It's art, It's food, It's friends... It's Florence!

Despite transportations problems I finally made my way to Florence on Saturday night and reached everybody at the restaurant. Just the time for a slice of chocolate cake and we were already out on our way:
doing something as simple as walking to the car toward Piazzale Michelangelo offers you one of the most breathtaking views of Florence!

Quick goodbye to friends and a minute later we were on our way to Barbara's house, and this place deserves a random overview:
climbing up the steps at the ground floor, you'll enter straight into the kitchen with its red walls, a lunch counter with cooking books piled up next to an orchids' bouquet and mugs displayed on the wall like memories trophies.
Few steps on the left bring you in the living room, the high ceiling leaves room for a huge library which preserve books of a life, objects witnessing the passage of time and souvenirs as reminders of the crossed frontiers. The half burned candles here and there give a cosy sensation. Everything seems to be arranged randomly, but nothing is out of place (and I mean it in a good way) - You did a good job with this house!

Sunday's sun allowed us to have brunch outside, on Grazia's patio facing beautiful olive trees landscapes, while polishing bread and a variety of cheese along with fabulous pastries and coffee!

Grazia's house is gorgeous too, there's something cosy about it, especially after the redecoration. Lights now do evaluate its beauty (we gotta do something for the cubby though).
Paintings are spread all over the house, like Thumbelina crumbs, to leave trace of the artist who lives here whereas Ari makes sure there are always homeopathic drops to discourage every pain.

After the meeting we got back for one of the moment I cherish the most: aperitif time!
It’ s difficult to explain what makes of this intersocial ritual something so special: probably because it's a "curtain-raiser" for the night ahead, or the fact that you're not tide up to a chair unlike dinner, or it could be the finger food and the drink that you carry around like a relay-race baton…
I don't know what it is, but surely the Tuscany appetizers, orange bellini, and the never missing cheese made the all picture quite good.
All this whilst enjoying pleasant conversation with good friends in front of a popping fire place and pulsing candle light.
Things got even better with the “Ribollita” we had for dinner, which was unparalleled, eaten, of course, in a pottery bowl and dressed with olive oil and thyme.
Being in Tuscany it couldn't miss "Vin santo" and cantuccini to conclude the meal.

We really had a good time:
thanks a lot to Ari and Grazia, Barbara, Katia & Samuel (it's been a pleasure seeing you again, let's keep in touch!), Giorgio and the rest of the group!

Pictures...