good company

Monday, September 27th
* I found another friend, and we spent a few tranquil hours getting to know one another at the Parco Cascine this afternoon. My friend, a good book, gives me an excuse to lounge on a bench, with the afternoon sun warming my back, and my mind flirting with another world. Any good book is good company, the kind of companionship that gives you permission to buy a piece of chocolate cake at the book store café while reading or browsing stories, or sit on a bench while passersby or groups of runners wonder what it is that so engrosses you, or snuggle in bed early, too early for such a young, cool woman such as myself, but early just the same because I’ve got other plans-my book.

*The book store in Piazza Republica has a few tables and chairs that are almost always occupied, as people even sit, totally engaged in their curiosities, on the step stools used to reach high-perched books-shoe dirt and all. The book store café has great pastries, and I’ve with a bit of courage, I’ve found that with a stack of books in my arms, I can sit in an empty chair at a table occupied by strangers. I spent a few hours at my new discovery this afternoon-a good place to eavesdrop conversation, watch interesting browsers from the periphery of my sight, skim through Italian books, barely deciphering the Italian, but thoroughly enjoying the high-quality images.

* A new salad-reminiscent of my mother’s riso/tonno insalata. I have found a grain called chicchi di grano duro-a grain that is high in protein, decent amount of fiber, and very low in fat. I add some olive oil, splash of balsamic, salt, pepper, cucumber, tuna, peppers, tomato, and put it all on a bit of mixed salad….yum! for my sweet tooth-banana, coconut yogurt, a crushed sweet biscotti.

* Tuesday morning: Mercato at Parco Cascine..the biggest in the city…once a week from 8-1pm. A bit of what I saw: fresh flowers, pots and pans, bread/cheese/olives, fresh fruit and vegetables, bakala (salted cod fish), underwear, blankets, towels, bed-linen, fabrics of all sizes and colors and quality, jeans, shoes, club wear, winter jackets, leather jackets, cashmere sweaters, dolls, kitchen wear, pottery and glass wear, yarn/beads/buttons, handbags, costume jewelry, antique candelabras and chandeliers, lamps and sconces, small rugs, fake flowers, baskets and small drawers, make-up, children’s toys, children’s clothes and shoes. For the self-conscious shopper, this is no place to be…but alas, no one here is at all self-conscious! I tried on several “hot” tops inside vans with sheets strung up, and you’re lucky if there is a mirror! What a place!!!

* So that’s how I look! This evening I spotted a photographer playing the same trick that I play, and looking quite like a fool! I was sitting among several Italian beauties on bench in Piazza Republica. With the hundreds of people milling around the piazza, I seemed to be the only one on the bench that noticed this man bring his Polaroid, very tentatively, to his face to take a picture. His “trick” however, was to pretend to focus on the BACKGROUND (of which there was really nothing that interesting) which happens to be in the same direction of his REAL target: us. After the picture is taken, he looks at the background, as if to make sure it is still there, but in all actuality to cover up his real target, which he sneaks a few quick looks at, so the target doesn’t notice HIM. I’ve been guilty of this same thing, when trying to take photos of people in action, without their self-conscious knowledge of me and my camera. Also this evening, a 15 minute conversation with an older couple from Trieste, out and about for the past week visiting Arezzo, Siena, Firenze….very kind, and impressed with my Italian!

* A craving for meat, Sofia and I went to a resturant where a friend is a cook, and another friend a waiter...so we were given priority treatment! I had a Florentine bistecca (yes, folks, I had a steak) with melanzanne (eggplant) and a huge dish of tiramisu, which Sofia and I scraped to the bottom. After dessert, and almost the entire bottle of red wine in our warm tummies, Massimo, our friend and cook, brought out a dish of lasagna. My god, how incredible food is when you are truly hungry and the food is rich and savory!!! Unfortunatly, the wonderful attention we received brought out the worst in a couple sitting a few tables away who, after waiting for what might have been a long time, finally gave up and threw a fight with the waiter (our friend as well) and the crew swore at eachother, leaving their table with such a scene. Suppressing our giggles earlier, we felt terribly sorry for the couple, but so it goes here when you have men doing tricks for the ladies!!!
* Wednesday night-9:00pm at a middle school near Piazza Dalmazia, in an empty school room, I sang for the director of a Florentine choir, called "Gruppo Polifonico- QUODLIBET". I am now accepted as a mezzo-soprano in this choir, which I heard sing at a concert in San Lorenzo a week ago. They are quiet good, and he holds them to high standards. I watched the 2 hour rehearsal, without singing, and observed his sense of humor, but also his strictness as conductor and director of the choir-talk and he gave the evil eye, not sing with confidence and he will make the group sing it 5 times until it is done with precision. I am quiet excited to be a part of a this group of about 30 men and women, average age 40. They sing all classical music, in a variety of languages, and perform once a month (or so it seems right now-as I am understanding about 70% of what is being said and I observe). They rehearse twice a week, beginning at 9:30, for 2 hours...once in a while, once a week, but always an extra lesson provided for personal, technical training! I wil definitely have to commit if I chose to do this-but I have wanted to sing for so long, and to be a part of a choir will allow me my ticket to enter true culture and community here!

* Stopped by Gabrielle's studio/gallery on Borgho Albizi-he was in the middle of a still life painting, but gave me a welcoming hello. I showed him my sketchbook, and he nodded with some enthusiasm. I told him I wanted to paint, he handed me his brush and pointed to the still life. I laughed and said no!!!! I went on my way after a few minutes of chatting, he handed me a ripe and colorful pommegranite. Chewing gum happily, his apron on, hat tilted to one side, he seemed in great spirits...an artist doing his art that is.

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