for fun: Do/Would you still put on all your makeup and decent clothes if you are quarantined

[slidergirl]

I drove all day today just to get a/c.  Nove closes up at 1:30 and I got there at 2.  Oh well, other places up my sleeve for ceramics.  Got my usual caprese sandwich at a stop at my fav place on the highway, Autogrill.  When I got back to Bologna I went on a hunt for the Mo! Mortadella Lab for dinner.  A hole in the wall on a side street, worth the hunt.  Got the #11 - mortadella with cheese and eggplant.  Sooo good!  
I head down to Florence tomorrow.  Yee Haw!

here’s some junk food porn.  And Moose says hi.  I think he’s addicted to those Aperol Spritzes😉

[cruisemom42]

@slidergirl  Looks like you and Moose are doing your best despite the heat. I am so wanting some mortadella right now, that looks amazing. Sorry you didn't get your pottery fix -- maybe later?

[purduemom1]

Sorry about the ceramics shopping-that’s disappointing. The Autogrill looks interesting and that sandwich yummy! Prices seem very reasonable especially now that the Euro and the dollar are almost on par. Hope Moose got a taste😉

[awhfy]

Fabulous looking sandwich, glad Moose isn’t thirsty 

[slidergirl]

I have a spot in Florence where I have bought before.  They will personalize pieces.  Also there is Montelupo, a little train ride from Florence.  Been to a few places there a few years ago and bought a few pieces.  
Moose had a few sips of that spritz.

Hitting up Mo! Mortadella Lab was actually my big food place to find.  A girlfriend and her chef husband told me to try it.  
I think I will wander tonight and see what eats call to me.  
Moose guarded the luggage everyone stored by my seat on the train. No theft attempts made 😉

[cruisemom42]

Thanks for the continuing updates -- do things seem crowded overall?  (I'm especially curious re: your experience in Firenze....). I keep seeing pics on social media that look crazy with regard to crowds.

[slidergirl]

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

Thanks for the continuing updates -- do things seem crowded overall?  (I'm especially curious re: your experience in Firenze....). I keep seeing pics on social media that look crazy with regard to crowds.

I’ll let you know more after my walk about tomorrow.  To me, the station didn’t seem overly crowded.  
I’m staying at the Market Urban hotel.  Near mercato centrale and the station.  A cute little place.  My single room is bigger than the barge cabin was and it has a double bed.  Love the digital thermostat!  Same one was at the Aemelia in Bologna.  I’m starting to warm up to not having to stay at my usual chain places.  Makes traveling a little more affordable.

90 degrees at 8:30pm.  I may venture out.  With my walking and the heat, I better lose some weight!!!

[slidergirl]

Now that I’ve been out, it does seem not as crowded.  The San Lorenzo market didn’t seem bad.  Mercato Centrale wasn’t bad.  I’ll head further into the Centro tonight and see how it is.  I’m taking the midday in my room - it’s getting hard to be walking around in a city in 99+ heat.  It just bakes you.  I swear I have not sweat this much ever!  
some food porn from the Mercato: the Tagliatelle del Tartufaio was my lunch, along with an Aperol Spritz.  Truffle oil was drizzled on top of the salad.  Yumskers.

[cjcruiser27]

4 hours ago, slidergirl said:

Now that I’ve been out, it does seem not as crowded.  The San Lorenzo market didn’t seem bad.  Mercato Centrale wasn’t bad.  I’ll head further into the Centro tonight and see how it is.  I’m taking the midday in my room - it’s getting hard to be walking around in a city in 99+ heat.  It just bakes you.  I swear I have not sweat this much ever!  
some food porn from the Mercato: the Tagliatelle del Tartufaio was my lunch, along with an Aperol Spritz.  Truffle oil was drizzled on top of the salad.  Yumskers.

Love reading your posts about your exciting adventure!  Thanks for sharing😀👍 I love Italy and so far 2 of my trips have been canceled for this year😟 I hope to make it there by Fall.  Have a great time! Stay safe.

[purduemom1]

OMG, Kat, loved the food porn pics. It’s almost dinner time here so may have to move that up a bit after looking at your pictures. Sorry about the heat, so much to see and the heat certainly makes it difficult.

Sharon

[slidergirl]

Mother Nature decided to throw some humidity with the high temps today.  I still slugged out 4 miles of walking around.  Drank a big bottle of water, a small bottle of water, an orange granita and a caffe latte.  Got back to the hotel and drank another half of a large bottle of water.  
It was a successful shopping day.  Found my ceramics place and picked out a chicken pitcher and a nice bowl for the wedding present and some more bottle stoppers.  
Crowds:  it was a bit busy around the centro.  The line for the Accademia wrapped around 3 sides of the building.  The Uffizi was not much different.  Wall to wall on Ponte Vecchio.  Since I haven’t been here in summer I can’t say if it’s more crowded.  I put some pics of crowd for you.

Tonight is dinner at Osteria Della Cinghale Bianco.  No lunch today but I did stop at my favorite gelateria on the way back.  Still as good as I remember.  Got a 2scoop - fior de latte and kefir/passion fruit.  OOTD: the Faherty dress and my hi tops.  The hi tops are great for walking on the uneven surfaces here.  And the dress doesn’t show the sweat too much.  Glad I listened to you all and brought dresses!

