Molto Deliziosa

Yesterday (Thursday), We went to a town called Pietrasanta. It was the most charming little town you could ever imagine. It really felt like Italy. I took so many pictures of the Duomo in Pietrasanta as well as the colorful buildings. I was surprised at how beautiful and ornate the church was in such a small town. However, once I discovered that the church was connected with the Medici Family, it all made sense. While I was inside the cathedral, I started to miss my dad! It made me think of him, because I knew that he would be there reading the informational plaques for hours and would want me to take a hundred pictures for him. He'd be explaining the history of the cathedral with an overwhelming amount of statistics. I didn't really learn much about the cathedral, but it sure was pretty. I don't know how my dad would be able to handle all of these cathedrals and churches in Italy. I've heard that Rome alone has like 2,000 churches. My dad needs like ten years to discover all of Italy's historical wonders. Anyway...there was a market in the center of the square, which was really fun to walk around. The prices were great, but I have no room in my suitcase for stuff like that. I’ll wait for Florence to do any kind of purchasing. The only thing I’ve purchased so far is the wine and the olive oil from our wine tasting the day before.  The prices on goods here is not as high as I had expected. Even the meals haven’t been too pricy yet. Most of my meals have been included, but for the few meals I have had to buy, I feel like I got my money’s worth. In Pietrasanta, we ate lunch outside while we enjoyed the mountain breezes. Five of us ordered the same thing: The Caprese Salad. It was delicious. I was expecting some little salad with a couple slices of Mozzarella cheese and some tomato. But, it was huge and so fresh! The food here is extremely fresh. No need for salt, pepper, or any condiment.  Olive Oil and some Balsamic go great with the fresh bread that replenished. We eat way too much bread here. It’s going to be a problem J After our little walk around the town of Pietrasanta, we went to visit the Marble Quarries in Carrara. These are the world famous Marble Quarries and probably some of the oldest too. We had to wind our way through the mountains to reach this place. The mountains were steep. I thought that the white glimmering from the top of the mountains was snow at first, but then I realized it was all marble! The son of the owner of the marble quarry we visited was so excited to share his work with us. I love these Italian men. They have so much expression in their tone, facial expressions, and body language. They aren’t afraid to show how they feel. This man’s smile couldn’t have been wider. He is a part of a family business that has existed for many many many years. It’s his life’s work and he shows no regret or shame. He is proud of where he comes from and what he does, and I love that confidence about him and the other men I’ve spoken to here. Cararra is also known for their Le lard de Colonnata. We visited the place where they make it. It’s lard mixed with a bunch of herbs that sits in these stone freezers for six months before eating. That’s all they really know about it. The tour guide was like “Well you add the ingredients, put it in there, and something happens.” Something happens…. Needless to say I didn’t bother trying it knowing I’d probably spend the rest of the evening sick in the bathroom. My friends tried it, though. The look at their faces was priceless. It wasn’t good at all! It’s like a delicacy here, so I guess we are too foreign to appreciate such exotic tastes. For dinner we ate at a restaurant called Stefannella, which is right on the beach! We had the most fantastic lasagna I’ve ever had in my life. It didn’t contain meat sauce. Instead, it was made with a creamy light pesto sauce was rich and light at the same time. I could’ve eaten it all night. Food is definitely a major part of the lifestyle here. It’s extremely important for health and social reasons. I healthy atmosphere is crucial for a healthy life. Food and friends go hand in hand J