Weekly Market in Lucca and a Recipe

The last couple of posts were dedicated to Viareggio and Florence, this week let's stay in Lucca and go shopping at the market!

Unfortunately it was very cloudy and grey :(

In Italy, this is one of the experience I suggest you to do: go to a local market wherever you are to see the daily life, for "people watching", to find good bargain and of course, it is a lot of fun!! I love it! For me, it is very unlikely to leave without a bag, even a small one.

I have my strategy: have a look first to the whole market, ask for prices, see if there is anything nice and then on the way back I start to buy!

Usually the stall people do not accept credit cards, so make sure you have enough cash with you. 

You can try things on, but do not be too fussy ;) you are not in a shop so they do not have proper fitting rooms, so you will have to jump inside a van and get undressed on it (doors closed of course!), try on and look at yourself in a very simple mirror. 

You can ask for a different size, not everything is one size only. They might have it or not, their stock is not fully supplied as in a store.

If I am buying more things from the same stall, I try sometimes to bargain a little bit. People do not get offended, but remember they are not obliged to give you a discount. Prices are already quite cheap!

Keep an eye where you see lot of people around a stall, it can mean that there is a good offer or nice stuff. Then be patient, brave and curious and start to throw clothes up and down, go around the stall in every corner! It is  like a treasure hunt, keep searching and searching...

I've found 3 lovely summer dresses here for 10€ each :)

They had lot of things in silk and linen

A tip: while you will be busy searching, if you find something you like, put it on a side next to you, or ask the stall man to keep it for you for a sec. You do not want that, after all you efforts finding that lovely t shirt under many layers of clothes, it get taken by someone else, do you??

A last suggestion: in the last few years the Chinese have some stalls, too. Their prices are very low, but quality is not good at all. I mean it is good looking but after a few washings it's gone. So just think about it!

At last keep your purse in front of you all the times! These places are quite busy, with people pushing you and pickpockets know that you are busy searching, so be careful! 

The local weekly market in Lucca:

when: every Wednesday and Saturday in the morning from 9 to 12.

where: from outside Porta San Jacopo  then along Via dei Bacchettoni till Porta Elisa 

What can you find there? A little bit of everything:

Food can not be missing!

Flowers and plants

Leather: shoes and bags, purses...

Kitchen and homeware: 

Do you know all these tools?

Many many clothes and accessories...

This is one of my favourite place to stop. This is Bagnoli. It is a beautiful grocery store in Viareggio, but they do also local markets. In Lucca you can find him only on Wednesday. The van is close to Porta San Jacopo.

They have several kinds of cheese from all over Italy, really special ones! Lots of mortadella, prosciutto and salami and sausages...Then bread as Pane di Vinca, coming from a small village in Lunigiana, Massa Carrara province.

Pane di Vinca and a super multicereal focaccia! 

They can make you a sandwich right away. The walls are very close, just above you, so you can go there and relax after all your shopping!

Try these onions cooked in the wine: they are as sweet as cherries! I love them!! 

Isn't this gorgonzola tempting?

This was my shopping and my yummy lunch:

Cereal focaccia as you can see there's already bite ;)
mustia ricotta and Tropea onions 

Pasta with Mustia, Tomatoes, Rucola and Nuts.

Mustia is a salted, smoked ricotta cheese typical of Sardinia.

While you are waiting for the water to boil, you can melt the mustia in a dish adding a little bit of hot water ad mash it with a fork. It has to become soft and thick as a cream, not too liquid.

Add a little bit of extra virgin olive oil and some Parmesan cheese.

Cut some cherry tomatoes and put them together with the mustia ricotta, keep mixing everything together. You can add some salt and black pepper, if you like. Be careful the mustia is already quite tasty, so check it before! It can be already fine.

Throw pasta in the boiling water with a little bit of salt and leave the dish with the mustia and tomatoes on top of your pan to keep it warm.

In the meantime cut some rocket salad (rucola) and some nuts.

When the pasta is al dente and you have drained it, you can add the mustia with tomatoes, the rucola and the nuts. Mix, Mix for a few minutes and Buon Appetito!!

you can turf off the stove, you can mix it easily in the warm pot 

Buon Appetito!

Pontormo&Rosso Fiorentino an extraordinary exhibition in Florence

I think that Palazzo Strozzi is one of the best reality in Florence and generally speaking in Tuscany for exhibitions, art and events. I am always keeping an eye on what's going on and what will be coming next.

Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino "Diverging Path of Mannerism", an incredibly beautiful exhibition opened just a couple of weeks ago and it will last till July, 20th.

This is a list of reasons and suggestions, just my personal advice. Of course, if you will go, let me know your thoughts!

I appreciated very much how the exhibition has been set up, you can really understand the meaning of the title Diverging Paths. Two twins artists till a certain point (they both were trainees of Andrea del Sarto and lived in the same period in Florence), then each one has followed his own way. So at the end I got to think which one did I like the most?

Still nowadays we are astonished by the genius of Michelangelo, Raffaello and Leonardo, but have you ever tried to put yourself in the shoes of an artist that tried to succeed immediately after those three masters? I mean, how can you handle the comparison? Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino took that challenge and the exhibition will show you how they reacted and what they realized. 

A thing I will never forget: the bright, glazed colours of the Visitation by Pontormo, those four massive women occupying almost all the scene in front of you, you perceive that they are mysterious and so gentle at the same time. (look at Saint Elizabeth). And pay attention everytime, how these painters use the colours: sharp, shimmering and vivid. 

It has just been restored, so this image has nothing to do with the original!

I love when you can see also the sketches and drawings! Here, there are two rooms completely dedicated to them. Have a look at the architecture of Rosso Fiorentino, it is just perfect and it makes you understand how talented and careful he was. Instead it seems that Pontormo is just painting himself all the times? 

Paintings can be a document of a period of time. How was to live in Florence in the early 1500? Would you be with or against the Medici family? The artists had to choose which side to stay and the portraits are a great evidence. Anyway, you will be surprised that some of this men are so ordinary, they could be your neighbour! 

Do not miss any expression of the faces: saints, angels that look like animals, monsters or demons but even the sweetest thing in the world! 

Why not a young and curly blond Saint Joseph? 

Seize that moment! Maddalena catching Jesus' feet preventing them to touch the floor, her red mantel blowing up and the awkward position of John. Doesn't it seem just a quick snapshot, does it?  

If you can, book a guided visit, it is so worthy! This kind of exhibitions are huge and you usually end up at in the last rooms quite overwhelmed by all the paintings, papers, books, panels, people around etc..and you do not remember how you started! Instead, the guide will help you a lot to go through the rooms selecting the most important works, you will notice details, you will be given the right tools to appreciate what you are seeing. Another positive point: you have a question, you can ask and hopefully ;) receive an answer! Then after the tour, you can stay longer at the exhibition, go back to see that painting, meditate on it at your own pace. It's the ideal! I enjoyed the exhibition so much with Isabella, that I hope I can go back as soon as possible. 

For further information on Florence, Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino exhibition please get in contact with Paola.

File that under something you can't get enough of it: Carnival in Viareggio, part 2

I haven't gone there for ages and then in 2014 twice in a row, what's the matter? 

This time, a very tempting invitation by a friend, Serena Giovannoni of WishVersilia. She is a true and authentic Viareggina and she has organized the photo challenge "Snap the Carnival" and events for bloggers and igers, photographers to make the Carnival more "social".

Luckily, it was again a lovely sunny Sunday, we started with a good burst of energy for lunch at the beach club and resort La perla del Tirreno

Then, three shots of cannon to announce the beginning of the floats parade, so quickly a coffee and we reached the middle of everything, the centre of the universe: Piazza Mazzini. It is where the floats reach the highest point of beauty and fun. Here is the jury box, the judges have to vote to award the best float. So everything has to be more than perfect, every step, movement and dance.

We had a great point to take pictures, we were on a stage together with journalists, tv and radio broadcaster. I had just my Iphone5 with me but these are some of my shots... Let me know your comments and at the end I will tell you the Winner! ;)

Up up up get on board! 

Before and after... A revolution of LOVE!

Faces:

Such a well known face...

and more...

Carnival Faces 

Hysteria or Italy?

Head down...

Head up! 

How many monuments can you recognize?

...and finally here it slowly comes between the palaces... The Winner! 

A huge metallic spider titled "The Net/Web" by Alessandro Avanzini with a mouse head, it represents the Internet voracity and dangers, these are the main themes of the float. 

And that's it for this edition. Bye bye Carnival... See you again next year! Hope you will join the party with us! 

After many years, a return: Carnival in Viareggio

I don’t remember when it was the last time I went to the Carnival in Viareggio. Let’s say that it was a thing that I did not miss so much. 

When I was a child, my mum and my grandfather used to take me there every year and I have a lot of great memories and pictures, apart those where I was dressed as a Sardinian man (the folk, typical costume from the region of Sardinia, where my mum comes from), not even the female version, but the male one!

So you can imagine how it was disappointing! Nobody had a clue of what my dress meant and even if I was asked about it, nobody still could not really understand. All these kids dressed as superheroes, animals, fairies and princesses… and me? A proud Sardinian!

That's me! :)

Anyway, I had a great time especially when I grew up and that dress did not fit me anymore! ;) So I became a space woman, a clown and I enjoyed it so much!

Last Sunday, after many years, thanks to a lovely sunny day I decided to go back to the Carnival and what a surprise!

I did not have a costume this time, even if the atmosphere is so funny and happy, that you feel very tempted to put on a silly fluo wig on your head and start to dance following the parade.

The Carnival in Viareggio has a very long tradition for more information, I suggest you to read here Carnival Viareggio website

You have probably heard about the Venice Carnival, ok, that’s beautiful as well and worth to see, but if you are looking for something more fun and local, Viareggio is the right place! A must!

The most special thing about it is the floats parade. The float is made mainly in papier mache (water, glue, chalk and paper). There is a competition so there are 3 categories, they are incredibly huge works of art. They can reach up to 20 meters and they parade along the seaside for about 3kms, there are people on them dancing and singing!

Guess who is the main character of this float?

They are designed, projected and realized by what we call the Mastro Carraio (the float master). Each float needs almost a year to be prepared. Usually they are inspired by the present time: politicians, celebrities, actual issues as the war, the racism, the environment etc… represented in a satirical and irreverent way. That’s maybe one of the reason why foreigners, tourists do not enjoy it so much, because sometimes you do not get the message, as you do not know that Italian politician or artist.

However, I am sure you will be amazed by these pictures and you will want to know more about it…and you can be satisfied coming to Carnival next time, going to the museum and citadel to see and touch where these floats are made. 

Revolution  by Cinquini brothers.

The dreams catcher by Franco Malfatti

Children of a Lesser God "Somebody to Love" by Roberto Vannucci

A tank full of... Happiness by Breschi Massimo

The dreams stealer by Politi S. and Borri P.

I am pretty sure, you can recognize him very well...

Does he look like as a well known Italian premier, doesn't he?

Anyway, he is just a detail of my favourite one: The drowned peninsula by Bonetti brothers. 

So which one is your favourite?

You can find more pictures: 

Follow the Carnival on Facebook

Follow the Carnival on Twitter @carnevalevg

And search on Instagram #carnevaleviareggio14 #carrocarnevale #maschera #viareggio 

Ps: If you come to Lucca in August, you might have a chance to see the floats parade as they organize a Summer Carnival, please ask for more information to Debora or Paola. 

NYC: We don't mind - You Pay!

Astonished!! I am really astonished today! O___O

It means: I probably made only mistakes in my life! 

I have spent last 10 years taking care of all my clients as they were all sons and daughters of mine! Owners on one side, Tenants on the other side… but I have to admit that a special care has been given to Tenants.. without any doubts!

Are you arriving late? No worries! 24/7 checkin for free. 

It means: midnight, 1 or 2 am…. 9 pm without dinner.. no problems…  yes you can. Yes i will reserve the table for you!  yes I will buy some food for you. … Are you getting lost? No worries. I will wait for you! One hour? No problem! Two hour? Did you take the worng exit and you're now in Pistoia? No worries. I am here waiting for you! …

Ohh my!!! will they be hot? Cold? Water with or without gas? Will be thye thirsty? Will be they hungry? Maybe angry? Do they like white or black? Pillows soft or hard? ….

- GoodMorning Wendy! Have you left tenish of trash bags in the kitchen? No worries!! Never mind! I will take care of them!!

- Hello Sue! Oh your children have colored the sofa with their oil- colors? What’s the problem? I will go to Ikea ot buy a new one! Don t worry be happy!!!!! Enjoy your stay!

I have ruined my family and friends summer weeks with their paranoic matters…

- Wifi is slower than at home? Ok let’s talk to Tronchetti Provera

- Air Conditioning does not cool as at home? NO problem, I 'll talk to AD at DeLonghi

- They don’t like our garbage collection system.. They say it is crazy …. Yes yes they're right!! Let’s write to the major.

- My knee cannot walk up so many steps! Ok let’s go to Hospital all together to replace a new knee…

I run run run.. my loved colleagues run  with me.. … all our time we run for them.. and their crazy mind… but at the end we are happy! We have chosen it! We love our job and how we do it! 

But I could not belive what I have read today! … the first time I try to rent an apartemnt in NYC I read: … Uao!! I don t find the words… Just to let you understand:

- After 8pm you need a late (and fast)  check- fee usd 75. If you need a good late check in with our manager plus 75 euros for a total of 150 usd.

- Have you lost the keys?  Guests will be charged $50 for every set of keys lost.

- If you smoke in the apartment? 1000 usd fee – ok you are absolutely right. But in my contract you read: Please don' t smoke in the apartment, Thank you!

- If you leave a card trash in the apartment - 250 usd fee – ok You are right . But I write:  Please don’ t leave trash bags in the kicthen upon departure, Thank you!

- If we have to repair the coffee maker and you haven’t told us anthing 1000 usd fee… even though it’s not your fault. We don t mind - You Pay. In my contracts : Please, don t forget to notify any incurred damages, Thank you!

- We observe quiet hours from 9:00 pm to 9:00 am. We do not allow parties or any noise disturbances inside the building. Violation of this policy may result in a $500 fine and possible eviction. 
Me: Please respect your neighbors. Thank you!

… I was wondering: do they know the meaning of words like Please? Thank you???

have they heard about Kindness? Good manners? Education?

Oh my!!! Have you ever read a rental agreement regarding an apartemnt in Manhattan?

Yes probably you have…. That may be the reason all you want to stay with us! J