Love is in the Air (Chocolate Festival, Florence, Italy, 2012) ...

... that is, if you love chocolate and/or you have a Valentine. 

It is that time of year again, when the wonderful chocolate festival returns to Florence, Italy, in time for Santo Valentino.  I don't have my own Valentine, but, please, do not allow that to stop you from showering me with delicious chocolate from all the regions of Italy.

Please note, however, that beginning tomorrow (Friday, 10 February 2012 through Sunday, 19 February 2012), you can get your chocolate fix at Piazza Repubblica instead of Santa Croce.

Unità d'Italia / Unification Day

Most people know today is St. Patrick's Day.  Some will eat corned beef and cabbage; others, drink green beer and play darts; and even others, look for an opportunity to pinch someone not wearing green. But do you know that today is yet another holiday in Italy?  

That's right.  Today in Italy is Unification Day, the 150th anniversary of the day Italy became a unified nation, Italy's birthday.  Many people have the day off.  Italians love an excuse to celebrate, and the festivities actually began last night with another holiday in preparation for today, "Tricolore Notte" (three-colored night).  

Don't feel bad if you didn't know today is Unification Day. I didn't know last night was Tricolore Notte until it was happening, and I was already in for the night. Not for long, though, as I got up and joined the sea of people.  Live music was played in various piazze (squares). The queues to get into the museums that stayed open and gratis until 1:00 a.m. were long.  A giant mongolfiera (hot-air balloon) came to rest in Piazza Santa Croce. Fuochi d'artificio (fireworks) went off at mezzanotte (midnight) from atop Palazzo Vecchio.

No photos of my own to share with you in this post, but you can look here as well as here.

Life in Florence, Italy, is an endless festival, a carnival of happiness.

Chocolate Festival, Florence, Italy

Are you feeling sad and blue?  Too many dark, dreary days of winter getting you down? I have good news if you want to positively raise your seratonin level and enjoy an anti-depressant ... without taking a pill.  

Start your day with a banana in the morning.  Put on your sneakers and walk or jog over to Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, Italy, in the sunshine and warmer days that we are finally experiencing (a sure sign of spring's approach).  You'll get a bit of exercise.  Go any time between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.  And then load up on your dose of chocolate in whichever form you prefer. Chocolate-covered coffee beans, chocolate salami, cremino (chocolate cream, essentially the Italian equivalent of fudge), chocolate kebab are some of my personal favorites.  But there are many more choices. The chocolate vendors are representing most regions of Italy with their local specialties in chocolate.

 And while you are at it, you can buy your honey a chocolate treat for St. Valentine's Day.

I promise you the samples are certain to cause you to wear a smile.  The chocolate festival began only yesterday, and I have already stopped by three times, and more than likely I will go get my chocolate fix every day until the festival closes on Sunday, February 13.  

Montevarchi (Arezzo)

A Friend in Florence organized a degustazione (wine tasting) event this past Sunday at a nearby Chianti winery, I Selvatici, in the town of Montevarchi.


We had the chance to learn about the winery's history, family, and award-winning wines. Based on my vast knowledge and experience of the raccolta (harvest) of olives last year (one day's work), I volunteered my services to help harvest the grapes next month and olives in November.



In town was a medieval festival, La Festa del Perdono (Festival of Forgiveness).



A parade. Renaissance clothing, games, and angelic faces.


A renaissance game is played, Giocco del Pozzo (put the ball in the well). Food is served. Pici dell'anatra (a thick, long, hollow pasta with duck sauce) is what I chose and paid for with Varchi.



At the end of the day, one Varchi equals 2 Euros, and 2 Euros equals $2.54. A fun day and a couple new friends.

-- Josslyn "Giosalina"
Montevarchi, Italia