Florence Italy Central Market: see Clara

No they are not called delis in Italy but they carry the products you would find in the 'Italian Store" in the USA.   I remember going every week to buy cold meats called cold cuts, cheese and the great bread they had fresh each day.

Whenever I am in Florence I visit the food market near San Marco.    I have my regular stands that I visit:  for cappucino, for fruit, for a cornneto.  But if I need a pannini I see Clara.

what a surprise to find that she has expanded to a seating area where you can have your lunch!   An after s few moments, she even remembered me.   I only come once a year but I have 'friends' in Firenze.   Or I am so very odd, asking questions, taking pictures, that it is difficult to forget me!

And Clara is thinking outside the box!  She has totes that advertise her stand!   What a kind woman, she gave me one of her totes!  So be sure to visit Clara when you are in the market in Firenze.

An Italian Secret during December

I am in Italy to visit the Christmas markets and discover how Italians celebrate this holiday.   There are many surprises even for an Italian American who thought I was practicing ITalian tradtions for all these years. 

I didnt do enough researc or I would have know that the REAL holiday buzz starts on December 8 and continues to January 6.   So I am early for some of the markets and events but I can still enjoy all the lights in the streets and the incredible displays in teh cafe's, candy stores and bakeries.

Not your average cup of hot chocolate!

What I was NOT prepared for is this:   liquid chocolate with whiped cream as thick as you have on scones in England.  Travel is so GREAT.





I should have asked his name, but if you are in Florence

 stop and say HI and ask for the best chocolate in town.

After asking a very kind barista at the Davinci Museum if he could make hot chocolate, he suggested I go to the BEST chocolate store in town.   Well I have the 30 second rule (maybe longer in a foreign language).  I was ignored and 3 other women were served without the owner even looking up!

Well i could find HC somewhere else.  I knew the cafe on the Piazza Repulica served the frothy brew but I was warned it was $14.00.   Prior to tasing I was not sure I wanted to spend the equivalent of a hotel upgrade to a 4 star!!!!

So I stopped in one of the oldest cafes in Firenze, across from the Duomo. 

They were busy but not too busy for the woman collecting your money (you pay FIRST, then order)   to explain that is was the BEST in town, did I want to take my HC at the bar or at a table.  Some things are universal and not difficult it both parties try to communicate.

Fortunately when you pay, your ticket says what you are ordering!  Makes it simple.   So I am standing at the bar and again THREE WOMEN come in.   Yes attractive Italian woman are noticed everywhere and a frumpy tourist is just 'chopped liver'.  But I want to give credit to the barman.  He said I was next and started to prepare the MOST INCREDIBLE CUP OF LIQUID CHOCOLATE I HAVE EVER HAD.     Of course it was topped with 700 calories of whipped cream or panne.

In very poor Italian, as usual, I said 'I am in heaven'.  This got a grin out of the barman.  I continued to drink every drop.......  I hope this is available in Rome, Lecce and Sorrento.......   It shall make the trip so enjoyable.......

Italy Train Tickets: I will be back in a moment...

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While exploring Pistoia last Sunday several events occurred that made me laugh   Previously I posted that I had gotten off in Prato and didn't discover my mistake for an hour!   When I finally arrived Pistoia I decided to purchase my return ticked, just in case the ticket office was closed later in the day.


The sign indicates the clerk will be back soon.

Since there was only one man in line I decided not to try the ticket machine, which can be a challenge.  And both machines had signs on them, that I could not read...  not unusual.... 

As I waited several other customers joined the line.   Some tried to speak with me without success, my fault not theirs. 

The line grows.

The crowd gets impatient.

Trains are scheduled to leave. 

My very favorite part was that another train employee came by twice and continued to tell all of us there was nothing he could do, with the most wonderful shrug that is only found in Italy.

 

Now the line is out of the building and trains will be leaving in moments!    I take out my camera to snap the above shot and tell the woman next to me I write for a travel journal.   They almost cheer, telling me to be sure I tell everyone what is happening.

 

But my favorite comment was the man near the end of the line with his mobile phone out yelling, call the police!   Only here?

Perhaps not.

 

Another surprise was the public bathroom in Pistoia, near the center of town, offers showers.....very interesting.

 

 

The center of town is an easy walk from the train station.   There is an inner ring road that is pedestrian only and it hugs the center square with the Duomo and Baptistery.   An extra treat this day was visit from the Bishop.

 

I thought this was just a sleepy town that was closed on Sunday but around 4 or 4:30 the ENTIRE town came out with strollers and family members to walk and greet the neighbors.  Even when it started to rain they were not deterred.

I must visit again during the OPEN hours.