Posts Tagged ‘gelato’
Oct 7th, 2008
We have returned
We got back last night around 7:30. We are back a work and a bit tired. I’ll start sorting through my pictures this weekend and begin posting them to Flickr before too long. So stay tuned for those.
Also, here is a link to Grom’s website. Truly the best gelato ever.
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Oct 3rd, 2008
Day 14-17 — Rome
Today’s gelato flavors (I’m still going to do this even though Irene said it was bragging, I just view it as an important part of the Italy experience to impart to people back home): for me, Kinder (as in the eggs) and Nutello (it was sort of a candybar day for me); for Irene, Chocolate with chilly pepper and chocolate. We got these flavors at a place around the corner from the Vatican, and they were pretty damn tasty.
And that’s what we did today, The Vatican. We got a bit of a late start because we had to get up so early yesterday, but according to the guide books, it does you no good to get there early as it’s even more crowded first thing in the morning. So we got to St. Peter’s Bassilica around 9, and there was plenty line to get it, but fortunately it moved pretty quickly, 20 minutes tops. We did the Rick Steves’ audio tour of the place (which is enormous, they have markings on the floor to show how the next largest cathedrals would fit inside).
We decided to grab lunch before going to the Vatican museum. Here’s a tip for a cheap lunch most anywhere in Europe: donner kebab. They are large, tasty and filling and I wish someone would open a donner kebab place in our neighborhood.
When we got to the Vatican museum after lunch there was no line at all, which was very nice. Now the last time I was here it was on the free sunday of the month and was incredibly crowded. Plus we only had a limited time until it closed so we made a bee-line through the museum straight for the Sistine Chapel, not stopping at all to take in the museum. This time Irene and I had time to take it a little more slowly.
But honestly, after awhile all those greek and roman statues start to look alike. And whoever curated the modern art collection… The Sistine Chapel doesn’t dissapoint though.
So now I’m in a laundry/internet cafe and Irene is back at the hotel. We are going down to the Trastevere area tonight to poke around and for dinner.
Tomorrow is ancient Rome day, the colluseum, the forum, maybe the pantheon as well.
I can’ beleive we only have two days left. It hardly seems fair. Oh well, time to start planning the next trip, to Spain.
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Sep 30th, 2008
Day 12-13 — Siena
We know the question you’re all asking yourselves-“Is Burnt Siena really like the crayola color?” Ken took lots of pictures, of course, to put an end to the debate. Ken’s pulling at my arm telling me to post today’s gelato flavors. Frankly, I find this daily gelato update to be a little boastful, but–as he is my travel guide–I must make him happy. Today we stopped in at a place between our hotel and Il Campo that hailed the most pleasing coffee flavor by Ken’s standards since (the elusive) Grom, which–thanks for notifying us, Jeff–can also be had in New York. So go. Go to New York. Buy your tickets now. Get Grom. Yes, now, the other flavors were some sort of biscotti mix, which Ken judiciously paired with the coffee flavor, and I had a gelati mix that I dub “the Mounds”, that’s coconut and chocolate. (And I concur with Ken’s assessment on the quality of this particular gelateria.)
With that out of the way, we can also tell of the excellent weather which we’ve had so far. The only time we saw rain was when we were on the train on our way here this morning, when we were well sheltered. Ken has done an excellent job of sheaparding us from one point to another. I highly recommend him as a guide.
My luggage is completely maxed out. I fell for the scarf and hat vendors in Firenze and now my pack is fit to burst. Our feet are properly toughened up from all the walking, and from the stairs we climbed in the Cinque Terre our calves are well-toned. Ken has also gotten over the cold that he contracted immediately after deboarding the plane to Italy. I bet he never mentioned he was contending with a cold. He’s stoic that way.
All righty. Happy thoughts. We’re well and happy.
Cheers,
Irene
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Sep 29th, 2008
Day 10-11 — Cinque Terre
Todays gelato flavors: Bacio and caramella. I’ve decided that I can no longer order cafe as they have all turned out to be sad compared to Grom. We’ve had gelato twice today, and may have it again before we’re through.
We are currently in the Cinque Terre and though this was suppose to be the relaxing part of our trip we’ve actually been very busy today. We started out this morning around 8:30 or so by hiking from Vernazza, where we are staying, to Corniglio, which is the next town down the line. It was a pretty strenuous hike at first but it evened out eventualy.
After a little wandering in Corniglia, we took the train down to Riomaggorie, where we had lunch and our second gelato of the day. We did the hike from there to the next town, Manarola, which is known as “via del amore”. It’s a light, easy, level walk.
We took the train from there back to Vernazza and spent a little time relaxing on the beach.
Tomorrow we head to Siena. And yes, I realize that I’ve completly skipped over Lucca, but I’m running out of Internet time.
Also, as I type this, I’m surrounded by cats. That is all.
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Sep 26th, 2008
Day 7-8 — Florence
Today’s gelato flavors: Sadly, we haven’t had any yet today, but when we do it will be from the place that we went yesterday, which oh my god, was amazing! So let me tell you about this place: it’s called Grom, and both Rick Steves and Let’s Go call the best place in town. It was only after we got there and I had a look at the place that I realized it’s the same place we went in Milan. The place whose cafe flavor has ruined all other, lesser cafe for me. The flavors are intense. This time I paired it with caramello which tasted like eating a spoonful of caramel with each bite. So why haven’t we gone today? Don’t worry, the day is not over. He only question is, “what will I pair the cafe with tonight.”
If it seems like this blog is focusing on gelato to much, well tough, it’s my blog.
Onward and upward (almost literally). We rolled into Florence around noon yesterday. After situating ourselves in our hotel we headed out for a bit of lunch. About a block down the street from our hotel I’d this charming litle square with about 4 or 5 different cafes. We chose one and had a very nice lunch. I must say that so far, Florence has had the best food of our trip.
So yesterday we did the RS audio renaissance (sp?) walk and then climbed the Duomo to Brunelschi’s dome to take in the view of Florence. All 436 steps of it. Really wasn’t that bad (the climb that is, the view was fantastic). Then we went to dinner, which was great.
Today we went to the Uffizi in the morning, and the Accademia in the afternon and the market between. We had an amazing sandwich, a great pasta, and an impressive salad.
We are back in that square now, but this time at the Irish pub ( there’s one in every city on earth, except for in Ireland, ironically). We are heading across the river for dinner in a bit. And tomorrow we head for Lucca.
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