Third week in Italy
On Monday morning we had to wave goodbye to Venice. We took a train from Venezia Mestre to Venezia S. Lucia and from there a straight line to Arezzo. On Wednesday we had our friend take us to Castiglion Fiorentino to a pub. The night was dark but every now and then the lightning lit the sky. We only had a little cash with us but as our surprise we didn’t have to pay at all for the whole evening.
On Friday we went to Serremaggio – an annual event in Serre di Rapolano. We first went to Cena Povera; a thematic dinner in an old cellar. We had some soup, pork and rooster and broccoli & nut – pie. They were all served in clay plates and eaten whether with a wooden spoon or a fork. As a dessert we had grappa seasoned with cinnamon and honey alongside with biscotti with raisin and seeds. The atmosphere was really nice and as our pleasant surprise we could take the plates with us. After dinner we went to the tiny centre of the village to enjoy the live music and beverages. We were introduced to Zedda Piras – an alcoholic drink from Sardinia, which tastes strongly of berries. Another remarkable finding: in Italian culture it is outrageous for a woman to pay for anything and it is the gentlemen who pay – always. The night in Serremaggio was really great – we had been planning on going there for a long time, the music was good, we got to dance and above all the company was the best of the best.
On Saturday we slept late – we had asked for a morning off and we enjoyed every minute of it. We cooked asparagus – yet again – and watched Desperate Housewives. After work we made simple, yet ever so tasty, basic Finnish food: brown sauce with minced meat and mashed potatoes – the first day for three whole weeks when not eating pasta with tomato sauce. Our friendly neighbor also provided us with some really tasty vegetable soufflés when we met him on our way home and we ate them with gratitude.
Sunday morning we did our other half of the day from Saturday and in the afternoon we went to Monte San Savino for Gelato di Carlo. The ice cream was tasty and we enjoyed the old town’s view from a rose garden. Afterwards we headed to Lucignano where there was a flower festival going on, but then decided not to get in the old town this time. Instead we visited shortly a little village nearby and finally came back home.
Until next week!