinse off... or, to dispose of items.

With the floor being slippery, wet, my hiking boots slipping a bit, and with the stress of customers being directly on the other side of the door, it was difficult to concentrate to pee, on top of having to squat and hold my clothing so nothing would get wet from the floor, or peed on.

,)

Unisex, and one squat toilet for the restaurant.


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And, other than all that, yes this is one of my favourite restaurants. Their food is amazing! Wine is fantastic. Atmosphere, location, owners all very lovely. I go there several times a week if possible. Prices are decent too, though I think they could charge more.

A bit of a pub crawl, random places to try

 The second photo is an old google earth photo I just took of the Irish Pub The Fiddler´s Elbow, here in Florence, on Santa Maria Novella Plaza, right down from the main SMN train station. It looks much nicer now that that, as there was construction on the main plaza. Now there is an outdoor patio area, and an actual title (see above first photo). I just didn´t want to take photos as when I had my camera there were always too many people to take a photo. And I can´t be arsed to walk over there just to take a photo now,).

Another outdoor patio with aperitivo place within ten minutes or less wandering around time,).

Seating inside the Odeon´s bistro for aperitivo, I took the photo early before it got busy. Aperitivo is around 7.30 pm there. 5E with a movie ticket for that night.

Aperitivo at the Odeon bistro, before seeing a movie The Quartet (I think it was that one, I saw a few different ones this week).


Below, an outdoor patio area, with heaters, live plants and flowers, candles, wine, lovely food and more drinks, very romantic. But I forget which area that was....I think it´s near the Ponte Triniti...

Live Jazz quartet and aperitivo at a local place, great views of the Duomo, in this outside courtyard plaza bar

Getting water from one of the many drinking fountains in Florence. That one is on the Ponte Vecchio overlooking the ponte Santa Triniti.

Having a sit down, to read the local newspapers, with a cup of hot tea with milk, and a homemade florentine biscuit (cookie).

Another Irish pub, where we had some Murphy and Fosters, etc on tap. They have wine, and other liquors also, not just beers. But have about 7 beers on tap. Served in a proper 1.5 pint glass, full up. Not sure they have half pints. These photos were also off google earth, as I didn´t bring my camera that night. This building is on a corner, a few half blocks from the Duomo, one side is Bennie´s bar, the other is a very extremely modern stark restaurant in mostly all white. They used to both be just the restaurant, but now it is both, you can literally walk from one to the other on the inside, as they share the bathroom areas. In the shared area is a foosball table etc.

 Close up on the pub side...

 Pub side on the right of the building, if Duomo is behind you. Left side will be the modern restaurant in all whites.

 Google earth a bit of a split photo still, but think you can just make out the name, which is twice on the awning. Try both, both places are good, totally different though atmosphere. After about 1 am, the bar gets all the uni students (aka giggly girls a bit pissed already, trying to have a few more before heading off to Space a few blocks away ,)).

Cascine Park Mercado, Tramvia

It´s actually late afternoon Thursday. I had lots of things to do, but am tired so came back to " do nothing" for a bit. Yesterday was a study day, doing "nothing" but online sightseeing and research, studying Norwegian and Italian, learning about the decorative bits and history of different buildings and neighborhoods, and eating. I´d decided to try foods from the local supermercado (supermarket). That´s what I´m doing now also.

Wed was a long day of sightseeing, shopping, eating, shopping, sightseeing, windowshopping, sightseeing, and a late to very early tame pubcrawl, trying a few Irish beers, such as Murphy Red, Murphy Black, a sip of a Fosters--all on tap, and chatting with friends.

Gorgeous Day, hot, sunny, blue skies, walking round in a thin cotton shift dress with thin summer leggings and sandals. So sunny by the time we got to the Cascine Park, about 8.30 am, I just sat out in the sun to enjoy it, whilst vendors sat up their market stalls from their vans and vehicles.

Will add photos when time.

It was a l o n g line of open air vendors, and in a few hours, we still had only had time to see a fourth or less of all the stalls, two rows, one on either side. Everything from perfume, extremely fine Italian and French linen cloths for small tables and windows, nail glitter and polish and brushes, kids glitter temporary tattoo kits, bicycles, kitchen pasta makers and gadgets, window and chair coverings, sweaters, underwear, pants, leggings, hoisery in decorative designs and textures, crayons, paints in sizes of tiny tubes and huge cans, house ceramic roof tiles, clay tiles, to most anything else you could think of or want or need or not want or not need! Glorious day out, sunny shopping open air market.

Got numerous gifts, including Old spiderman comic book coloring books for N, glitter nail kits for the girls, boxerbriefs with Italian colors and design for T, a sweater and a "Louis Vuiton" for me. Mind you, I did NOT buy the -- bag, it was a complimentary gift when I paid 20Euros for a really amazing tshirt. Don´t forget it is illegal to buy fake leather goods in Italy. It is not illegal to sell, but it is illegal to buy. Though, if you do plan on buying a Tshirt, it is expected for you to haggle over the price. I got my tshirt with complimentary bag, for an art installation on Italian fashion industry. -- specifically as I find the history of that company interesting, though I specifically only like the vintage designs and concept. --- is a great company of innovations, clever marketing, even more clever vintage designs...and it´s interesting how often and how long others have copied -- designs, concepts and products. I suspect it is the most copied product, maybe besided Hello Kitty, in the world,). There are several really good books, very thick, featuring their designs and history. I find inspiration for some of my ideas from some of the vast and endless copies and original designs of --.

-- complimentary bag when I bought the tshirt:).

And the FOOD market stalls! WOW. everything from the most delicious cheeses and cured and fresh and dried meat and fish, to fresh seasonal fruits and veggies, to fresh made bread, fresh fried bread and other foods, drinks, water, I think wine but can´t remember if it was wine or something similar. Jars and jars and bottles of pickled veggies, and olive oils, vinegars, etc. All Italian foods.

To my recollection, I did not find any nearby bancomats (ATMS) which were working, so bring your cash. None of the stalls take anything but cash, and certainly you will not get a tshirt with a complimentary bag, unless you have Euro cash.

Took the 17A bus from SMN to the Cascine Park, and got on a Tramvia on the way back to another part of the city, as it was quicker by that time of day to where we were going.

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