A Peacock with It's Feathers Out

Victoria came to Firenze for a couple of days and I felt a bit like a proud mamma showing her around my city and finally being able to share my life with her.  She and three or her friends arrived on Thursday night and we didn't waste any time getting out into the city.  I decided to be a tourist for the weekend and do many things that I had been waiting to do until people came visit me, the first of these being Michelangelo's David.  I took the four of them to Il Museo Di Belli Arti and let me tell you, there is no way to miss David!  Victoria and I estimated that we think he is probably about 16 feet tall.

Another day we went to the very, very, tipity-top of The Duomo.  We were all a little flabbergasted by the price but the view was beautiful and well worth it!  There is no way I can live in Florence for an entire year and not climb to the top and there is no one else I'd have rather gone with..."Aaawww."

FOOD!  Another thing that I haven't really been indulging in here that I definitely indulged in this weekend!  Our first night we went to a restaurant I'd been to once before called Acasa Mia, where I ordered ravioli in pumpkin cream sauce (MMmmm!) and Victoria ordered a very tasty risotto...and of course we can't forget the red wine we shared between the five of us!
 The next night Victoria, Sharla and I went out again and shared three dishes between us...Rhibolita (A thick, Florentine vegetable soup) , ravioli in a cheese and pear cream sauce, and spaghetti with a spicy ragu sauce.

Tirimisu literally translates to "pick me up."

For lunch we went to a wonderful Enotecha and Sandwich shop two days in a row.  I came here within my first week in Florence but hadn't been back to since.  It was such a good feeling to revisit somewhere that I come knowing absolutely no Italian and then return months later, ordering everything in Italian with no stress.  I also loved being able to cook for Victoria a couple nights...not to mention the Tiramisu we made together with Ilaria's help and her grandma's recipe!  I suppose I shouldn't list every item of food that we ate over the weekend, but I just thought I'd name a few. (Oh!  Can't forget the gelato and cioccolato caldo and the french toast we made and, and, and...)

I also got a fair share of practice with my tour guide skills and I must say, I was surprised with how well I have gotten to know Florence.  It is something you don't think about until showing it and talking about it.  This was also a great way to get a refreshed outlook on this beautiful city I see day after day.  Being with people new to the city reminded me, through their awe, how blessed I am to live here and how much I need to remember to appreciate it every day.

Victoria and I spent Sunday afternoon in Fiesole and were able to have the quality time that I have missed so much over the past couple of months!  Yes, we were together over Christmas, but we both felt like we were in a bit of a funk and didn't really get back into the groove of "being" together until the last couple days I was there.  In fact, we just had great quality time the WHOLE time we were alone together from Saturday night to Monday afternoon!  It was short, but as Valentina told me, "Meglio di niente." Better than nothing.

Psalm 51.  A verse Victoria and I were able to ponder on our morning out at the American, Mama's Bakery, before she left on Monday.  I love reading this verse and listening to Jon Foreman's "White as Snow."  Youtube the song and sit down with your Bible and a cup of coffee tomorrow morning!