Nancy's Travels

Early in the morning, we head to the train station to catch a ride to Florence. It took us a while to figure out how the system works, but it was good practice for when we need to get to Rome. By 10am we were in Firenze and walking towards the city Duomo. So far this is the largest city we've been in, and nagivating around traffic and people proved a bit more challenging. On the way, we stopped for a cannoli breakfast. A block away from Duomo, Chris took pictures while I had a Breakfast at Tiffany's moment, checking out the shoes in a boutique window as I finished my cannoli. Ahhh, the shoes here are really great! Oh yes, and the architecture too! On to see Duomo...

(Insert section on Duomo, belltower & Ponte Vecchio)
I have to write about dinner:

Earlier in the day, after strolling along the Ponte Vecchio, we stopped at a boutique where I got a really cute autumn coat. Since we didn't have a place to eat yet for dinner, I asked the lady salesperson for a recommendation. She said, "Il Latina, very famous! Just down the street, you might get reservation if you stop by right now." It was only 2pm, but we followed her advice and walked a block down to find the restaurant. The trattoria was unassuming, nestled on the side of a small alley. We walked in and I asked if we could get a reservation for dinner. The old italian gentleman regarded me for a few seconds, and said "Come back 7:30!". He didn't ask for my name and waved us out of the restaurant. Chris figured he didn't ask for a name since it's probably not very often they get an asian girl asking for reservations. I hoped he took us seriously and focused on finding our way back to the museum.

(Insert section on Uffizi Museum)

Near 7:30pm we meandered our way back to Il Latina - the crowd outside the door erased any doubts about this being the right place for us to eat. People grumble as they are turned away for not having reservations. "Without reservations, all of Firenze would be here." quipped the man at the door as more people jostled for his attention. We have yet to see any restaurant with such a crowd waiting outside. Chris gets out the camera and I set forth to brave the crowd, getting on my tippy toes and waving to the man we saw earlier in the afternoon. Our eyes meet. He winks, and in that instant I am relieved at his recognition. He stretches his hand out into the crowd towards me, as if asking me to dance. I reach for his hand and the crowd parts, envious eyes following me and Chris as we step out of the dark alley and into the brightly lit and packed trattoria . It was magical. Once inside, we are seated at a long table shared by six other couples. Huge legs of proccuitto hang from the ceiling, and bottles of chianti with the traditional basket-like wrap accent each table. There is no menu, and the waiter brings us several antipasti (fresh procciutto, caprese, barley salad, and chicken liver pate) to whet our appetite. The vino della casa (house wine - chianti)is great. Primi (first course) - I got the bread & tomato soup, and Chris got butterfly pasta with wild boar sauce. Secondi was a HUGE t-bone steak grilled to perfection which we shared, and dessert was accompanied by vinsanto w/ biscotti, and moscato. Chris finished off the meal with an espresso as I tried to loosen my belt. Another great meal....

Upon getting to the train station, we realized that we missed the last train for Lucca and now must take the bus! A couple Morman missionary boys from the States were very helpful in getting us to where we needed to be, and the bus finally left the station around 11:30pm. I was so tired, and was so happy to snuggle into bed back in Lucca around 1:30am. *ZZZzzzzzzz....