Blast From The Past

Steven and I
Originally uploaded by Krista 1366.

This week Sam and I were off to Florence to catch up with my old childhood friend Steven Urso! He is one of my oldest and dearest friends going all the way back to kindergarten at John Street Elementary School in Franklin Square! Today he is a professor at the local community college in Nassau County on Long Island were we grew up and both attended our first years of college. These days Steven teaches courses in Hotel and Restaurant management, coincidentally his dean is also one of our former classmates, Maria Conzatti! Her family also has ties to Chiavari and have a home here.... small world isn't it?

Being that Sam had some meetings in and around Firenza this week we set off early Tuesday and spent a very romantic evening in a lovely hotel on a very fashionable street! We had a delicious meal that evening and the next morning set off for the Uffizi Gallery. We were one of the first to arrive and imagine my surprise when there was no line! Many times I have tried to see the gallery over the years, but it was always booked solid! Seems to be January is the best time of year to visit Firenza! After overdosing on art and culture Sam and I spent the rest of the day taking in all that Firenza has to offer then finally met up with Steven in the evening.

Here is the link to all of our fun! Click here!

Every year Prof. Urso, aka Steven, takes a group of his students from Nassau Community College on a grand tour of Italy. They start in Rome, go on to Orvieto where they attend cooking classes and visit the vineyards of Tuscany. We met up with Steven Wednesday night in Firenza. We had a blast talking about the past and present over a Fiorentino and glass of Chianti in a very full trattoria! Life is sure strange sometimes. Who would have thought all those years ago while we were growing up in Franklin Square that one day in the future, Steven and I would be together in a trattoria in Firenza sipping a fine Chianti! Life is great and always full of surprises!

Arriverderci!