I was looking forward to relaxing today, but asked N&M if I could take them out for lunch today. We went to Trattoria Ada (Viale Mazzini 25/27) near their home, and it is the same place and name as when they took their kids there in strollers – but way more upscale now. Our server even brought out an old menu (in lira) to show them. My primi piatti was poke, raw tuna with a small salad – and as good as Hawaii. Secondi piatti was veal cutlet that was enough to feed a village – huge portion. And then homemade gelato – wow.
Went back to their place and had our usual great conversations about history, Firenze and the world – and we solved all the world’s problems.
Back home to write the blog and prepare for a full day’s adventure tomorrow. InterNations setup a trip to Sabbioneta, about 2½ hours north near Mantua in Lombardy. It is along the banks of the Po River (sabbionetta means ‘sandy’). In 2008, Sabbioneta, together with Mantua, was declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site due to its exceptional nature as a newly founded city built in just over 30 years by the will of Prince Vespasiano I Gonzaga. According to UNESCO, Sabbioneta represents a perfect example of the application of Renaissance theories on how an ideal city should be designed. The only downside is having to meet at 7am tomorrow, and the meeting place about a 30-minute cab ride away.
Went back to their place and had our usual great conversations about history, Firenze and the world – and we solved all the world’s problems.
Back home to write the blog and prepare for a full day’s adventure tomorrow. InterNations setup a trip to Sabbioneta, about 2½ hours north near Mantua in Lombardy. It is along the banks of the Po River (sabbionetta means ‘sandy’). In 2008, Sabbioneta, together with Mantua, was declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site due to its exceptional nature as a newly founded city built in just over 30 years by the will of Prince Vespasiano I Gonzaga. According to UNESCO, Sabbioneta represents a perfect example of the application of Renaissance theories on how an ideal city should be designed. The only downside is having to meet at 7am tomorrow, and the meeting place about a 30-minute cab ride away.