Arrivederci Martha

Martha left this morning for Boston, and may be almost there by now. Yesterday we went to Santa Maria Nouvella, near the train station. When we left the apartment by cab it was pouring rain, with thunder and lightening. After buying Martha's train tickets we walked across the street and around the corner to the church, and here it is with blue, cloudless sky.



The church was a lovely space, with a variety of smaller chapels around the nave featuring fascinating frescoes by masters including a few figures by a 13 year old Michelangelo. Naturally, no photos allowed.

After our tour, we dropped into the Santa Maria Nouvella Pharmacia, which historically was part of the monestary, and now is the oldest perfunery in Florence. The place smelled lovely, and had all sorts of wonderful potions, candles, lotions, perfumes, teas and other goodies at astonishing prices. If they could bottle the scent of the store we would have bought it.

We wanted to get Martha's shopping done, so we headed back toward the center of town, stopping for lunch along the way. I am finding that most Italian food is not vey photogenic, but my lunch of raviolis with pumpkin sauce were unusual. Each of my four raviolis was the size of my palm. They were filled with riccota cheese and herbs, with a mild but hearty pumpkin sauces on top. Excellent.

Sadly, by the time we finishedl unch the bakery next door was closed, so we moved on to the Coin department store and the covered market (mostly leather, scarves and glass) near the Piazza de Republique. On the way home, as darkness fell along with torrents of rain, Martha finally succumbed to the Italian shoe spell, and bought two pair which just fit in her one suitcase.

Tom came back from work early, and we read and rested a bit before heading out for a special dinner in the hills above Florence with one of his colleagues. As a first course I had artichoke salad and percorino cheese -- a salad of shaved raw artichokes, arrugula and walnuts, with healthy shavings of cheese on top. I opted to skip the meats, and as a second course ordered a spaghetti dish with white grapes and duck breast, the most interesting pasta dish I have ever had -- not sweet, but not savory, and definitely unusual. Desserts were an apple tart, very light and flavorful, and a panna cotta with a very strong and rich chocolate sauce. A perfect end for Martha's visit. Ciao, bella!