03 Dec, 2012
Viva L’Italia // Firenze & Pisa
We stopped by the quaint Florence and Pisa for 2 days. And 2 days certainly wasn't sufficient. There was a lot to eat, a lot to see, and a lot to shop, and we agreed to go back to this part of Italy someday.
And because we knew 2 days wouldn't be enough to cover the must-sees and must-haves, we decided to take the days slow, and to simply bask in the autumn air with each other's company. After all, the Italians are known for their art of doing nothing, yes?
We took a train from Rome and arrived at Florence in the late morning. It was too beautiful a day, so we opted for bright-colored clothes to match our cheery souls. It was slightly chilly, but we loved it and that gave us more reason to hug! The sun was warm and nice, and the slight breeze caressed our faces as we strolled down the cobbled pavements and watched Florence unfold before our eyes.
There was only 2 of us, and it was such a pity that we couldn't try Florence's famous Florentine Steak. The man and I both love steak to death, but I cannot imagine us pigging out on a 1kg steak! We settled for a regular boneless steak, had it Medium Rare just as we like it, and it was beyond satisfying.
And we continued our hunt for awesome gelato. Grom was top on our list, and we managed to locate it without much efforts - it is situated just further back from Santa Maria. We didn't think much of the flavors we chose, though. Pear, and... something else. Can't remember.
And the ambitious man brought me on an adventure of chasing trains in the late afternoon. In case I haven't mentioned, for the whole of this trip, I had been involved in numerous rat races with transportation - running after trains with our luggages, changing from one train to another with only 2 minutes interval, being the last to board our domestic flight... but life is fun that way sometimes.
So we took a train from Florence and spent the evening at Pisa. And with only a few hours, it was that one undisputed place that we chose to go.
It was yet another sight to behold. We were entirely captivated by the most picturesque side of Pisa, and it felt like a dream to be standing at the foot of the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
We conquered the tower - yes, I climbed up with my clogs. And it was no mean feat. With each step that took us higher, we felt the tilt even more, and it actually made me dizzy. But the view from the peak was a reward, more than we could ever ask for. We caught the sun shining down on the city as it set, casting a vermillion glow on the Pisa that looked exceptionally vast from up above.
Its beauty made me feel so insignificant.
Watching the sunset from the peak of Leaning Tower of Pisa is definitely a highlight of my love with B, and I will always have this memory etched deeply in my heart. I don't know when I will be back, or if I will ever be, but because he held me to the top of the world, that city will never be the same again.
And, till we meet again, Florence. You were wonderful to us.
And because we knew 2 days wouldn't be enough to cover the must-sees and must-haves, we decided to take the days slow, and to simply bask in the autumn air with each other's company. After all, the Italians are known for their art of doing nothing, yes?
We took a train from Rome and arrived at Florence in the late morning. It was too beautiful a day, so we opted for bright-colored clothes to match our cheery souls. It was slightly chilly, but we loved it and that gave us more reason to hug! The sun was warm and nice, and the slight breeze caressed our faces as we strolled down the cobbled pavements and watched Florence unfold before our eyes.
When in Florence, eat steaks and Ribollita. He did a little research and learned that Trattoria Mario is one of the best places in Florence to dine at, and we knew we had to hunt this place down no matter how many wrong turns we take, and no matter how far we walk.
There was only 2 of us, and it was such a pity that we couldn't try Florence's famous Florentine Steak. The man and I both love steak to death, but I cannot imagine us pigging out on a 1kg steak! We settled for a regular boneless steak, had it Medium Rare just as we like it, and it was beyond satisfying.
We also had the highly recommended Ribollita - a hearty Tuscan soup made with vegetables and bread ala potage style. It wasn't the most photogenic, but trust me when I say I could have died without regrets upon eating it. Yes, it was nothing short of heavenly and I am salivating now just from thinking about it. If you ever visit Florence, know that it wouldn't be complete without trying this dish.
Trattoria Maria is definitely worth the visit, I'd say.
And we continued our hunt for awesome gelato. Grom was top on our list, and we managed to locate it without much efforts - it is situated just further back from Santa Maria. We didn't think much of the flavors we chose, though. Pear, and... something else. Can't remember.
(But our opinion changed when we tried Grom again at Milan!)
And the ambitious man brought me on an adventure of chasing trains in the late afternoon. In case I haven't mentioned, for the whole of this trip, I had been involved in numerous rat races with transportation - running after trains with our luggages, changing from one train to another with only 2 minutes interval, being the last to board our domestic flight... but life is fun that way sometimes.
So we took a train from Florence and spent the evening at Pisa. And with only a few hours, it was that one undisputed place that we chose to go.
It was yet another sight to behold. We were entirely captivated by the most picturesque side of Pisa, and it felt like a dream to be standing at the foot of the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
We could hardly contain our excitement, and we stopped and stared. And gave thanks for being there with each other. Another piece of beautiful memory to take home with us, and to keep for life.
We conquered the tower - yes, I climbed up with my clogs. And it was no mean feat. With each step that took us higher, we felt the tilt even more, and it actually made me dizzy. But the view from the peak was a reward, more than we could ever ask for. We caught the sun shining down on the city as it set, casting a vermillion glow on the Pisa that looked exceptionally vast from up above.
Its beauty made me feel so insignificant.
Watching the sunset from the peak of Leaning Tower of Pisa is definitely a highlight of my love with B, and I will always have this memory etched deeply in my heart. I don't know when I will be back, or if I will ever be, but because he held me to the top of the world, that city will never be the same again.
And, till we meet again, Florence. You were wonderful to us.
