Zonked: epiloge

Let me start by finishing the events of last evening.  No sooner did we close the  laptop and set off down the hotel stairs did we see Gustavio and Karina across the street.  They had apparently forgotten the name of the hotel, and walked around blindly from the train station, luggage (aptly named Big Red and Dot) in tow.  Hotel Desiree was a mere one block away!   They dropped off their bags and we set out for a walk back to historic Florence.  Gus had prearranged dinner with friends of his from Franklin NC, Larry and Missy.  Thus we set out to find them in a town of several million people and twice again as many turisti.  We walked to the Duomo and Gus finally got his phone working, connected with L&M who were literally across the street from us.  The Italians have not yet adopted the "early bird" that we have come to love in Florida and we arrived at Dino's at 6:55 pm.  The door was open so we walked in and were met by the server who advised that they would not be ready to serve until 8pm.  Undaunted, we beseeched them to take mercy and serve us wine until they got the oven warmed up.  We had a phenomenal dinner served by a Canadian expat who could not have known more about Tuscan cuisine if she had been born there.  Our meal was fantastic and we drank incomprehensible quantities of wine.  Karina also courageously tried a grappa which, to me, had an essence of kerosene.  We walked back to Hotel Desiree and again have no recollection of anything once our heads hit the pillow. 

First Tuscan meal @ Dino's; Missy showing off Bistecca

Grappa

Bottoms up!