 

crowd photos, random photos and a shot of the ceramics I bought.

[Riverroad]

The crowds are unbelievable! Love the ceramics you chose. I have a similar pitcher. We’ve eaten at that restaurant. Liked it so much we went twice on our last trip to Florence. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

[awhfy]

Kat, I hope they’re shipping your beautiful ceramics!!

[57redbird]

If anybody cares, the Medium Lands End dress fits much better but it's still too long....I guess I'll have to pack my wedge sandals after all.

[slidergirl]

1 hour ago, awhfy said:

Kat, I hope they’re shipping your beautiful ceramics!!

Yes, they are shipping.  It’s a well-known and reliable store.  I picked up some bottle stoppers that were on my “must buy” list.

Ok.  Let’s get to the food porn.  Dinner tonight at Osteria Del Cinghale.  It was as good as I hoped.  Started with the ribollita.  Good and thick.  Better than what I make at home.  I think I can adjust mine to be thicker.  Then I stayed away from the pasta, tempting as it was, I got the wild boar with polenta.  Big chunks of boar in a nicely spiced sauce with creamy polenta.  The boar was very tasty, not like any other meat.  They had Brunello by the glass so I had to get it.  Smooooth.  I was out of there for $47 - I was expecting to pay more.  
Good thing I decided to walk back to the hotel and burn off a few calories - it was still 81 at 11:30.

[cruisemom42]

@slidergirl that looks absolutely divine. I love cinghiale, though I probably would have chosen the version with papardelle (under the primi) .... well, except that I love ribollita too.  

 

You are really delivering the food porn, thank you!!  It hadn't occurred to me since I'm usually there in cooler months, but the heat must make it a bit less easy to eat the big meals. You're taking one for the team. 😅

 

[purduemom1]

2 hours ago, 57redbird said:

If anybody cares, the Medium Lands End dress fits much better but it's still too long....I guess I'll have to pack my wedge sandals after all.

Is is possible to shorten it a bit? I don’t recall if it has a straight or hi-lo hem. Almost everything I buy needs to be shortened even when I buy a Petite size. I recently bought 2 tops at Costco that did not need to be shortened. I was amazed. I noticed that some of the reviews mentioned that the tops weren’t long enough but they were just right for me!

[purduemom1]

I agree with Cynthia on the food porn pics. Fun to peruse the menus and imagine what I’d choose. 
 

Beautiful ceramic choices. What a great wedding gift for your niece. 
 

Hoping the weather is more favorable going forward. When is your concert?

[57redbird]

56 minutes ago, purduemom1 said:

Is is possible to shorten it a bit? I don’t recall if it has a straight or hi-lo hem. Almost everything I buy needs to be shortened even when I buy a Petite size. I recently bought 2 tops at Costco that did not need to be shortened. I was amazed. I noticed that some of the reviews mentioned that the tops weren’t long enough but they were just right for me!

It's a straight hem but I'll just bring the wedge sandals - I can wear those with pants, too.

[slidergirl]

12 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

@slidergirl that looks absolutely divine. I love cinghiale, though I probably would have chosen the version with papardelle (under the primi) .... well, except that I love ribollita too.  

 

You are really delivering the food porn, thank you!!  It hadn't occurred to me since I'm usually there in cooler months, but the heat must make it a bit less easy to eat the big meals. You're taking one for the team. 😅

 

I’m trying really hard to stay away from the pasta.  The couple next to me had the papardrelle - it looked good and the couple was making ‘mmmm’ sounds.  
 

I’m eating a lot less after getting off the barge, a cornetto for breakfast and either lunch or dinner with a gelato snack.  

[slidergirl]

12 hours ago, purduemom1 said:

I agree with Cynthia on the food porn pics. Fun to peruse the menus and imagine what I’d choose. 
 

Beautiful ceramic choices. What a great wedding gift for your niece. 
 

Hoping the weather is more favorable going forward. When is your concert?

The concert is tomorrow evening.  Weather app shows sunny and up to 98.  It should be low 90s around start.  OOTD will be my Woolx LBD and white sneakers.  Accessories will be my hat, a belt and a cool silver/gold carabiner necklace with matching earrings.  
I forgot to post the T-shirt I bought in the San Lorenzo Market.  It called to me.  It knew my love for all things porcine.  It will stuff somewhere.

[purduemom1]

Your concert outfit sounds perfect. Have an amazing time. Will look forward to all the details. He’s one of my favorites.

[cruisemom42]

I'm leaving tomorrow for a short business trip -- another one next week too, yikes....  I may not be checking in much for the next little while.

 

You'd better believe I am not planning on checking a bag. 😉

 

 

[purduemom1]

55 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

I'm leaving tomorrow for a short business trip -- another one next week too, yikes....  I may not be checking in much for the next little while.

 

You'd better believe I am not planning on checking a bag. 😉

 

 

Safe travels and I hope you have an opportunity to enjoy some time off. Airports are really busy so good idea to only carry on.

[awhfy]

We bought a pack of 4 apple AirTags. Did a test by putting one in a bag & took it to our daughters (7 miles away). My find my phone app showed where it was within a few feet. At least when the bag is lost I can tell them where it is!!