As the days go by...

We are getting down to our last few days here in Florence. For those of you who are wondering, I have been checking things off my "Florence-to-do List".
-Climbed the Duomo at sunset with my cousins and friends..it was awesome
-Eaten at Gusta Pizza TWICE. Best pizza in Florence. Probably the best pizza of my life.
-Saw the David...twice.
-Eaten a full course meal 2 nights in a row. Thought I was going to explode but it was totally worth it.
-Tried Bistecca alla Fiorentina at a restaraunt called Il Latini. The whole meal was an experience to say the least and the steak that came out was 2 pounds (don't worry..we shared)
-Tried gelato at La Carabe with Ray! They didn't have Cassata Siciliana but their almond gelato was the best I have ever had.
-Found a NEW secret bakery on the other side of the city. Went 2 nights in a row.
-I have been to numerous wonderful restaraunts in Florence! So far, Francescano is a hands down favorite.

Yet there is one thing that Florence was not able to offer: Thanksgiving. This we took into our own hands, cooking up all our favorite family recipes for a giant thanksgiving feast. Friends (and even family!) came to celebrate this very special meal. Although it had been difficult to find some specific ingredients in Florence, we made it happen. We found an 8 lb turkey at the market, stuffed it, and managed to fit it in our tiny little oven where it cooked all day. We made all the goodies: mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, broccoli casserole, green bean casserole, corn bread, apple pie, pumpkin torte... I insisted on making sweet tea as thanksgiving at my house never goes with out it. The only Italian thing we allowed in was the wine. It was to say the least a good ole' American Thanksgiving.

And now, Christmas is just around the corner. While you wouldn't know it was Thanksgiving if you walked the streets of Florence on thanksgiving day, you definitely can tell that Christmas is in the air here in Italy. Lights have been strung throughout the city and shops have been putting their best christmas things in the windows. There is a giant christmas festival in the Piazza Santa Croce, filled with German made goods, beer tents, and sausage & pretzel stands. More and more italian people from the outskirts of Florence are coming into the city to do their shopping. Yes, Christmas is almost here...

Although excited to go home to see friends and family, it is difficult to immagine waking up and not hearing the sounds of the cathedral bells ringing. It is difficult to immagine not saying "grazie" and "buona sera" everytime you walk into a store. It is difficult to immagine having to get into a car to go anywhere and not being able to walk the streets full of life, full of history. I pass the same shops everyday, the same poor gypsies, the same churches, the same bars, the same graffiti. Here, I am able to walk 10 minutes in one direction and see the most beautiful bridges over water and walk another 10 minutes in the other direction and see one of the most beautiful cathedrals built by man. I can go into the Uffizi or Accademia almost anytime I want and visit and re-visit the same paintings, getting a different reaction everytime, noticing something new everytime. I can walk two blocks and order a cappucino and it will somehow still always be better than any coffee I order in the united states. I can go to the market and have no trouble finding taleggio cheese, proscuitto, or a Chianti classico. It has been a most wonderful way of living and I hope that I can bring bits and pieces home with me. I do not know if I can make you understand what it is exactly that I love so much about Italy, but I hope that I can at the very least give you glimpse.