We wanted to go to Florence but with it being further away we were having trouble deciding how to get there. We could take the train which would make it relaxing to get there but might not be at a convenient time to get back. We could drive into the city but parking is tough with dismal reviews on most lots. We ended up deciding to drive to the end of one of the tram lines. This meant that we could leave when we wanted but not worry about parking in the city. It ended up being really easy and had a convenient clean bathroom to use when we arrived and before we left.
Once we got to the city we headed to the the central market. Kuah was really hungry when he got there so we made our first stop at a little sandwich and charcuterie shop. He ordered a Lamperdotto, which is a sandwich made from the from the abomasum. What is the abomasum? It’s the fourth stomach of a cow. In this case it’s usually slow-cooked in a vegetable broth with herbs and then chopped and put in a sandwich. Kuah says it’s delicious. The rest of us were too wimpy to try it.
After Kuah’s snack we wandered around the rest of the first floor of the market. We saw a variety of cheeses, meats, pasta, breads, vegetables and fruits. The second floor has the majority or restaurant stalls and tables so we headed there next. Mom found a nice wild boar ragu. I wasn’t too hungry so I got some fresh berries. Kuah wandered around some more end ended up coming back with an absolutely gigantic steak. They had given out free tastes and after trying it he had to buy one. I guess free samples really do work. It was served on a hot plate which meant that Mom and I could let a few slices cook longer and help Kuah eat it all. Italians definitely enjoy rarer meat than I do.
After stuffing ourselves silly we headed out to see the city. We hadn’t planned on going into any of the main attractions but rather spent time just enjoying the city and it’s architecture. Mom was on the hunt for some souvenirs so we went into a lot of shops as well. Florence was really crowded in comparison to the towns we had visited in Umbria. I must admit that I enjoy the less crowded places better.
The nice thing about walking around Florence was that it was flat. The side streets were definitely less crowded than the main streets. After exploring the streets and seeing the statues we needed a comfortable place to sit for a bit. Kuah found a great place for us to sit and relax, Cafe Gilli. Although the outdoor seating was pretty full the inside was almost empty. It was first opened in 1733 so the indoor had a great old style European cafe vibe. I got a bowl of strawberries. Italy has amazing strawberries. Kuah had a fruit salad which wasn’t as good as my berries but his Irish coffee more than made up for the disappointing fruit salad. Mom enjoyed a nice chocolate cake.
From here we headed back to the car stopping in many shops along the way. Another lovely day in Italy.
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