Midnight plus. Another long day, feel a bit like student days--up super later, up super early. Forgot what all I´ve done and seen and found today, but a few things:
Just got back from ice skating at the Parterre, open til 1am weekends. Right before that had been at the Odeon watching The Quartet, which inspite of bad reviews, I really liked a lot. It was quiet, real. .. not every movie has to be in your face, loud, bold, rude or superamazinghigh tech graphics to be good. I only just saw The Matrix and Avatar, and did not like either, for any reason. I liked Cloud Atlas. C1 bus goes from near the Odeon area to the Parterre area, with a bit of walking quickly on either side. Or there are taxis, or you can actually walk the entire way, just takes longer. Got a gelato on the way over to Parterre.
7pm had aperitivos--good buffet of Italian snacks and food, such as antipasto, salad, fresh seasonal fruit and veggies, cheeses, cured meats, plus a few glasses of wine and prosecco. 7Euros.
Gelato Grande: 4 flavours in a large size, at Venchi. Long line out the door, but only a few minutes wait. 5Euros. Apple sorbet, pink salt with carmel, straciatelli, hazelnut.
Had Venchis a few times today. delicious.
Found an amazing little place near Ponte Vecchio, and had a glass of the house wine, acqua naturelle sp, and pastas: ricotta and spinach lasagna, sage ravioli in a cream sauce with walnuts---amazing, delicous, perfect. Salad, dessert, more wine. more water. Not sure these were taken on the day, as I´ve been here lots and often get this exact pasta: sage and butter ravioli. With a glass of the house white wine.
Walked around lots, took a few photos, enjoyed the warm weather, sunshine, blue skies, river, reflections, food, people, walking down less crowded streets, alleys, lanes---easy, just walk a block either way from the crowded main streets.
Faves today:
Photos of laundry being hung out to dry.
Ponte Vecchio reflections
Venchi venchi venchi
the sage ravioli in cream sauce with walnuts
The Quartet
sunshine, blue skies, warm weather
The Church--Santa Trinita, by the Ponte Trinita and the Odeon. Very serene, lovely architecture, frescoes, etc.
Add photos today and yesterday when time.
Up early tomrrow, have lots planned, will see if any of that actually gets done when other things constantly spring up!, then meeting friends for aperitivo, supper, etc.
The Quartet, has made me want to listen to some Opera, so am off to check out YT before bedtime, to make a new additional Opera playlist from songs from the movie.
Maybe the movie was "sentimental" but I like happy endings, and love stories, romance, opera and such. Great movie, would watch it again:)
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And WOW. just WOW. the Odeon is ok a nice ok interesting building, pretty ok on the outside, the inside lobby was gorgeous, but the INSIDE where you actually watch the movie, wow.
The outside is old blackend stone, interesting bits and pieces, pretty decorated courtyard ish galley areas outside, with heat lamps, and plants.
Inside waiting area, where you can wait or buy tickets, has gorgeous marble, marble tile mosaics, gold, gold plush velvet wooden footed chairs, mahogany bars with intricately carved mahogany theatre mask reliefs, mirrors, chandeliers, tile water fountains, and a very very chic modern bar restaurant area, and a fancy snack area out of one of the mahogany wood bars.
The INSIDE where you actually watch the movie, is plush, antique, downstairs has plush velvet seats and carpets, frescoes, statuettes, intricately detailed bits and pieces everywhere, theatre mask reliefs of painted wood along the actual stage. The upstairs is a gorgeous balcony of seating, with more intricate details....and the highest bit inside is a tiny duomo type shape of glass tiles, mosaics, and stained glass. WOW. Photos and video do not do it justice. It is 7.50 Euro for a ticket, and well worth it if only to see the inside of the building. I should really not complain the actual museums charge 9 Euros, when I am happy to pay nearly that to see a movie theatre and movie,).
With your ticket, at the Odeon, you can get aperitivo for 5Euros, or 9Euros off a meal.
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1st breakfast: espresso
2nd breakfast:
yogurt; fresh seasonal fruit; toasted panini with turkey, buffalo motz, arugula; espresso, small egg cream pastry
late lunch:
ricotta, spinach lasagna
sage and walnut ravioli in a cream sauce
slices of that fresco rucolo
insalata misti
house wine
acqua non gassata
gelato a few times
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late snack:
blood orange
slices of fresco rucola
nougat
water
