So my internet is not working today and I have already had a nap which means I can finally not be distracted by everything else and write a long overdue update. After I went to Rome I headed to Florence and Prato of course. I spent most of my time in the countryside and outside the city center but really enjoyed visiting with horses and other animals.
One of my favorite things in Florence is Christmas time well and Spring time… but it was Christmas season when I was there. The streets are all decorated with lights, the street artists have chalk drawings of Santa and other holiday scenes, and the store shops are decorated too. Ok it sounds like plenty of towns in the USA and everywhere else but you have to understand my love for Florence to begin with. I also like to visit the German Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce. Here there are booths of herbs and spices, so many booths of foods like strudel, pretzels, brats, french fries, beer, cheeses, meats, and of course the booths with gifts to buy for friends and family. I saw a few neat things but either didn’t have the money or the space to bring it back with me. I did however have plenty of time and money to stand in line and get a brat with sauerkraut, french fries, and a beer. I think Ritvan even enjoyed it. Usually around Christmas time it is rather cold and gelato would make one freeze, but the beauty of it is that it doesn’t melt; although normally I would get a hot chocolate and savor its thick soupy goodness with whipped cream on top, but I can get those in Prato Nevoso- so I opted for the gelato and didn’t regret it one bit! (I think that sentence is far too long.. oh well I’ve already typed it so no sense in changing it now)
Another fun adventure I went on included a kebab… best kebab I’ve ever had-- it was a panino form and the bread was made at the shop. I don’t know where this heavenly place is but I know it is Prato. Oops I was actually meaning to write about the horse race I went to but I had just remembered the kebab. Really it was divine (if you like kebabs that is). So the horse race was exciting. Apparently there are two tracks in the park that I used to live near-- this is a park that I would visit frequently and some how I never knew about the horses. Oh well, I do now! It was a rainy/sunny day, the clouds were fighting with the sun but in the end he sun won. Please excuse my lack of knowledge about the technical terms of what kind of racing this is but it is the one where the jockey sits behind the horse- not chariot b/c they aren’t standing or maybe it is but a newer form. It was neat to see since I have only been to the races in Hot Springs. I will say that I am not a big fan of all the gear the horses have to wear but it doesn’t seem to hurt them too much and they don’t wear it for too long. I would love to say that the horse I know came in 1st place but something happened and it messed up so it didn’t get to finish. Maybe next time!
WOAH this is a short post… but actually Christmas should be it’s own so I’ll let you all go for now and I’ll be back with a Christmas update and My New Home update. Hope everyone is doing well
