I researched several recipes and found one that looked pretty easy. I already had the ingredients, so on a Sunday afternoon, I rolled up my sleeves, tied on my vintage red and white gingham apron, and got my hands dirty. I had a great time kneading, rolling, and cutting. It was very similar to playing with play dough, of which I have always been a fan.
Unfortunately, making the pasta was more enjoyable than eating it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't fabulous. In fact, it wasn't any better than the 99 cent box of generic rotini that I had in my kitchen cupboards. What had I done wrong? I don't rightly know. How could I become a better pasta chef? I found the answer online: Francesca, Isa, Orietta, Navina, and the other ladies at "Tuscan Women Cook", a one week culinary program in Tuscany.
Check out their website...it's enchanting!
After all, I've never been one to learn from a book! I prefer to learn by doing, to learn while I'm up to my elbows in flour. What better place to do this than Italy? And as long as I was going to Italy, I might as well see and do some other things, right?
A few weeks ago, as I was gearing up for the beginning of the school year and bemoaning the end of my summer, I said to my friend Rachael, "I wish someone would pay me to travel." Rachael suggested a travel blog, but then, I'd have to travel to be able to write a blog, right? That would make the most sense, yes, but I started to think about what kind of trip I would want to go on if someone were paying me to, like Samantha Brown or Rick Steves (those lucky son of a guns).
I was excited by the idea of planning my dream vacation to Tuscany, so I set out to research what I would do, where I would stay, places I would visit. With unlimited resources, one can schedule a spectacular vacation!
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| Samantha Brown, Host of "Samantha Brown's Passport to Europe" |
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| Rick Steves, host of "Rick Steves' Europe" |
I was excited by the idea of planning my dream vacation to Tuscany, so I set out to research what I would do, where I would stay, places I would visit. With unlimited resources, one can schedule a spectacular vacation!
After attending the Tuscan Women's Culinary school, I would split my time between downtown Florence and the Tuscan countryside.
During my stay in the heart of Florence, I would call the Golden Tower Hotel home. The Strozzi family, wealthy medieval bankers in Florence, built this tower to compete with the famous Florentine family, the Medici's, and lived in it until 1492. It was recently restored and remodeled into a four star hotel and spa, and it is only minutes, by foot, from Florence's main attractions.
http://www.goldentowerhotel.it/en/
While I stayed in the city, I would rent a vintage vespa to cruise the narrow streets on. They are a very popular mode of transportation in Florence. I even found a cute helmet to wear!
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| Safety first! |
This ancient city is full of fun, interesting things to do and see. I would:
-Buy a leather jacket at Florence's leather market. I would, ideally, visit Italy in the fall, and might need a jacket in the evenings!
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| Maybe one like this? |
-Tour the Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti. The Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens were built in the 16th Century and were the seat of the famous and powerful Medici family. The property is 11 acres of grottos, gardens, and sculptures. The palace is now a museum that houses a Modern Art Gallery, Palatine Art Gallery, a Silver Gallery, Porcelein Gallery, Costume Gallery, a Carriage Museum, and Royal Apartments.
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| The Costume Gallery |
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| The Palazzo |
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| The Boboli Gardens |
-Take photos of the city's panorama at sunset from the Piazzale Michelangelo. The view is breathtaking.
-Enjoy Gelato at least once, probably twice, a day, and dine al fresco every meal.
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| I only have eyes for the pistachio in the back! Pistachio in Italian is "Pistacchio" (makes for very little confusion when ordering) |
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| "al fresco" = outside, at a fresh temperature |
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| Jewelry shops on the Bridge |
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| The Ponte Vecchio. You can see Vasari's Corridor along the top. |
-Visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Academmia Gallery. You can't go to Florence and not see the art. The Uffizi was originally built as offices for the Florentine Magistrates in the 16th century (Uffizi = office). Over the years, it became a place to house and display the art collection of the Medici family and a gathering place for artists like DaVinci and Michelangelo to "hang out". It wasn't until 1765 that it officially opened as an art museum.
