Monday, April 21, 2008

Food, Florence, fun

I am picking up a signal from somwhere so I'm back online for the moment. Still at G's apartment. I walked past my place earlier this morning on the way to the market. The windows and shutters were open and I could hear the men sanding or buffing the floors. The kitchen is supposed to go in on Thursday, Friday is a holiday-nothing is going on, so we are looking at the weekend. Fingers crossed.

I think I have been out with friends more the in last seven days, than the last seven months. On avg. dinner time was around 11:00 p.m. I still wake up 5:30/6:00. G. more like 9:00 or 10 if he's not shooting. By the time he's out the door to go to his "bar" for a espresso and the paper, I've written five or more pages.

I had to stay in one night last week because G. 's friend (who he just happened to bump into on the street that afternoon) called at 9:30 p.m. to give him the address for a dinner party. He returned home at 1:00 a.m. (on a "school night"). He said I should have come, the food was excellent and the villa was very nice. See when he received said call I was already in my pajamas. I am living out of a suitcase. I woud even know where to look for something fun to wear to a dinner like that.

I've had some good film meetings and getting alot of work done during the day. At night, mindful of my budget, I say yes to an aperitvo but then around 9:30 someone in the group always says "okay so where should we go for dinner?". I know once I move and can cook again I will not be eating lunch and dinner out so often. Phew.

Big thanks to Sara for organizing the Expat get together in Florence. I took the slower, cheaper, local train to Florence. It was a nice, pretty ride. I now know where the train stop for Cortona is.

The weather was great (original forecast called for rain). It was so much fun to reconnect with friends and meet some of my fellow expats. Everyone was very friendly and had great advice about making the move. The expats came from all over Italy.

Yesterday I went to a barbeque. Some of the people I had met earlier in the week. Yesterday was perfect out. Sunny and in the high 70s with a breeze. On the way back, a car almost clipped the scooter. G. was like, whaever, I was afraid. I don't do drugs but after that scooter ride (it was a long one. We were north of the Olympic Village) I wanted some valium or something to calm my nerves. ha.

One of the guests at the barbeque said May and June are the best months in Rome. Not too hot and there are so many things to do. Several people forwarded the following New York Times article from Sunday's travel section about Rome at night.

There was a moment yesterday as I was walking down Via Giulia that I realized I have been here three weeks and still haven't unpacked, I am burning through my money quicker than expected due to the dollar's weakness, I don't have a job and I can't really communicate, yet I am so freaking happy I could cry. Maybe there are drugs in the pizza.

17 comments:

erin said...

haha! drugs in the pizza...that must be it :)

Anonymous said...

tracey k/Ohio: LOL! That is fantastic that you're so happy that you're immune to worry. It sounds like being over there was just what the doctor ordered! Continue to enjoy! :-D

Sara, Ms Adventures in Italy said...

It was good to see you, girl! Send me your "wants" for when I come down :) I am eager to foist off some books.

Anonymous said...

Yes, there are drugs in the pizza. It happened to me too. ;-) hehehe...

No, the drug is actually called "being on your true path in life", and that brings happiness. Congratulations!

Ah, note my new url for all things bloglike... ;-)

Anonymous said...

The drug is also called "change is good" and "vacation" is too! ENJOY.

gibber said...

I agree with all the posters! It is great to read your adventures. It makes me want to go have an adventure of my own!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you are so happy and are keeping positive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you re the apartment.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Three weeks already. It's great to hear your happy with your choice:)

glamah16 said...

I was wondering about all the expense eating out. But you have no choice. Cant wait into you settle into your own kitchen and perhaps start posting some recipes. You really have fit in well so far!

Ilva said...

It was so nice to meet you! Keep on eating that pizza!

Liz Dwyer said...

That sounds like a great time. Americans love how social folks are in other countries and how they actually take time to hang with friends and family, so why can't we be like that here in the States?

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

erin - something is going on. :)

tracey k - thank you.

sara - it was good to see you too. Let me know what books you want to unload.

tina - glad to see I am not the only person who became "addicted".

anon - I agree change can be good but actually I am not on vacation. ha.

gibber - yes you are due for a new adventure.

joanne - thank you!

confessions - they flew by!

glamah16 - food here is cheap than in L.A. esp. if you only have a first course (the pasta) but I'm looking forward to taking advantage of all the great markets around me.

ilva - it was very nice to meet you too!

los angelista - I'm not sure why. I think the hours we work have a lot to do with it. We take the least amount of vacations day of any industrialized nation. I went six years without taking a single vacation. I will never do that again.

Anonymous said...

"anon - I agree change can be good but actually I am not on vacation. ha."

From what I read, it didn't sound like you were working full-time... my bad!
ENJOY!

Jen said...

Isn't Italian pizza a drug in itself? Life will settle as "normal" soon - enjoy now!

Claudia said...

Pizza is the drug!! :) Everything sounds great!!

Liane Spicer said...

Now I'm nostalgic for adventure... time to start planning my next one!

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

anon - it's okay. :)

jen - yes it might. I had another piece today.

claudia - I love it and can't escape it. There seems to be a good pizza place on every other corner.

wordtryst - maybe you can plan one to celebrate your book release.