We didn’t even get out until nearly 11:00.  I had no idea what we were doing.

First stop–The Orto Botanico (Botanical Gardens).  We walked through, enjoying trees, green houses, special plants and the pond.  It is quite small and not much is in bloom this time of year but it was a nice visit.

the pond

Japanese maple in bloom

From there we headed over to the gastronomia to buy lunch.  Since we hadn’t yet found a bread place I asked a woman, another customer.  She was classic, well dressed, full make up, doing her shopping.  She told me go to Forno Casale but couldn’t quite remember the name of the street so another customer chimed in, this part in English.  He finished his directions with “Forno Casale–The best!”,  so off we went.  It was just a few blocks away, easy to find, small dark and packed with bread and customers.  We got some foccacia, some plain and crunchy and another piece baked with fresh tomatoes and regular bread.  Everything was fantastic!  The best.

We walked by this wall coming home:

And we walked by the back of the duomo:

Came home to eat.  Here’s my plate with all the different tastes from the shop.

From 12:00: Cardoons, white beans with shrimp, cod with sauce, focaccia, spinach, string beans with sugo.

In the afternoon we decided to go outside the walls and walk on top a bit.  Going outside was really a fun moment.  It’s just 3 minutes away but really a different reality.  Just outside, at the door nearest to us,  it was like a big park, a big field of green grass but not at all of the portals.  We walked up on top of the walls and it was really delightful.  We went out again at the door near Anthony and Lyn’s place and it was much more traffic and shops etc.  Back inside we strolled and window shopped.

garden tools

What are these pies?? I need to find out!

Stopped at a wine shop nearer to our place and got a bottle of local sparkling wine and dessert wine.  Had a great conversation with the shop keeper.

I made a giant pot of barley stew and we ate the leftovers from lunch for dinner.

Then we indulged in the dessert wine (it’s not vin santo, but close) and some cantucci.  I’m smiling inside and out, sitting at our little table with the man I love and the sweetness of the dessert. Yummy all around.