Pasta, Pasta, Pasta! - April 27

Today's highlight was our class at InTavola cooking school.  We had a great time with our chef, Fabrizio, as he taught us how to make three different pastas and three sauces.  The real treat came afterwards when we ate it all up down in their wine cellar.  The cooking class is always a big hit and not to be missed on Patrizia's tour!  On our way over - we had to cross the Arno - we stopped by the Santo Spirito church to see a beautiful wood sculpted crucifix by Michelangelo.  He created it in 1494 when he was only 18 years old (he lived to be 89 and was still painting in Rome).  It was a little rainy today but it didn't hold us back!

International Fair and Lucca - April 26

The annual international exhibit of handicrafts, foods and many other things to buy is being held this weekend at the old Medici Fortenza just down the street from us.  We wandered over this morning and spent a couple of hours browsing and buying (a little).  Then we were off on our first train trip, to lovely Lucca.  The beautiful city park surrounds the entire old town atop the medieval city walls.  It was truly lovely with the Spring-green trees and flowers.  The annual plant sale was going on in the piazza where we had a nice lunch.  Some purchases were made on our slow stroll back to the station for the train that brought us back to Florence about nine o'clock.