Firenze Friday

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I just couldn't get over how gorgeous my sister looked in the dresses she tried on today. The second shop was particularly special as the proprietress makes every gown by hand, and her daughters do the bead work. Theirs is the kind of craftsmanship one is hard-pressed to find in the States these days; perhaps that's one reason I like the farmers markets...because people are still selling the fruits of their own labor. Anyway, it has been a while since just Mom, El and I spent a day like this, and it was great. The man from whom we bought the daffodils was a dear as well, 84 years young. He asked why on earth we were taking a photo with him, but I think he was secretly pleased.

20120330-184237.jpgIn the same square, Santo Spirito, I found these pepperoncino and squash too. Beautiful!

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20120330-184513.jpg And just look at this Santa Fe'esque church. Gorgeous.

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Il giorno bello

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Today has been perfect. Mom and I went wedding dress shopping with El, and it was such an absolutely happy time. She looked stunning. Afterwards we bought a beautiful lunch from a local rosticceria (what any prepared foods counter in the States could only aspire to be)- cippoline agrodolce, grilled melanzane, peppers, pomorodi, chicken, AND ortica (poison ivy) and radicchio rosso ravioli. Then we bought prosecco, a bunch of daffodils for the sposa nuova (new bride!), and headed to El's apartment to enjoy it all. It was the best meal I've had so far (out of only a few, admittedly but anyway). Perfect! It's beautiful again today- blue, mid-60s, no humidity. I love Italy and its architecture (minus the scant few buildings gone too rococo or just plain wrong). Look at this old Roman wall, one of the original city boundaries! Ok, to the next dress shop!