Today I went on another passeggiata (walk) from Coverciano, which is the area near the stadio (stadium) to our apartment in centro (downtown). I walked the same route as I did last Sunday. This morning on via Paoli people were getting ready for a large outdoor mercato (market). The entire street was lined with banchi (stands) on both sides selling clothing, housewares, and food. Music was blaring from some of the banchi while people were browsing the tables even though the mercato wasn't officially open yet at 8 am.

Today, I finally had a chance to go to Mama's Bakery, which I read about in The Florentine more than a month ago. I haven't found a good American-style forno (bakery) in Florence, so I was eager to try out this new one. Even though I love living in Florence and enjoy all the local delicacies, I still have my cravings for American treats.

I'm certain that it's only human to want to be noticed and acknowledged. I greet people in the street that I know, and people often greet me when they see me. Sometimes I stop off in shops where I know people and we either chat in their shop or we grab a coffee together so we can chat. One other way that people greet me, which I greatly appreciate, is through Alessandro.

This morning I hitched a ride with Alessandro to go to one of my favorite pasticcerie (pastry shops) outside of the centro (downtown area), Pasticceria Stefania in via Marconi. Alessandro goes there every weekend morning before work and this morning I woke up at 7am just to have one of their sfoglia con crema (puff pastry with cream). I love how when we get there, they are still warm from coming out of the oven. Normally, Alessandro would drive me back home, but today I decided to take a long walk home afterwards.

After dinner Monday night at my friend Simone's restaurant, Alessandro and I decided to walk through Piazza Santo Spirito on our way back home. We were surprised to see bright luci (lights) shining and a few people standing around the piazza. It was close to 11.30pm and the piazza was quiet even though there were telecamere (television cameras) and proiettori (projectors) sprinkled around. We were excited to see that they were filming a movie in the piazza.

I have always loved the campane (bells) that ring every hour all around town. Sometimes I admit that I don't hear them, but other times they stop me in mid-sentence. I love that no matter where I am in centro (downtown area), I hear a different set of campane ringing from different chiese (churches) and torre (towers).

The past few days we've been fortunate to have surprisingly warm weather. In the mornings and evenings the temperatures are low, but in the afternoon temperatures reach up to 27°C (81°F). For me, it's the best weather we've had all year: sunny days and cool evenings. Many people are confused as to how to dress because of the extremes we're having, but we all seem to find our way.

Before the sun set, I walked down via dello Studio, which is a lovely stone street that leads up to the Duomo. The view of the Duomo is one of my favorites in the entire city; however, I always have to watch my step on the uneven street because I love looking up at the Duomo while I walk. Via dello Studio is a narrow street with four to six-story buildings on each side, and at the end of the street I can see a sliver of the Duomo. As I look up toward the sky, I take in a view of the cupola (cupola) that dominates the street. I'm always envious when I see people walking around at the top of the cupola taking in Florence.

After the new leggi (laws) that passed this summer, I've had to find a new place to park my bicicletta (bicycle). Initially, I parked it on a side street where vigili (police officers) left a note saying that I had to move it or else it would be rimossa (removed) by them. I then found a palo (pole) on the corner of my street that sometimes has biciclette locked to it that was available. I locked my bicicletta to it and thought that I had found the perfect spot.

This morning we left for the Parco Regionale della Maremma (or Parco dell'Uccellina) early this morning, but not before we grabbed a caffè at one of my favorite pasticcerie (pastry shops) on the outskirts of centro (downtown area). We drove south toward Grosseto and arrived only a few minutes before the bus left to take the visitatori (visitors) inside of the parco (park) where many trails begin. Almost everyone else was dressed in hiking gear while we were only in jeans and tennis shoes. When Alessandro told me that we'd be going to a parco for a passeggiata (walk), I had assumed something low-key and relaxing.

I met one of my friends for a coffee this morning. Because we were close to Piazza Santa Croce, we ran through the mercato (market) that was being held there. After we perused the bancarelle (stands), we decided to go to Piazza Santissima Annunziata to visit the Fiera della ceramica. I have always loved ceramiche (pottery), and anytime the fiera (fair) is in the piazza I go to it without any hesitation.

Alessandro came back today with two castagne (chestnuts) in his pocket. When he placed them on the table, I asked, "Cosa fai con due castagne? What are you doing with two chestnuts?" I held the two small, raw castagne in my hand as he explained. "Un mio collega mi ha detto che se tengo queste due castagne, non mi ammalerò. One of my colleagues said that if I keep these two chestnuts, I won't be sick."

Instead of leaving the house at 6:30 am with Alessandro to go running, I went out alone at 7:45 am. I didn't think there would be a big difference only an hour later, but there was. The first thing I noticed was the amount of people outside. The minute I left our piazza, I had to run past a fermata dell'autobus (bus stop) where school children were getting off the bus. I had to stop running and say, "Permesso (Excuse me)" at least four or five times to get by.

The last thing I thought I would be doing was running alone in the Corri la Vita walkathon/marathon. Alessandro and I had signed up a few days ago, but after our long run yesterday we decided not to go. I woke up early today and put on my running gear including the race's maglietta (T-shirt), donated by Salvatore Ferragamo, and walked to Piazza Santa Croce. I wanted to go so that I could pick up the pacchi gara (competitor's gift packages), exchange Alessandro's maglietta for a larger one, and take some pictures of the event because I had never participated before.

This morning we somehow made it out the door a little after 6:15 am. The air was cool in the early before the sun rises, so I prepared myself for the low temperatures and put on my sweats, wool cap, and gloves. The streets were even quieter than they were during the week. There was a light breeze that nudged us along the lungarno (street along the Arno river). I looked down at the fiume (river) and the water wasn't as still as it was the last two times we went running this week. The reflection of the buildings in San Niccolò on the Arno looked more like an impressionist painting.