I was only away from my life in Florence for two weeks. For the first time in the twenty years that I have owned my delicious flat here, I went home to NYC and came right back. My cameo appearance in the Big (frozen) Apple is a tale to tell, but I am saving that for two weeks from today, when I will post a full explanation.
Two weeks ago I gave you the rundown on my not so triumphant--and totally exhausting--return to New York and the debacle in JFK airport. Fortunately, travel over this past weekend was much easier and my arrival back in my sweet second home a delight.
Here is what sleety, snowy New York was like when I left it:
I came back to Florence via Munich, and with a quick hop over the Alps:
Landed in Tuscany:
And arrived to this:
Sunny Italy INDEED!
I give myself no quarter when it comes to jet lag, so I accepted an invitation to go out for a Saturday night treat, a rare outsider's visit to an Italian tradition, an event at a social club. All over Italy, and still until this day in any close-knit community of Italian immigrants world-wide, you will find organizations--with their own real estate--where the members can meet for mutual support and fun. (My grandfather and my father's eldest brother were members of such societies in New Jersey in the Forties and Fifties. A cousin in Australia is a very active member of one right now.)
So, just a few hours after arriving in Florence, I took short walk...
...to a meeting place and then after a quick drive, my friend Nicoletta and I arrived at Circolo Silvano Corti. The evening, priced at 15 euros (!), began with a spectacularly delicious four course meal--an antipasto of twelve different items, followed by three different pastas, and/or many pizza choices, and a white and dark chocolate dessert. Local (Tuscan!) wines and beer included.
The event ended with lively concert by a group of ageing Italian rockers who call their band XXL, pronounced in Italian eeks, eeks, ellay, and signifying the size of their t-shirts these days. Delightful. What a way to re-enter my Vita Fiorentina!
And now, last, my reason for this lazy blog post.
I am on deadline for Vera and Tolliver #4. I must have it ready to submit by May 10. I set myself a daily word count goal and am now about 14,000 words behind schedule.
I am here:
Referring to my research materials if I absolutely must:
Trying to up this total as fast and as well as possible:
Wish me luck.
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