Sunday Sandwiches: Bagels on the Square

For this weekend's Sunday sandwiches I went with Chloe and her cousin, Ellen, to bagels on the square. I got my favorite bagel sandwich combination which I stole from Francesca - egg whites, cheese and avocado on a whole wheat everything. I was starting to feel sick so I got an aloe drink. I heard about them from someone and forgot that they told me it has pieces of aloe! Have you guys tried this? It's weird, but refreshing. We ate in the park between 6th and Bleeker since it was so nice out. Currently in my last week of midterms and I can't wait until I'm done! Wish me luck.

Sunday Sandwiches: Amy's Bread

Chloe and I went to Amy's Bread yesterday for our weekly Sunday sandwiches. It is located on Bleeker in the area known as sandwich alley. The sandwiches are premade, but they are fresh. There are display cases filled with sweets and fresh baked bread. I got a sandwich with brie, apples and watercress. It was the first nice day in a while so I got an ice coffee and we sat outside in a little park between Bleeker and Sixth Ave.

Sunday Funday

Sundays in Florence are my favorite. Everyone is out milling about and wandering the streets. I've been in Florence for two Sundays in a row and have already developed a routine. Chloe and I go to All'antico Vinaio and wait in line anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. It's completely worth it though.  The deli is on one side of the street and the bakery where they get their bread is on the other! Occasionally you'll see a man carrying a stack of steaming hot loaves from one side to the other. This past time I told the man behind the counter to make me whatever he wanted. I'm not exactly sure what I got, but I think it was homemade sausage, truffled cheese (does that exist?) and some type of other spread. It was amazing! Places like All'antico don't have menus where you can chose from premade sandwiches, they don't even have a menu telling you what there is. You just point to things and occasionally ask what something is.

After that we made our way over to H&M. I didn't buy anything, but I didn't try on the amazing coat pictured above. I know it's just a comforter, but since I spend the majority of time in my bed I feel like I need this. Obviously, for one million reasons (one of them may or may not be that it's 250 euro...) I did not and will not ever get it. A girl can dream. Realistically if I did ever own something like this I wouldn't be able to sit anywhere without falling asleep which would be awkward for all parties involved. Then Chloe and I go food shopping, followed by homework and laying in bed.

The picture of the vat of cheese was from dinner on Saturday night with David. We made our way over to the other side of the river and spent a solid hour and a half wandering around looking for this fondue restaurant. We eventually found it, but it didn't open for another thirty minutes so we spent our time walking up and down the banks of the Arno. When we got there we realized how expensive it was, but we had made such a big deal about it we couldn't not go! We got cheese fondue with fresh and toasted bread, apples, pears and potatoes. It was so much fun to eat! David is really terrible at judging how much food he can fit in his mouth and it resulted in us cracking up the entire meal, we were definitely NOT fancy enough for the atmosphere. After eating an entire vat of cheese we got gelato and walked back across the river.

Lazy Sunday//The David

I had such a relaxing Sunday! It was exactly what I needed after my hectic field trip. I got up around noon (much needed sleep!) and went up the block to see the David. It seems incredible that I've been here for six weeks and haven't seen it, but there are lots of Davids in Florence and it didn't seem imminent. I'd seen the David before, but I forgot how COLOSSAL it is! I guess I'm used to seeing the replica of the David in it's original context, outside of the Palazzo Vecchio. Probably because it's outside it doesn't look as gigantic. I also got to see the original statue of Rape of a Sabine, a disturbing topic but an absolute feat of artistic genius. Three figures carved out of one block of marble is something that many artists, including Michelangelo, tried to do and were never successful at. Since no pictures are allowed I've included the pink David in the courtyard of the Academia and the David replica in Piazza della Signoria. Afterwards I wandered around, window-shopping and strolling through the markets. The only thing I bought was a miniature David for my curio cabinet. When I got home I started watching Downton Abbey. I've always heard good things and I'm hooked! I cooked dinner with friends and then spent the night wandering around Florence people watching, taking pictures in photo booths and seeing the sights without tourists everywhere. It was nice to take some time to just relax and breathe. This week is midterm week and I have three of them, two on Wednesday and one on Thursday (my other is next week). I'll try to post again soon, but no promises! Wish me luck!