4/29/02 Monday
We didn't have to check out until 2:00 so we stayed parked right
in front of the hotel. Had a great breakfast. Bacon and eggs
and juice and croissant. Walked over to the Post Office and bought
180 stamps. Enough to send all the postcards we'll be sending.
Then we went to the Italian state bank. Got ¤ 32.00 for
the lira I had from Shawn and friends. Visited about 4 mosaic
sites: Basilica
di S.Apollinare Nuovo, Bapttistero Neoniao, Basilica di San Vitale,
and Mausoleo di Galla Placidia. I bought a bunch of books
on the mosaics. Then Elaine got an apron and kitchen towel for
Zarah, then we took off for Florence.
Beautiful lush green hillsides 
but windy road that upset
Elaine. I enjoyed the drive. Got real lost getting into Florence.
Finally found the place we're staying. Villa
La Sosta. Private entrance up stairs. Brother and sister
and young child and dog. Antonio Fantoni, Giuseppina Fantoni
and her daughter Olympia. We have single beds and an upstairs
sunroom. Having dinner down the hill at "Pane e Olio"
[Hosteria - Via Faentina, 2r - Tel: 055 470101] next to the creek
and Ponte Rosso where Antonio recommended and called ahead for
us. Having dinner for the first time in Florence. Ante pasta
of 2 kinds of Prosciutto, melon, ricotta and zucchini. Bread
with mystery meat & gravy, olive oil and bread. All pretty
good. Then mushroom-potato soup. Very good. Then gnocchi with
rosemary and something like onion. "Faxcide onion".
Next ferra ono, a curly pasta and meat sauce but not red. Chicken
meat of some kind. Similar to pheasant. This is eating Tuscan
style. We haven't ordered anything. They just bring the food.
Next, sausage and beans, beef goulash, spinach quiche and salad.
Dessert- whipped cream and chocolate sauce for biscotte, warm
muffin. Something with corn flake crust, fruit on cake (hot)
and a little sweet wine. The waitress 
and a customer are sitting
with a couple 
who are visiting their nearby son who's just had a baby
1.5 months ago. They came over here for dinner and the four of
them are sitting at as table talking like long lost friends,
usually a couple people talking at the same time. The only problem
with this place is the cigarette smoke.
