Day 2 of my Italian Adventure

Sunday 16^th June 2013.      Florence

I met the group: Chelsea; Colin; Emily; Emma; Fiona; Jonathan; Kathryn; Kieran; Lauren; Marcus; Max and Ryan early Sunday morning we had to leave for Glasgow Airport at 04:30am.  Arrived in Italy at 11:15am.  I was escorted by some lovely Italian men, who I practised my Italian with, in a wheelchair which was very comfy and helpful because I hate holding everyone up.  We’d booked a small coach to take us to FLORENCE, (Firenze).  The coach driver was called Diego. We were in the taxi from 13:00 to 16:40.  I ate at the Grandi Classici (An auto grill off the motorway).  Where I had a breaded veal cutlet burger and doughnuts, Pane al sesame – cotoletta di vitello – salsa tartara and ciambelle.  It sounds so much better in Italian.  After arriving in Florence we transferred from our bus and then we had to take taxis to the Palace of Princess Giorgiana Corsini where we were to perform in the evening.

We arrived shortly after 5:00 pm and we had a rehearsal in her beautiful garden.  We performed around 8:00 pm to an audience of over 150. We performed several pieces as an ensemble and then we sang alongside the palace’s choir.  For my solo I performed “O mio babbino caro” and was told afterwards that my Italian was fabulous  The ambiance was amazing, like something from a film.  We were surrounded by statues; columns; lemon trees and the main pathway was lined with lit wax candles.  I took a load of photographs but my sd card is too small for the adapter I bought. So for the time being I will use my phone but when I’m home I’ll have my lovely pictures at the ready.

I would also like to wish Max a happy 21ist birthday!! It was our first day on tour and his first day as a man 🙂

Day 2,  Relaxing like a true Italian.

Learning “Dolce far niete” (the sweetness of doing nothing). I have been told it is an Italian lesson of life that I must learn to enjoy.  Though I still found time for a little blogging  🙂

For lunch we have had a range of meats, purchased from the local supermarket. (Local is a 15 minute drive or a 90 minute round, walking trip).   Ham, Salami, Cured meats with dry crunchy bread (I prefer my sub/hoagie bread, but hey you have got to live, love and taste this new culture).   We got a large casket of wine for €8 which the drinkers amongst us cheered about.

It’s been a glorious day of sunshine, clear sky and silence from the villa apart from when someone fell graciously off an inflatable lilo, or cannon balled in off the diving board.

We are eating late tonight but at least we are cooking. I’m quite excited as we are having “una festa.” ( a party )   🙂