Post #11
Florence Week 6
Sunday, November 11th, 2018 through Thursday, November 15th, 2018
Sunday, November 11th, 2018
Today Michaela, our roommate Ruby, and I went to Le Vespe Cafe for our LAST Sunday Brunch :’(
On Sundays, Le Vespe has a different menu and Michaela had been wanting to try the Uova Rancheros (brown rice, salsa, avocado, black beans, hash browns, and eggs) because I got it last week when she was not feeling well. So, today was her last chance and she loved it! Afterwards we spent the rest of our day doing loads of laundry and folding and packing (sad) clothes that we know we won’t be using for the rest of the week here. We wanted to hike up to Michelangelo’s point to watch the sunset but unfortunately it was a rainy evening.
Knowing that we were going to have a lazy day, we made a reservation at a local restaurant and wine bar (enoteca) called Coquinarius. A few of our roommates and friends had been here and said that it was life changing but definitely a bit of a splurge. Everything they offer is very unique and different, and it is always packed so a reservation is a must. Michaela and I started with a salami and cheese board and added a side of burrata cheese because we were told we HAD to try it. To our surprise, the salami board was much more than just salami (the prosciutto was FABULOUS) however we had no clue what cheeses we were trying. The goat cheese almost made me PUKE which Michaela got a kick out of because she loves goat cheese and thought it was delicious. We also each ordered a glass of Chianti Classico and I really enjoyed it. For our meal we both got the Pear and Cheese Raviolini, which would not be the first thing on a menu that I would order. I decided it would be good to step out of my comfort zone and I am SO glad that I did because it was a fantastic dish! The pear was sweet and pretty soft and the sauce was a type of creamy butter or oil or something — I don't know how to describe it but it was awesome! After dinner we went to Gelateria Dei Neri, our favorite because they are closed tomorrow (every Monday) so we have plans to try a new place. It was no surprise that the gelato was super yummy!
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Monday, November 12th, 2018
Today was a very tough day. Rest in the sweetest peace Auntie Cindy. I wish I could have been home to say goodbye in person and to be with the family. You were one of the softest, sweetest, and kindest souls and I was blessed to have you in my life. Your fight and determination is something that I will look up to for the rest of my life. I love you ♡
The Day God Called You Home
God looked around his garden
And found an empty place,
He then looked down upon the earth
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, ‘Peace be Thine’.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home
This morning Michaela and I tried to go to Rooster Cafe for brunch but for some unknown reason, they were closed. We then went to Le Vespe again so that I could get the Coxwell Breakfast Sandwich (eggs, bacon, cheese, on a bagel) because that was not on the Sunday Brunch menu. Afterwards we walked around at some shops because Michaela has a few more souvenirs to get. She got one thing on her list and before we knew it, it was time for class. In class we made orecchiette pasta and cartellate pastry. After class we went to Edoardo's Gelateria which is Beyonce's favorite gelato shop! I got chocolate chip and chocolate and it was yummy - not as good as Gelateria Dei Neri though! It was a bit more icey and thin. From there, we went to the grocery store to grab some things which is where I got the phone call and then we went right back to our apartment.
Tuesday, November 13th, 2018
Michaela, our roommate Ruby, and I woke up this morning and finally made it to Rooster Cafe! I ordered the Hash which was basically hash browns, bacon, onion, eggs, and toast. It was SO GOOD. Michaela got the Rooster Stack which was pancakes with homemade peanut butter and chocolate chips which were also amazing. Afterwards we went back to the apartment and took a nap because I was not feeling great. After my nap we went to Ganzo (the school restaurant) because we have a good amount of meal units to use still. Afterwards we walked through the leather market to get Ruby another bag and from there we went to class. In class we made a beef stew that cooked in red wine, as well as a honey cake, and a bean stew. After class we went back to our apartment to finalize a group project that is due tomorrow and hung out for a while before heading out to dinner at Yellow Bar, a restaurant we had been wanting to give a try. I ordered gnocchi rosé (with a tomato and cream sauce). The sauce was delicious, however, the gnocchi was not that great. After dinner we got some gelato and I facetimed with mom for a while.
Wednesday, November 14th, 2018
Michaela and I set an alarm for 9:30 this morning to head to Le Vespe Cafe for the ACTUAL LAST TIME. I know we said that on Monday but it is just SO good. From breakfast Michaela and I went to Gucci Gardens, which is essentially the Gucci Museum. This was great because it was FREE ($$$) for students!! Michaela actually set off the alarm when taking a picture of the angel which is probably the main display in the museum ... ooooppps. From there we decided that we wanted to take a few pictures on the carousel so we kindly asked the operator if we could just go on for a picture. While we were on it, the man started it so we got a free ride! Afterwards we went to the leather market because our friend told us that he would give us free gifts before we leave. He offered us keychains and cosmetic cases, however I told him to keep it and give me a big discount on the bag that I had been wanting. Michaela took the cosmetic bag. We then went to class where we did another wine tasting and presented our final projects. It was pretty interesting because one of the wines we were supposed to taste was not good. The first step when opening the wine is to smell the cork and my classmates immediately knew that something was not right. We were down a wine! After class Michaela and I walked to the Westin Excelsior's rooftop bar, Sesio. I got a peach spritz which was delicious and we enjoyed some beautiful views! The drinks were definitely a bit pricey but of course we were paying for the views .. and the drink was delicious too! From there we went to get our second to last gelato of the trip and then to the grocery store to get pasta for dinner. After dinner we studied for our finals. I cant believe that when I wake up tomorrow it will be our last day in Florence! Where the heck did the time go?
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Thursday, November 15th, 2018
Today was our last day in Florence 😠We woke up and went to Ganzo (the school restaurant) for the last time. From there we went right to class because we met an hour early to take our final exam. After the exam we made cannolis and mini citrus cookies. They were both SO yummy and I can’t wait to make them at home. It was so sad saying goodbye to our professor!! When we were done with class we went to the leather market to grab a t-shirt and kill time while we waited to meet our roommates for our dinner reservation at 6pm. We went to Trattoria Zaza, a massive restaurant that everyone was a fan of. Michaela and I shared some last prosciutto and I got penne with a bolognese creme sauce! After dinner we went to get our LAST gelato from Gelateria dei Neri. I got the 4 euro cone which is massive and I got strawberry cheesecake, cookies and cream, coffee, and vanilla. Delicious! When we went back to the apartment my roommates surprised me and Joyce with an early 21st birthday cake and they gave me a cute postcard that they all signed. Afterwards we spent the night packing and cleaning the apartment. I cannot believe that our time in Florence is over so quickly, it truly did fly bye. Leaving to go home is SO bittersweet. I cannot wait to see my family but I really will miss Florence and the lifestyle here.
