Tulips Cont'd

Table-side service

Once when I, Luke, was a child we ventured to Washington, D.C. on a family vacation. I'm not sure who ordered it (it certainly wasn't me), but I learned at that time that there are places in the world, even in America where the head is served attached to the rest of the body.
Since then, I've lived in places where they not only serve the head with the fish, they eat it too--eyes and everything in between.
In Florence, we found a happy medium. My mother (allegedly the same one who ordered fish in D.C.) ordered the fish, but having learned her lesson, asked for it without the head.
Smooth move, Betsy, but we gotcha covered. The waiter insisted that the fish must be served whole so we could see it was fresh, apparently. After much hesitation, she finally agreed and it was a nice little side show. Tasted good too!

Don't eat this!

Just to let you know, if you ever feel the need to have pizza in Italy, name your house Italy and order in Double Dave's (or Papa John's or Johnny's Pizza).
Or if you are in Italy, check sources first. In any case, beware of pizza that's as oily as the Exxon Valdez.
(I was assured by a friend in Naples that they have the real deal there, so if you go, feel free to try one there...)

Gelato

Gelato has become somewhat well-known in the States recently, and not without reason. Even Stazy had the taste for it :)

Florence

Ahhh...Florence! Forget about having a holiday in Rome and doing what the Romans do, etc. Florence is it! We saw Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Primavera and also The Birth of Venus.
The food was authentic and as good as advertised. Life flowed as slowly as the Arno through the heart of the city. And finally, our bed and breakfast room, while ironically lacking breakfast was large and adequate for all four of us.
The top picture here is of the wait staff at the restaurant we went to. We enjoyed the food more than any other that we ate in Italy, but they enjoyed Stazy even more.
If you ever do happen to go to Florence, go to Ritorante La Grotta Guelfa and get the Florentine steak. You won't be sorry!

Tulips & Spring

We love springtime here! The weather finally warms up and the tulips push their lazy heads through the softening earth to show off their finery.
A local park specializes in all kinds of tulips and even arranges them to resemble other shapes. It's a great time to be here!