Today was another interesting adventure. I discovered a whole new world by taking a left turn instead of the usual right I have been accustomed to. I found the largest supermarket…called Coop and I have a discount card Signora Antonia had given me when we first met. Definitely this is the place to shop if you want the real Italian deal! I am finding that the other supermarket Standa, although quiet good in what they carry…is too full with young Americans who are here to speak Italian yet they continue on with English. Today I watched as a young women fondled the apples with her bare hands….a definite ‘no no’ in this culture. You MUST put on the plastic glove if you are to touch anything that isn’t packaged.
I went to Ikea with my new friend Susan. I picked her up from school and discovered that a bird shit on my buggy. I guess that must mean some sort of good luck or something. Must have Brit buy me a lotto ticket. I remember sending some numbers awhile ago but only sent four….shoulda been six…no wonder I didn’t win. Anyhow I discovered that the Ikea bus starts at the Santa Maria Novella station at one pm. and runs until 9:00 pm. It sure was a far cry from walking. As usual I picked up too many things. I found a great carpet for 50 euros that was perfect for my living room (a mock Persian). Rolled up it was almost as tall as me. So I figured I would manage somehow. Here I go again…full buggy…big Ikea shopping bag (full) and a rug. Susan and I deliberated on taking a cab and figured it would be 20 euros so we opted for the bus. This way we can come back and buy something else!
My arms were already still sore from the morning shop when I discovered a new world. I had bought a ‘matrimoniale’ mattress topper to cover two beds instead of just one… I had bought a topper for the single when I first arrived. Before I leave here I could have a sale on toppers. J I am hoping now to expand my bed so that I can stretch. Last night I almost fell out of bed again. I also found a great kitchen store too in the new territory…and bought a fabulous roasting pan as I am having my first dinner party on Saturday night with three of my new friends. I am excited. My sister has already sent me her polenta recipe. I thought of making osso bucco. After this cold weather we have been having … a hearty oven cooked meal is in order. Oooops…I guess it is not as cold as what you all have to live with…I saw it was -19 the other day. Brrrrrrrrring out the long johns!!
Okay so here I am … on the Ikea bus contemplating whether to take a cab from the Santa Maria Novella station or walk. Susan saw her bus so darted for it and I decided to be the martyr and walk. I didn’t think the C1 bus that goes to my place even lands at the bus station. It is one of those small orange buses that maneuvers through the old part of the city. I cannot believe some of these Italian women. Like I was supposed to move off the sidewalk to let them pass….HELLO! I have the carpet so unless you want to get bopped in the head you better move your ass! One woman walking with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth came close to kissing my carpet.
I felt like I had been walking for miles and then all of a sudden I hear someone calling my name….odd in a strange city but realized it was my friend Mandy who just finished a day at the studio and was heading home. I started to laugh out loud. I said …”Mandy…plllleeeeease tell me I am going in the right direction” . We both laughed and sure enough my home was around the block. Whew! Off I went and as I was approaching the corner where I needed to turn…who do I run into…but Luca.
The kissing Italian…remember him! I figured I hadn’t seen him all week and would probably never see him again…but Florence is a small place. He was all smiles and as he leaned to kiss me again…I recoiled with an arriverderci…buona giornata!
When I got home I could not feel my arms for several hours. After a glass of wine and a chat with my daughter and friend on Skype I was good to go until lights out.
This is St. Ambrogio Church....have yet to go inside but it is on the way to many places....just behind it is the big market.
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