Blogs from Tuscany, Italy, Europe - page 5

OLD HABITS I almost always visit Empoli when I need to go to Florence from Pisa by train. I take the same regional train routes (Florence to Pisa) and (Pisa to Florence) Mainly, I visit my bank in Empoli called Banca Cambiano which ever since the first lockdown happened, has had a disordered queue of customers outside. The conversation always remains lively outside the bank as every new person who joins the queue has to ask ' who is the last one' or ' chi e l'ultimo?' because it is never obvious as to where the queue ends, and sometimes where it begins. Queues in a straight line, anywhere in Italy seem to be very rare, based on my experience. This always brings a new person into the conversation, which usually begins in the same way ... read more

OLD TUSCANY HABITS I visited Giardino Scotto where I could work on a table in the shade. This time students from the Pisan theater were rehearsing dance routines and in a week or so the same outdoor venue will become an outdoor cinema in the evening. I always visit Eurospin which is a low cost supermarket chain but I find the quality of the food is much higher than such supermarkets such as the coop, for example. I nearly always eat a Pizza Margherita at Moise pizza place when I come back to Pisa. It still remains my favourite pizza so much so that even my friend Francesco didnt get me to eat it with Bufala cheese. I'll only eat the original Margherita! ... read more

I also ate a Lampredotto burger and drank red wine at Mercato Centrale in Florence. Lampredotto is made from the fourth and final stomach of a cow, the abomasum. ... read more

These are all things I call home. I have to call somewhere home now that I've fully accepted that I no longer have contact with my family. Ristorante Galileo with its 5 courses of food included in the day menu represents my Grandma as I used to enjoy her food. The rock I found replaces my friends Kat and Jess back in Leeds until I can get back there to visit them, as they've been in my life for almost all of my existence. Giardino Scotto with its lush green lawns represents my mum's garden whilst I can no longer enjoy the garden in the family home. It helps me to come to terms with the future when I think like this. I have to love these places as it gives me security. These natural places ... read more

I believe very strongly that good weather plays a major role in achieving good health, and as the winter roars on here in Italy, and the nights get shorter and the days get longer I feel healthier and healthier. The pandemic is still a concern for me but as I enjoy the nice climate accompanied by high quality food, somehow it forces the pandemic far back into the background of my mind and thrusts the many opportunities of outdoor life (such as cycling, outdoor gyms, photography, looking out to sea) into sharp focus. Like this, the pandemic then becomes one of the many things to be aware of, whilst I fit in preventative measures against it, around my outdoor life and exercise, as opposed to seeing the pandemic as an out of control evil which imprisons ... read more