7. Hot date

Saturday April 19th, 2008

Yesterday I had a hot date. With the city I’m in love with.

I woke up and it was sunny! And absolutely beautiful outside! So, I put on my workout clothes and off I go to run along the river, to Piazza Michelangelo. I’m jogging and so excited. Its my first time jogging in Florence and the weather is absolutely freaking awesome! It couldn’t be any more perfect, the sun glistening off the river, the lush green hills and the red roof tops of all the buildings and homes of Florence. After about an hour, I run to the supermarket and buy eggs, salami and a roll of bread. I prepare and eat my breakfast of scrambled eggs, salami and toasted pane. And then I get ready for my date.

I leave my apartment with my Conversational Italian book and off I go. I walk over Pointe Vecchio and first stop by Mr. Uomo’s store to say good morning and chit chat with Bobby, his cousin. I let them know that I have a date, and they both look at me like, with who? Mr. Uomo? No, with the city I’m in love with and they both smile and tell me to have a good time. I then proceed to walk over to Museo Academia, where ’David’ is housed. There’s a line, no problem, I have all the time in the world. There’s a petite Asian girl standing in front of me and I ask her a question and I learn that Thao is from Toronto and that she and her husband are on their honeymoon. Her husband Jean Paulo comes back from asking if the line we were standing in was the correct line for admission. And yes, it was the correct line. So we’re standing in line for about 20 minutes and I tell them all the hot spots for sweets. I have a bit of a sweet tooth, so I know of the best places for gelato, hot chocolate, zuccato (omg, this is my new favorite dessert, it’s a piece of bread, with ice cream in the middle, with drizzled chocolate and liquor on top, yum) We get inside and I tell them to have a great time because I don’t want to be rude to my date and then I’m in the first room of paintings. I make my round and go into the 2nd room, which at the end of the hallway, I see ’David’. But not yet, I will slowly make my way to him and appreciate all of his glory soon enough. But first there are more marble statues to see. At this point, I’m eating all the arches and curves of the statues with my eyes. And I’m not full, I cant get enough. And then, I’m standing in front of him ‘David’ And he is a sight to behold. He is immaculate. He’s huge, he’s beautiful, he’s perfect. From the veins in his hands to his eyes, his eyes, there’s so much expression in his eyes. I stood there for about 20 minutes looking at his eyes. And I tried so hard to figure out what they were trying to say. I wasn’t about to leave until I knew, for myself, what his eyes were saying. And then I got it. Simply put and from my interpretation, “I can’t believe I did it, but I did.” I sat and observed ‘David’ for about 40 minutes and I slowly make my way to the exit. It is now around 330pm and I decide to have lunch at Trattoria Mario’s.

This is the latest I’ve ever eaten at Mario’s and it’s a good thing, since there was no line. So I go in and sit down and I meet Mateo and a nice couple. The nice couple knows that I’m American so the man decides to joke with me in Italian and I get some of what he was trying to say, but in the end, they know a little English, so we were conversating nicely. Behind our table was a larger table filled with about 8 people and Mateo knows this group. Mateo has been eating at Mario’s for the last 20 years, and the large group of people have also been eating at Mario’s for about 15 years. The restaurant is family owned and customers that are loyal that long are also considered family, so yeah, it’s a definitely a family restaurant. Talk about where everyone knows your name. Anyways, Antonio and Salvatore from the large group are screaming at Mateo to ask me what my name is, where I’m from, what’s my story. So sweet Mateo is asking me some questions and then turns around and gives Antonio and Salvatore my life story. Great. I’m busting out my Conversational Italian handbook, trying my hardest to concentrate, but its hard. I have great people at my table, but the table behind me keeps staring, so I just want to dig my head in my food and book and leave. Then Salvatore sends over some wine to me. Salute! Here we go. So then Antonio comes over and asks me if I smoke, and I say I do, so we go out to the back and smoke. Salvatore comes out and the whole time I thought they did not speak any English, but Salvatore starts to speak excellent English. I learn that Salvatore owns a restaurant in Westwood, CA and lived in California for 12 years. Well, that explains his English. I don’t know what Antonio does, but I do know that when I came into the restaurant, they were singing happy birthday. And Mateo tells me that they have 30 birthdays a month. So they go out and drink and eat everyday? What a life. So we venture back into the restaurant and okay, its about 445pm now and they’re pouring shots of brandy. So they’re peer pressuring me to drink, but whoever knows me, knows that I can drink and hold my liquor. So I take a shot of brandy with them and then its more shots. I only take one more and then we’re off to have caffe. I hang out with Antonio and Salvatore and a nice French couple for a cup of espresso and then I leave and walk back to Mr. Uomo’s store. I visit him for a little bit and then cruise to Susie’s shop, 4 minutes walking from Mr. Uomo’s. I sit with Susie and chit chat and here comes Claudio, my roommie. We’re hanging out and then it hits 6 and Susie’s like, oh, appretivo time. Her store closes at 730pm, but she locks up and we walk across to the caffe. We have a glass of red vino and Susie tells me that Mr. Uomo told her that I cooked for him the other night. She tells me she’s never had Vietnamese food before. And I go, Oh my god, I’ll totally cook for you to try! At this point in my mind, I tell myself I have to start cooking now so when she does come over for dinner, the food will be at least decent? Claudio jokes that our home will now be a Vietnamese/Italian restaurant. The waitress puts a plate in front of me and Susie tells me its for me. On this plate are 3 little pieces of bread with slices of cheese and peels of orange drizzled with honey. I love trying new things and Susie says this is all for me because they have it all the time. The bursts of flavors in my mouth are excellent. I forgot to ask the name of this dish, but its okay, I know where this place is now to come back =) After the glass of wine, Susie and Claudio go back to her shop to close up and I walk over Pointe Vecchio to go home and take a nap. I have a party to go to tonight.

I wake up at 1030pm and think oh my goodness, the party started at 830pm. So I get ready real quick and head out to Cardillac Café. The theme tonight is Mad Hatter and the person with the best hat wins a prize. I go there and meet up with Arash, Angelo, Dario, Kari Leigh, Massemo and the rest of the group. I don’t have a hat on and my excuse is that I just woke up. Its okay, by that time, majority of the people have been drinking and then I meet Michele (Mick-kel-eh). I start talking with him and learn that he lives 2 minutes away from me! And that he needs to improve his English! I’m excited because I have another person to practice Italian with, but Michele lives way closer. So we’re talking and after the party he gives me a ride home on his bicycle. But by now, its pouring rain. And when I mean pouring, its so heavy, that even walking or riding, you couldn’t see in front of you, plus the wind was outrageous. Michele tells me in all the 20 years of living in Florence, he’s never seen anything like this and he looks at me and asks me if I’m frightened? I guess you can say I was, because the last time I ever saw it rain that hard was when I was living in Florida during hurricane season. So we had to stop periodically and wait until the rain subsided just a little so we can get to our next stop. Eventually we make it home and I’m drenched. I walk into my apartment and my dining room, kitchen and bathroom is flooded. I don’t know where the water came from, because I’m on the 2nd floor, but it was like an inch of water. I’m so tired, that I decide to take care of it in the morning.

But overall, my date with Florence was amazing. I became smitten in February and now I’m full blown in love. But I want to take my time with him. I don’t want to rush anything because love takes time. If its rushed, then it was basically just passion or lust in the beginning, but I want my relationship with Florence to last. So slowly but surely, everyday gets better and better.