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| The halls of the Uffizi |
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| The internal corridor of the Uffizi |
Fun Fact: There is actually a condition called “Stendhal Syndrome” also dubbed “Florence Syndrome”. It's a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and fainting when an individual is exposed to beautiful art, particularly in large quantities. This experience was described by French author, Stendhal, when he wrote of his visit to the Uffizi in 1817.
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| While Renaissance art isn't my favorite style, I do have a canvas print of part of this painting, Boticelli's Primavera The Uffizi Gallery |
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| The Birth of Venus The Uffizi Gallery |
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| There are benches behind Michelangelo's David where visitors can "rest their tired feet" (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) Accademia Gallery |
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| A display from the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum....aren't they pretty? |
-Climb the Duomo for views of the city. It's only 463 stone steps to the top!
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| A great view AND a great workout |
-Go on a Photography walking tour of Palaces, Palazzos, and Bridges. I went to Florence right after college (about 10 years ago) just as digital cameras were becoming more commonplace. Unfortunately, they still weren't affordable enough for me to have one. I can't wait to go back to Europe with my pocket full of 4 GB SD cards, instead of 10 rolls of film!
The other half of my Florentine vacation would be spent in this pink villa, the Villa Limonaia Grande Lucca.
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| If I were a Tuscan villa, this one would be me. |
http://www.tuscanyfinerentals.com/tuscany/lucca-holiday-rentals/villa-limonaia-grande-lucca/
Once I move into the Tuscan countryside, I would rent this 1950's Fiat Jolly Ghia.
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| I might need the helmet while driving this one, too.... |
I couldn't think of anything cuter to transport me to destinations and activities like:
-Hot air ballooning.
-Lending a hand in the Olive Harvest. I've always thought olive trees are beautiful, with their gnarled trunks and silvery leaves. Why not help harvest them, then picnic among them afterward?
-A Balsamic Vinegar Day Tour! Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love vinegar! I don't like wine, so wine tasting tours weren't an option (and they are certainly abundant in Tuscany!). My alternative: Balsamic Vinegar tasting!
-Go to an opera under that stars in a roofless gothic cathedral. Tuscany is the birthplace of opera. The ruins of the Abbey of Saint Galgano is the perfect place for an evening opera...and it even has a real "sword in the stone"!
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| The sword in the stone dates back to the 1100's |
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| Opera in the roofless cathedral |
-A Hiking Tour of the Cinque Terre on the Riviera. As described on the Viator.com website,
"Led by your knowledgeable guide you will trek scenic trails and wander through vineyards and olive groves, over stone walls and along a spectacular coastline. This tour includes coach transportation, rail and boat travel between villages, entry in to Cinque Terre National Park and a delicious lunch.
The Cinque Terre takes its name from the five picturesque fishing villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Each town has a distinct character, but all share alleys, arches and steep stone steps, best explored on foot. An idyllic snapshot of old-world Italy, the villages are surrounded by sunny beaches, narrow lanes lined with shops and stalls, brightly colored fishing boats, seaside promenades and sleepy piazzas."
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| A feast for the eyes! |
http://www.viator.com/tours/Florence/Cinque-Terre-Hiking-Day-Trip-from-Florence/d519-5070CINQUE
-Bathing in the thermal baths of Saturnia. After trekking all over Florence and Tuscany, I will, undoubtedly, need to relax (particularly after hiking). What better place to do that than Saturnia. I found a picture of this place on Pinterest and pinned it months ago, not knowing where it was. I came across it in my research and found that it's in Tuscany.
While getting paid to travel would be glamorous, exciting, and a grand adventure, I'm not holding my breath. Instead, I get paid to teach children, which, while not glamorous, is very important and an adventure all its own.
Although I saw some of Florence and Tuscany when I was fresh out of college (going on ten years ago now....gulp), going with a digital camera, a smart phone, and ten more years of life experience under my belt would, I believe, revolutionize the experience! While I don't hold out hope that I'll ever take a vacation quite like this one, I do hope to get back on Italian soil again someday.
Anybody want to be my travel buddy?
Oh my stars, Sarah. I would totally go with you! Every detail is perfectly laid out, and all of it sounds wonderful. Just let me know when we leave, which will be as soon as our sponsors let us know they are ready to foot the bill. ;)
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