DAY 3: FIRENZE - COOKING CLASS

While on our way to Firenze, our tour guide, Nancy, informed us of a thing or two about authentic Italian cuisine. She had seen a few of our students taking the initiative to find some olive oil and balsamic so that they could dip their bread in it. She let us know that regular Italians don’t do that at restaurants. Olive oil is so prolific in their daily lives (for cooking, skin and hair care, etc.) that they would never go to out to eat and dip their bread in it. She likened it to someone from the US going to a restaurant and ordering a peanut butter sandwich.

She also chided us for thinking that chicken parmesan, alfredo sauce, and lasagna made with ricotta were Italian dishes. They think of those dishes as US inventions. Additionally, Nancy claimed that we know the term bologna for the wrong reason. Italians are super proud of their bologna (named after the region) and told us that our version is disgusting. Another thing that she explained to us was that tortellini was created to replicate Venus’s bellybutton.

All that said, this evening in Florence we took a cooking class! We divided into two groups and each group prepared fresh pasta, marinara sauce, salad, and an cream & berries dessert. It was all really delicious! The students are coming home with the full slate of recipes, so they should be able to recreate it! 

 

DAY 7: HEADING HOME

We had breakfast at the hotel restaurant like usual, but were packed and on the bus by 6:45 to head to the airport outside of Rome. We flew to Munich, had a layover of a couple of hours, and then took the 8 hour flight back to Boston. Just like any other day on this trip, the students were patient, flexible and reliable. They really handled themselves well during the entire experience and hopefully learned a lot, had a great time and are eager to go back. Ciao!

 

 

DAY 6: OUR LAST DINNER

We went directly from Pompeii to a restaurant in Rome where we were served bruschetta, focaccia, salad, pork and potatoes, and gelato. We honored Nancy, our tour guide, as well as Ms. Alexander and Mr. Barbaro who organized and executed the trip so well. Seamus and Ellie spoke (really well) on behalf of the students to thank the trip leaders and we gave them signed books from Florence as a thank you. 

"Can we establish eye contact please?"

The entranceway of the restaurant:

On the walk to the bus:

DAY 6: Pompeii