Markets and Monks

So I  previously mentioned how shopping brings out my insecurities and makes me sweat. Now I can add to the list- make Randy and Hannah laugh at me. 

 we went to the open air fruit and vegetable market with all the individual farmers selling their produce on tables. With Randy and Hannah allowing me the honor of selecting and interacting, I boldly went where I cower- to interact in Italian. From somewhere outside of me a voice that soundly strangely a lot like mine, greeted the vendor with, " Beunos Dias!" Immediately I think,"Who is the idiot speaking Spanish in Italy?!?!" Randy always known for his intelligence and quick wit was fast to affirm that it was indeed I, who was the idiot! In sheer embarrassment I don't know who wanted the earth to open up  and eat them faster- Hannah or I! So to make full  amends and redeem myself, as soon as I had my change I said," Gracias!" and fled, my face glowing like a pomodoro. It reminds of a friend who while visiting in Quebec ordered at the McDonald's "Deux McMuffin per favor."

It can only go up from here. And yesterday we did. Hannah and Randy climbed the 463 steps to the top of the Duomo.( I did art history studies) .Hannah really enjoyed it as it was her first true view and sense of Florence.  

Later we went on a meandering yet planned walk up to San Miniato al Monte, passing Galileo's house. San Miniato is a church built in 1018, that has a commanding hilltop view of the city of Florence with a functioning Benedictine monastery.  We had the serendipitous delight of listening to the monks partake in their 5 pm Gregorian Chant and liturgy in the lower level of the  split level nave.  

 Daily living is gratifyingly simple yet complex ; Making coffee is an adventure every morning. There is no room to hoard a Costco size shop , nor have more than one little bag of garbage.  You can't buy a gallon of milk or a family pack of meat but you can get a 3l  bottle of wine and  a 5lb round of cheese......and in it all there is a freedom.PS our place is just beyond the red banner in the street photo.