A Winelover's Wanderings

Saturday 5-13-06

We took the train from Roma Termini to Florence. We had stopped a couple of days before to see if we could figure out the ticket machines. A kind Italian lady helped us with it, but it was pretty easy to do.

Our hotel in Rome was only a couple of blocks from the train station, so we wheeled our luggage over and got it on the train pretty easily. We had booked seats in first class because I did not want to take any chance of not having a comfortable seat. Very nice ride, with newspaper offered and a hot or cold drink. Less than two hours later and we were there.

We decided we had too much stuff (yes, already) to try to walk from the train station, so we caught a cab to Residenza Il Carmine. The cab driver was not sure that he could get us right to the door, but he did. We were greeted by Miriam and shown to our little apartment, Oro.

It was very nice and cozy and was right on the garden. We spent several evenings having a glass of wine there, and Bill made friends with the Myna Bird who was always outside chatting. What a pair those two were.

We had planned a bunch of activities in Florence, but several did not pan out, so we followed the Slow Travel motto and enjoyed the areas around us.

We had gotten a restaurant recommendation from our apartment hosts just down and around the corner from our little home - it was called Osteria dell Ardiglione, and it became my favorite restaurant up to that point.

We had a wonderful wine - 2004 Augustin Pieri Rosso di Montalcino for 22E. I had proscuitto and melon, Bill had a huge mixed salad for apertivi. Then I had pasta with gorgonzola sauce and huge red endive leaves, and Bill had pasta with rabbit sauce and a huge side dish of sauteed spinach. Biscotti and vin santo for dessert. It was heavenly - total price 68E.