My Home Away from Home!!

Oh Florence! The love of my life. Oh how I have missed you! 

Stepping of the train into the Santa Maria Novella train station it all came rushing back to me. I remember that excitement and fear when I stepped off the train for the first time back in 1997. I had no idea what I was in store for. Little did I know that the next few months would change my life completely and make me who I am today. I couldn't help but feel that same excitement, with no fear at all this time, when I touched the platform.

Meredith and I's first stop to take it all in was Piazza della Signoria to have lunch and just absorb all the feelings we were having. I had tears in my eyes just walking there. It felt so familiar and I didn't hesitate on where to go.

After lunch it was over to the Ponte Vecchio

I just couldn't get over at the fact that I was back.

We were invited up to the villa for lunch with Robbie and Mona. They also invited Renata and Anna, our two amazing cooks that were there when I was in school. Renata was saying that she remembered me and that I haven't changed a bit and she began to cry which in turn made me start crying. They of course looked the same to me as well. Wish I had a photo of that moment but I filmed it instead and then my Flip broke so there you have it. 

Lunch was just how I remembered, delicious. I even got to ring the bell. It was odd sitting at the adult table. I wanted to take my assigned seat from the past but I would have been alone at the table. Oh well. 

Entrance to the Villa

Villa grounds. How many memories can you remember from this place??

Maccino, my villa kitty, is still there. I used to let this cat in every night and let it sleep with me in bed. Little did I know that it would get up during the night and pee on everyone else's beds. So sorry guys!!

Also in Italy now is my dear friend and college suite mate Christy Turk Smith. She and Keith and the kids moved there this year to just check off their "to-do" list. It was so great to see her and catch up.

Heather hooked us up with an amazing place to stay in Scandicci while we were there. It was a 15th century villa and was simply gorgeous. Here are a few shots.

Villa entrance

view from villa in the front

back view

Tons and Tons of Olive Groves

Robbie and Mona invited us over for dinner while we were there. Sitting around a table felt just like home. I consider them my far away parents and I know that they will always home a special place in my heart. After all, Robbie is the reason I stayed in Florence when after the first few weeks of HUF I was trying to leave to go home. He sat me down and had a long heart to heart with me. Months later I am the LAST one to leave the villa and I go kicking and screaming because I didn't want to go back to the US. 

More shots of the city

Heather and I were in the city and got stuck in the rain. It didn't even phase us. We decided to get gelatto and take the hike up to Piazzale Michaelangelo. While on our walk the church bells started ringing and she stopped me and said, "Jamie, lets take this in. We are in the rain, with gelato, with this amazing view and Italian church bells ringing in Florence." so we stood there and just had a moment. 

We also had to stop by and say hi to Cafe Mario, the first place that I ever spoke Italian and had a Cappuccino. Mario is still there and said that he remembered me, which I know is a lie. 

In 97 i would hear the guys say when they walked in, "Ciao, Bob Mario". What they were really saying was "Ciao Bar Mario". When I asked them why they were saying "Bob Mario" they told me that his real name was Roberto and they were calling him Bob for short. For the rest of the year I called him Bob Mario. I later was told the truth. So, when we got there and was talking to Mario I told him that story. He laughed so hard and said he remembered that but wasn't sure what I was saying. So for the rest of this trip I would stop in each day and say "Ciao Bob!!" He loved it!

Mario (aka Bob) and Fabio

One of our last nights in the city it happen to be Italy's Independence Day. Everyone was out on the streets celebrating. We joined in on the fun. 

The Blondies and Ivo at the Ponte Vecchio

The Gang in front of Santa Croce

My Italian brother Jonathan

Limoncello

Florence did not disappoint and I now know that I have to go back at least once a year. At least. 

On the way back to Rome we stopped for lunch in Montepulciano. We had VIP treatment and got to take a tour of the wine cellar and had a full spread of food laid out for us when we got there. I didn't want to leave.

So as you can see this was a much needed trip. I was on the verge of giving up on my NYC life after this Winter. I needed a break and Italy was just the right medicine. Meredith, Heather and I decided to make this an annual thing so whoever else wants to get on board with us and head out next March let us know.