Sorting through hundreds of pictures, not to mention the countless memories that you accumulate on a trip can be difficult. Not that I'm complaining - a week under the Tuscan sun followed by 4 days in my beloved Paris was in one word, amazing.
We stayed at a beautiful villa in Castelfiorentina, about halfway between Florence and Siena. It was complete with a 12th century tower, chapel, pool and was surrounded by rolling vineyards, olive groves, and sunflower fields as far as the eye could see. Dinner was eaten almost every night under a canopy on the terrace. It was such a breathtaking and calming landscape.
After traveling on a redeye flight and riding the 3.5 hours from Rome to the villa, I was ready to eat. The meal on our flight out was so terrible I took one bite and pushed it away. How is it possible to mess up lasagna so badly? Was it the lack of cheese, the sour sauce, the miniscule bits of beef? It was hands-down the worst airline meal I've ever eaten: I always eat the meal served to me. In any case, it made me crave delicious and honest food. Nothing fancy or complicated, just hearty and comforting.
The cook at the villa, Maria, was so typically Italian you couldn't ask for more: warm, good-humored, generous, and best of all, she only cooked traditional Tuscan food. Maria didn't disappoint us with her cooking, as one of our courses in the welcome dinner at the villa was an artichoke lasagna: creamy, piping hot, browned cheese, and earthy artichoke all wrapped up in one dish. Is it wrong that I wanted my Italian souvenir to be Maria so that she could make pasta for me whenever I want?
The rest of her meals were equally addicting, from bruschettas and crostinis to other lasagnas and pastas. I couldn't eat enough. The last evening, she surprised us with an apple cake that was soft, tender, and light - delicious!
More to come as I sort through the trip, both mentally and through all the photos!
Your trip sounds wonderful. I have never been to Italy. I should go sometime, but I always seem to end up in France. This summer I spent my time in Provence and still think about it everyday. Try to incorporate more of that lifestyle into my everyday life. Don't know how successful I am with that.
Posted by: Eileen | August 28, 2008 at 05:42 PM