Uffizi Gallery, Cooking class #2

Yesterday I finally sucked it up and went to buy the "Friends of the Uffizi"/Uffizi Pass. For 40 euro you get admission to a good list of museums (including the Academia) and get to skip the line to wait. I'm hoping that I'll go to enough museums now to make it worth it, but I know I'll really appreciate not having to stand in line. I can get up in the morning, to go a museum, and get to class without having to rush.

So after buying the pass, I went into the gallery itself. I didn't really know what I was getting myself in to, I just knew that I wanted to go. Buying a guidebook before entering would have been logical, but I didn't know yet that I wanted one. I soon learned that going through the gallery alone was actually really pleasant- I could maneuver my way around the big tour groups who would all stop and listen to someone talk about one piece, and I could go look at whatever I wanted without worrying about losing someone. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the pieces, namely the historical and political aspects of the paintings/sculptures and about the museum. I was that kid taking notes from the plaques. It's fine.

Had I been trying to count the number of pieces entitled "Madonna and child enthroned by/between (angels, saints...)" I would have lost count. I'm glad I didn't try. I grew tired of those pieces depicting the same thing, and half-way through the gallery (after having been there for an hour or so) I started skimming through rooms. I'm sure I saw all of the pieces that there were to see, but I was lingering around and reading about particular pieces less and less often. I knew that if I wanted to, I could come back pretty easily.

I would love to post here some pictures that I took of my favorite pieces. Unfortunately, no cameras allowed. I did end up buying a guide book on my way out, which has the gallery divided up by room and has descriptions of all of the pieces.

In between my museum visit and my first class, I grabbed a sandwich. I had seen this stand with a really long line the week before, and decided it was worth waiting for. What I got will probably shock some people: a tuna sandwich with tomato and onion. and I really liked it. I don't know why but that was what I was craving when I saw it as an option. I enjoyed it enough that I didn't even care that I got some on my shirt...

After classes I had thirty minutes until my cooking class. I was starving and couldn't wait till we got to eat after cooking everything, so naturally, I got some gelato. I went to the place where we had a gelato-making tour and tasting last week, because I thought the people were really nice and the gelato is cheap. The man gave me a sample as soon as I walked in of a gelato made from cheese and pears. It was delicious, and I got a cup of that and peanut butter & chocolate (that's one flavor). Odd combination, but again, was exactly what I wanted. I walked around the central market for a bit, looking for things to bring back for Drew and my family. I walked away from any vendors who greeted me by saying "Ciao bella" because I'm so damn tired of that. I ended up having to walk away from a lot of vendors, and left empty-handed (except for my gelato that I was still enjoying).

Cooking class was so much fun though! We cooked 4 recipes again:

1. Risotto all Milanese: I learned what rices are the only ones that I can use if I want good risotto.

2. Pasta al pesto tradizionale: We learned how to cheat and use what I call a "wand blender" to make pesto without it turning black from the metal blades (you boil the basil for 10 seconds and then immediately put it in cold water)

3. Crochette di pollo (chicken meatballs. they weren't my favorite)

4.Torta di cioccolato: a chocolate cake, that he alters a bit and puts thin slices of peaches in. SO good.

I cooked the chocolate cake with 2 other girls. It was nice because when the cake was in the oven, I got to walk around and watch what everyone else was doing. Class is supposed to be over at 9, but the cake didn't even come out of the oven until 9. Marco likes to refrigerate it with a glaze once it's done, but we didn't have time for that and ate it warm. It was still really good, despite it not being totally done, I guess. Marco told us that he was going to be giving us a good, crisp wine to drink with the risotto, but that never happened since we were all running behind. He promised 2 bottles for next week! haha

Marco helping with the chicken meatballs.

Every Thursday in Italian we have a quiz, so I have that today. I also have my photography midterm, which I'm not looking forward to.

That reminds me: the other day in photography we went to La Specola, a zoology museum, to practice taking pictures in harsh lighting. It's a museum of embalmed animals. Here is what is said online about it: "founded by Grand Duke Leopold of Lorraine, was opened in 1775 and is the oldest science museum in Europe. Contains the largest collection in the world of wax anatomical models, made between 1770 and 1850, and over 3.5 million animals of which approximately 5,000 public display. " What I experienced was an un-airconditioned building with DEAD ANIMALS. And when you get farther into it, you find sections of figures using the casts from dead people. I took some pictures of them too, but will not post them here. They'll give you nightmares.

I can't believe this week is practically over. It seems that just yesterday I came back from Cinque Terre, and my weekend starts today after class. If this is how quickly my weeks are going to go, I'll be home in no time.

This weekend I'm going to the Amalfi coast! I'll be in Sorrento Friday and Saturday nights, and Positano Sunday night. I hope that it will work out for me to to do Rome and Venice next weekend!

Arrivederci!