Back to Florence

Monday April 25

Today is a holiday in Italy as the Italians know how to extend the Easter holiday to include Easter Monday, or La Pasquetta. Official offices and many shops are closed and the trains and buses run on a limited schedule. Most Italians spend the day away from their homes, having picnics in the park, going to the country, or leaving the city.

For this reason I decided to go to Florence rather than Montepulciano which requires several modes of transportation, as it is not that easy to reach. I had a mission in Florence to return to the San Lorenzo market and purchase more silk ties, per request from my son. By now I knew how to get there without any problem, and found the ties right away.

Afterwards I was just browsing the streets of Florence, went back to the Ponte Vecchio, and eventually just by chance, discovered Rossopomodoro, which is an excellent chain restaurant which originated in Naples, Italy. Recently two opened in the US, one in Naples, Florida, and the other in the mega Mercato, Eataly, in New York City.

I had an excellent lunch there, and no, it was not pasta pomodoro, but my other favorite, margherita pizza san marzano. I am not a foodie, and am not that adventurous when it comes to trying all different regional foods, just because I am in Italy. I could actually eat pasta pomodoro, margherita pizza, and insalata mista every day, because it is always wonderful.

On the way home from the bus stop, I got soaked in a heavy rainfall, but I was just coming back to my hotel, so it didn’t matter. Eventually it stopped raining, and later I went out for la passeggiata. A little more exercise can’t hurt, especially after the pizza. Tomorrow I am getting up early and going to one more hill town, Montepulciano, where parts of The Twilight Saga:New Moon and under the Tuscan Sun were filmed. I am looking forward to it, even though it entails taking two buses and a train to get there. More tomorrow. Ciao.