dinner

Last night a neighbor from my apartment building, Aldo F., and I went out to taste wine and get dinner. We were supposed to have a glass at a little enoteca (wine bar) located near across from the Pitti Palace at http://tinyurl.com/4du8fe

We enjoyed the wine and the location so much we ended up staying about 4-5 hours and having 4 glasses. We met this very intelligent tourist from Hong Kong, a Ph.D in Economics, with a large camera. He was full of all kinds of interesting insights and information, because, as he said, economists do not judge, they simply explain. We talked about the US economy, Obama (everyone I have met over here is eager for Obama to get elected), and atheism.

He offered three reasons why the US economy is getting hammered, although he did say there were more, 1. we do not pay enough for gas, 2. we drive too much and 3. we do not know how to save. That launched us into alternative transport, which got me fired up about cycling as the best form of transport.

The energetic conversation is likely what required 4 glasses of thirst quenching wine. There was a super tuscan, a barolo, barbaresco, and something that was not identifiable from the winery's name. We were seated outside, directly across from the Pitti Palace. As it was Saturday night, everyone was dressed up and strolling the streets of Florence.

After that, we went on to dinner, around 2145, at Trattoria Casalinga, http://tinyurl.com/3lu4rv which was an excellent meal. After Sambuca, served correctly with three coffee beans floating in it, we got out around 2330, walked through Piazza Santo Spirito and then home. I found the food, the atmosphere and the customers much more Italian than the previous restaurant I wrote about, the night it rained.

The weather was very cooperative.