Annamaria on Monday
The Prelude
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| Good-bye to my beloved NYC |
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| Hello JFK, where a Spanish couple brought this to check as luggage?!!?? |
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| Flight 94 to Madrid |
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| Arriving at Dawn |
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| Changing planes here's a snap |
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| A breakfast snack |
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| At home in Florence, Nicoletta has my tree all ready to greet me. |
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| A quick gussy-up and off to the St. Regis for afternoon tea to celebrate Christmas Eve |
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| Yum |
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| I met Nicoletta when I was her student in Italian in NYC. |
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| Her parents, Lilli and Marcello--my friends these 35 years! |
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| Walking home passed an archangel |
Christmas Day
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| Walk to morning coffee, a street-art Santa |
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| Late morning stroll along the Arno |
Torcibrencoli
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| A view from the road into the estate and Simone's house |
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| The view from his front door. The wine we will drink came from these vines |
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| Nicoletta's grandfather Bucciolini was a leading Italian playwright |
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| Simone and Gloria's grandsons |
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| L'albero di Natale |
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| Gli Antipasti |
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A New York friend once quipped that taking a picture of your food is the
Twenty-first Century equivalent of saying grace. |
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| Pizza di Scarola, a special treat for the Neapolitan in me |
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| The pasta course--PERFECT homemade tagliatelle alla bolognese. |
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| Treats of the Nonnas for the main course |
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| And Nicoletta's home-made NY cheesecake for dessert. OOOPS! All gone. |
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| And gifts! |
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| And cioccolatini. I wish I could offer you all one. |
Firenze in Evening
Wishing you all Comfort and JOY!!
Posts
What a treat to have you here with us to celebrate Christmas! Looking forward to many more. 🎄❤
ReplyDeleteLove to you, Nicoletta. Your friendship is a great gift in my life!
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous, Annamaria! Enjoy every minute (I'm sure you will). I think I'll miss you in SA sadly, but who knows?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michael. My heart sings when I am here. AND Stan and Mette have invited me for a visit in February!! So I get Italy and South Africa. What a way to start the year!!!
DeleteWhat a beautiful way to celebrate the holidays. What could be better than being in Italy?
ReplyDeleteYour photos are wonderful, even though I'm ready to rush out to the nearest trattoria and order several dishes.
Happy Holidays!
Thank, you Kathy. Another thing on which we entirely agree: Italian joys and delicacies! All good wishes to you.
DeleteWelcome Home, Sis! The scene suits you! The happiest and healthiest of 2017 to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, my brother. It does suit me. I know you understand how some places can feel more like home than home does. Love to you both.
ReplyDeleteWow. Just wow. Merry travels, AmA!
ReplyDeleteThank you, EvKa. Many good wishes. It's wonderful to have you as a member of our tribe.
DeleteThank you for sharing. Wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, Meg.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing an amazing Christmas treat-Frienze la bellisama. Enjoy the holidays
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gerald. All comfort and joy to you in 2017!
DeleteDoes anybody count calories during the Christmas holidays?
ReplyDeleteNot me, Kathy. One would have to put having a fashionable physique high on the priority list to do such a thing. I am way too much of hedonist to bother with such a consideration on an ordinary Tuesday in February, much less at this time of year. Eat, drink, and be merry. Why not???
DeleteI asked that question as I grabbed more fudge laced with kahlua and walnuts, made by a friend.
ReplyDeleteOh, what are calories anyway? C'est la vie.
Calories are things they put In food make it taste better.
DeleteHope you enjoyed every last mouthful AM, it looks beautiful. Was the weather kind to you?
ReplyDelete