Firenze, Italia

We stayed in an Airbnb near town center, a very nice place with air conditioning (Angela's apartment while in a great location, did not have AC). Been to Firenze several times, but this time I wanted to do touristy stuff, like go to the museums and eat steak. Unfortunately we only have one full day so we were able to visit one church/museum, the Basilica di Santa Croce. We did get to have Bistecca alla Fiorentina for dinner.

The Basilica was interesting, especially the monuments where famous Italians (ones I've read about in history books) were buried, including Michelangelo, Dante Alighieri, Michiavalli and Galileo. I spent a lot of time in the Basilica, reading the inscriptions and took a lot of photos of the ornate tombs.

Then, we walked around, found my favorite fast food stand selling trippa and lampredotto. However we had our hearts set on bistecca, so had to pass on the trippa.

We did find a market that with dry goods and food, I don't think it was the Florence central market though.

Finally decided on a steak restaurant, and we ordered Bistecca alla Fiorentina for 2 people. Expensive but very good!

The next morning, we got up very early, called an Uber to take us to the airport for our flights home to the US. I have been in Italy for almost a month!

Last day in Lerici-San Terenzo, Italy

Our last day in the Italian Riviera, the Golfo dei Poeti (Gulf of Poets)! We visited the Castello di Lerici, took photos from the top. Then it was lunch, and later our last asperol spritz in San Terenzo. Tomorrow we take the train to Florence where we will stay the night before flying back to the US.

Tour of Carrara Marble Caves, Italy

I've taken many friends to the Carrara Marble Tour when I lived in Italy and had my own car. This time however since I did not rent a car, we decided on a private guide to drive us to the caves. I used Expedia to find a guide that could meet us at an accessible location nearby. This was an interesting experience. Clemens, our guide (I think he was German) ran his personal tour using his car; he also played the guitar and sang while on the tour. We met him in La Spezia, near the cruise terminal, an easy bus ride from San Terenzo. We two were the only guests on this tour, and it was a bit uncomfortable when he started singing to us at the terminal.

He stopped at some spots for photo taking, and a scultpor's studio on the route to the marble cave and we got to see some of the finished marble sculptures.

Then we reached the marble caves in Fantiscritti, where the marble cave operators took over. We put on helmets and got on a jeep that took us deep inside the cave. I've been on this tour quite a few times before, but it was still fascinating. Just imagine: Michelangelo was said to have used marble from this area!

After the tour, we got back in Clemens' car and he took us to Colonnata for lunch at the Larderia Il Poggio. On the menu is lardo, the speciality of this area. It was a lot of rather heavy food on a hot day, but it was all good.

The lardo is the white pieces in the middle, between the salami and proscuitto. I loved the taste the first time I had it during a reception at work, until I found out what it was, i.e. cured lard!

Clemens dropped us off close to our apartment, which saved the effort of getting a bus from La Spezia.

La Festa di Sant'Erasmo, Lerici, Italy

We were fortunate to be in the area for the La Festa di Sant'Erasmo in Lerici, although we did not attend the processions. In the morning, we went to the Lerici market, bought some fresh produce and cooked lunch in the apartment. The evening, we went down to the piazza for dinner and stayed to watch the fireworks from San Terenzo.