Florence is a bustling city of commerce that requires only a left turn into an alleyway to discover the inner Florence of daily life. Florence is in the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscany and has a population of approximately 364,779. The city lies on the Arno River and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. The city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and the art and culture is stunning. Love this city!! [View Full Entry]

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Here are a few greatest hits from my time with Tom. [View Full Entry]

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We took a one day bus trip into the Province of Umbria. The highlight was the mountain top town of Civita. The pictures tell part of the story... [View Full Entry]

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We had an opportunity to prepare an traditional Italian dinner with Sabrina who is an instructor and advisor in the Italian department at UW. Sabrina was raised in the countryside of Italy and was taught by her aunt to cook. We made gnocchi with three different sauces - traditional red sauce, pesto and gorgonzola. Oh yes and a salad made from all fresh Italian lettuce, herbs, tomatoes and fresh Parmesan. We had to go the store with Sabrina and buy everything which was equally fun. Now a bit that I learned about gnocchi. The word gnocchi means "lump" or "knot" and [View Full Entry]

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