Leisurely breakfast of pastry and cappuccino 2Euros, at one of the local wine bars which also has an extensive coffee bar with a large selection of fresh made pastries under the glass counter. You pay at the one counter, which is not either of those counters, THEN you wait at the marble coffee counter for your coffee (be it espresso, or otherwise), then either drink that standing there at that counter; or as I did go to the other counter to get my pastry and bring it to the place I wanted to sit, walk over to fetch my cappuccino and chat with the guy behind the bar whilst waiting, then bring that over to my seat, and enjoy both at the window, watching the day walk by outside. There´s a park on either side of both bus stop areas, out the window, sidewalk views, views of terraced houses. By then a few were hanging out their laundry to dry, or sweeping off their balconies, walking their dogs, having coffee inside, catching buses, waiting for buses, etc.
Walkabout walking off breakfast, go quickly to the bodega, fruit and veg market for fresh fruit and salad, bakery for bread, and pastry shop for pastry..for picnic foods for Boboli Gardens, from the Pitti Palace front or side entrances. Spent a few hours there walking around, forgot to take photos.
Bit of a change of plans, from 7pm aperitivo and 9pm movie; to 6pm movie with friends. Had a late lunch at 3, after they were closed actually but they remembered me and I wanted the handwritten menu pasta, so that was fine with them too:). Some of the owners friends were still inside enjoying their coffees and chatting, and I sat down next to them. Had the same thing today as yesterday: acqua non gassata, glass of the house wine (which was a large glass), and the ravioli with sage butter cream sauce and walnuts. I´m sure the portion was slightly bigger this time, as they know it´s a new fave of mine now,). When it first came out, in a bowl, I nearly asked for a spoon, as the sauce seemed to be more a soup, but quickly it was absorbed into the pasta turning the soupy delicious sauce into a thick barely there sauce soaked up entirely by the pasta. It was devine, delicious, luscious, rich, thick. The wine was perfect. The water refreshing. The soft light in the downstairs area where the tables are, was lovely and warm, with street views of the tiny side alley so narrow it was nearly barely a path mostly taken up by stone sidewalks.
No, I didn´t try the squat toilet this time,).
Quickly walked over to get gelato, which I finished on the steps of the small local market under a columned stone arbor (?).
Then just had time to walk over to the Odeon, exchange my later ticket for an earlier time, and the movie was on. Well, actually it was about 15 minutes late, but that gave me time to look at all the beautiful details inside the movie theatre, and take some photos and videos.
**The first alley walk on the way to late lunch, had the most wonderful tiny shoppes, before I forget. Real handmade Italian leather shoes, purses and sandals that I would like to have a pair. The gorgeous garage I saw a peek of when the two guys opened it up to get to their tiny Italian sports cars--frescoed, flying buttressed arched and columned, a damn fine place for their cars to rest,) Wow. I´ve seen apartments not that nice,). The tiny shop with walls of mahogany shelves of huge jars of loose teas, tiny tea cups and saucers and accessories. The art. The sculptures. The shop with all the art supplies, artisans tools, neatly put up everywhere, with old twist-tighted wood benches for work surfaces like in my work space at Skogheim, floor to ceiling stuff everywhere: tools, benches, two artists, canvases, furniture, bits and pieces, again the inside building itself frescoed and buttressed and columned inside and out, with huge wood mohogany doors 6 or so inches thick, with huge thick old patina´d iron rings and studs inset in the carved door. THE Pinocchio shop, with wooden hand carved or hand knitted and hand painted Pinocchios in all sizes, and in paper, and old cartoons, etc everywhere. That is where I´m getting the kids their Pinocchios. The tiny shop where they make mens leather shoes, and women´s leather high heels, and they were sitting there as I walked by making some to order! The violin shoppe, where they make violins and were carving some as I walked past--just like the guitar shoppe in Bergen near the train station but violins. The bicycle pub. Butchers.
ODEON details inside:
Lovely details in the cinema, enjoyed the movie being late,). Movie itself was good--Cloud Atlas, but well worth seeing it again, if only for the atmosphere. The Odeon´s bistro was closed when we got out, but ended up walking over to the Duomo for pizza, 4E each for our own pizza. Annoyed they charged a 2E cover charge which they do not normally, but obv we paid it. Pizza´s good there, have eaten there a few times. Can´t tell what spice/herb they use in their sauce, but it is more like a savoury (the herb) with a touch of anise (slightly barely lightly licorice flavour). Delicious even just getting their margherita (has tomato sauce, mozzarella, some places this would be only the red sauce no cheese, like at Gusto Pizza, another really really good pizza place!).
Walked down to the local bar a few doors down, then over to another place along the river.
Early to bed tonight, we´re meeting up for shopping tomorrow morning, then a bit of a pub crawl (yes, moms can have fun too! It´s more a chatting, listening to loud music, might have a beer or two all night type of pub crawl though,)).
Pinocchio and theatre shoppes photos:
