It all started when the two boys started reminiscing about a particular friend's home they remembered from their missionary days. Not only were the husband and wife considered friends, but apparently the wife was an amazing cook. Toby, always thinking with his stomach, suggested they call the couple and ask if we could drop in on them that evening to say hi before we left the city the next day.
Those boys knew what would happen, and it did. Once the call was made, the couple invited all four of us over for dinner. Marco and Toby put up brief protestations, for show, but it was obvious they were excited for the feast they knew was coming.
With dinner already planned for the night, all we needed to do was decide what we wanted to see on our last full day in Florence. We'd already seen the main tourist attractions so today we decided to branch out and see places that weren't quite as popular as the duomo and ponte vechio.
Toby wanted to go to the Uffizi Art Gallery, a place teeming with enough paintings and statues to keep an art-lover busy for weeks. I like art, don't get me wrong, but I don't appreciate it like a true art-fanatic would. I wanted to do something else, but I wasn't sure what. Marco suggested going to the Boboli Gardens and once he described it, the place sounded perfect.
Liz was leaning towards the art gallery and Toby kept pleading his cause. Marco didn't seem to care where he went and he waited for the rest of us to decide.
Finally, Liz and Toby made their way to the Uffizi while Marco and I went to the Boboli Gardens. I couldn't believe my good luck and tried to keep my face impassive so Liz and Toby would't suspect just how gleeful I was at the prospect of more alone time with Marco.
But let's be real here, they totally knew.
Marco and I walked throughout the Boboli holding hands and talking with each other more than looking around. But there was one thing I noticed about the Boboli Gardens: they weren't anything like what I had expected.
Let's talk about the whole, "Utah girl going to Italy" syndrome that popped up again. I'm used to the gardens gracing Temple Square in Salt Lake City. For those of you who've never seen them, those gardens are masterpieces, total works of art.
The Boboli Gardens are a lot like the Italian culture: laid back. There were definite flowers and shrubs, but they weren't laid out in the precision of Temple Square or even my own yard. I saw several weeds (I have NEVER, EVER seen a weed at Temple Square) and it looked like the gardeners had taken a day or two off recently. But hey, it's part of the Italian culture and a garden I'd never been to before, so it was interesting. And I was with Marco.
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| Me, at the Boboli Gardens. Marco snapped this photo. Selfies hadn't yet been invented, so just imagine he's there too. |
Eventually, we met back up with Liz and Toby again and then decided another gelato was needed.
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| When we finally caught up with Toby and Liz it was obvious they'd had a great time together. Not romantic at all, just a fun time. |
It was finally time for dinner. We made our way to the couple's house (dang, I can't remember their names!) and witnessed Marco and Toby being greeted like long-lost cousins. And, since we were with the two of them, Liz and I were lavished with almost the same amount of affection.
After talking (man, Italians can TALK!) we sat down to huge plates of pasta. I was in heaven, it was so delicious. While we ate, Gracious Hosts (let's just call them that, mmkay?) and the two boys kept up a steady stream of conversations. Occasionally a question was thrown our way, and Marco would translate back and forth, but it was mostly the boys and Gracious Hosts. I was totally fine with that because I was busy concentrating on my plate of heaven.
Finally, after I scraped the plate clean, I leaned back contentedly. No wonder the boys had wanted to come here, this lady cooked like a champ! She gestured to me and asked if I wanted more. No thanks, I could barely move! Toby laughed and gave me a glance I didn't understand.
A few minutes later, I figured out why he'd looked at me that way. Gracious Hostess whisked our plates away into the kitchen and came out with the second course; it was some kind of steak.What!?
Toby smiled at my petrified face and said, "I knew there'd be more. What, are you full already?"
"Uhh, yes?"
"Ha! Wait until she brings out the rest of the food."
"You mean there'll be more after this? I thought that was dinner!"
"Nope, she invited us over for a real Italian dinner. There will be several courses.."
I was in trouble.
Meats, cheeses, fruit, and dessert came out in slow succession. I don't think I'd ever eaten so much in my entire life. I was in pain but Marco and Toby looked like they could keep up the eating forever.
Finally, dinner and visiting over, we left. I felt like I needed to roll out the door.
The next day we'd spend our last Sunday in Florence and then would meet Marco's uncle. Oh man, I'd just started liking this guy and now I was not only going to be meeting Marco's uncle, but we'd stay at his house. I hoped he'd like me.
Part 20
After talking (man, Italians can TALK!) we sat down to huge plates of pasta. I was in heaven, it was so delicious. While we ate, Gracious Hosts (let's just call them that, mmkay?) and the two boys kept up a steady stream of conversations. Occasionally a question was thrown our way, and Marco would translate back and forth, but it was mostly the boys and Gracious Hosts. I was totally fine with that because I was busy concentrating on my plate of heaven.
Finally, after I scraped the plate clean, I leaned back contentedly. No wonder the boys had wanted to come here, this lady cooked like a champ! She gestured to me and asked if I wanted more. No thanks, I could barely move! Toby laughed and gave me a glance I didn't understand.
A few minutes later, I figured out why he'd looked at me that way. Gracious Hostess whisked our plates away into the kitchen and came out with the second course; it was some kind of steak.What!?
Toby smiled at my petrified face and said, "I knew there'd be more. What, are you full already?"
"Uhh, yes?"
"Ha! Wait until she brings out the rest of the food."
"You mean there'll be more after this? I thought that was dinner!"
"Nope, she invited us over for a real Italian dinner. There will be several courses.."
I was in trouble.
Meats, cheeses, fruit, and dessert came out in slow succession. I don't think I'd ever eaten so much in my entire life. I was in pain but Marco and Toby looked like they could keep up the eating forever.
Finally, dinner and visiting over, we left. I felt like I needed to roll out the door.
The next day we'd spend our last Sunday in Florence and then would meet Marco's uncle. Oh man, I'd just started liking this guy and now I was not only going to be meeting Marco's uncle, but we'd stay at his house. I hoped he'd like me.
Part 20
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