Cinque Terre and Recovery

Last weekend, Deanna and I ventured to the fabulous and breathtaking "Five Lands" (we only made it to four, but who's counting?).
It was absolutely breathtaking, but I was slightly disappointed at the lack of things to do, since we weren't hiking. I have officially put hiking in Cinque Terre on my bucket list. The trail we were planning to hike was closed due to rock slides, so we were forced to wait an extra hour in the first land for our train (thus only making it to four).
We began in Riomaggiore, where we walked along the main street (I have now lovingly nicknamed Cinque Terre "Cinque Streets," because it seems like all each land has to offer is one main street. However, I know we left A LOT unexplored). I was frightened at the amount of fried foods, as each food stop boasted fried fish, potatoes, and everything in between. I found a place that sold farinata, the Italian variation of the Socca I enjoyed in France. While the restaurant also served foccacia, I weighed the risks, checked out the kitchen, and decided to get four slices of farinata--two of pesto and two of rosemary. Deanna got fried calamari and pizza, and we ate down at the water.
By the time we made it on the train, we headed straight for the most popular of the lands, Vernazza. There, I enjoyed handmade pineapple gelato, we climbed to a castle but decided against paying the entrance fee to climb to the top, we walked through a beautiful church on the water's edge, and we sat on the rocks and I let the water hit my feet. Afterwards, we rushed to Corgnilia, where we stopped at an outdoor bar and ordered strawberry sparkling wine and olives. We didn't get to stay in the land of olives for long, but the land looked beautiful and overgrown with olive trees and vineyards.
Our train to the next land was delayed, and when a train did come, we all approached the platform expectantly, only to have it zoom past us, forgetting to stop. We were only offset by a little bit of time, and had just enough time to check out Manarola and stop so Deanna could get a crepe before heading back to the main train station.
As I said, hiking Cinque Terre is a must, and is something I am determined to do with my future boyfriend/fiance/husband. If he is unwilling...sorry, honey.

The next morning, Deanna, Sammi, and I met up at a new vegan bar called "Shake"for brunch. I ordered a quinoa salad with walnuts, pears, and a honey balsamic dressing. Afterwards, we ventured over to Piazza S. Maria Novella to check out the food fair. It was temptation in a piazza for me, with rows and rows of Sicilian dessert trucks and delicious foreign foods I couldn't eat. I wandered around and collected cheese and gluten free salami samples while Deanna and Sammi enjoyed a cheese and honey crepe. We then went to the Boboli Gardens and walked through the Costume Gallery of the Pitti Palace.

Afterwards, I was feeling pretty crummy. The farinata I had ordered was, surprise surprise, contaminated. I suppose a part of me expected it, and a small small (not so small) part of me was hoping that if I "accidentally" got contaminated, I could justify going to a secret bakery or, seeing as there were tons of trucks just waiting for me at Santa Maria Novella, try my very first and only Italian cannoli.

I was really contemplating this. At brunch, Sammi had leaned over to Deanna and almost whispered that they should check out the food fair, and I had to speak up and ask if I was even invited to this thing with them. I felt so left out. They wanted to do it, but didn't want me to feel isolated, and as a result I felt isolated. The same thing happened in Cinque Terre, when Deanna got frustrated because we could not find a place where I could eat, she was hungry, and the place that I could eat didn't look appetizing to her. It set of something within her, and I understand. It is frustrating. I'm frustrated. And I wanted a cannoli.

We were walking towards Sammi's place, as we had made plans for dinner at her house and wanted to drop some things off in her apartment. We walked past a little coffee shop with an adorable vintage sitting area, and a chalkboard sign that said "Gluten Free Crepes."  I was hesitant, because the only crepes I had found in Florence in all my research was at Ciro and Sons and came at a high price, but at my friends' urging I walked in and asked the man at the counter if they used a separate pan for the gluten free crepes and if they were prepared in a separate area. He smiled and said, "No, we don't need to. It's all gluten free. This is a gluten free cafe."

It's called Superfox, and it's brand new. There's not even a sign on the door yet. We sat and talked to the man and his wife, who owns the cafe. Martha is from the Czech Republic, but moved to Florence after studying abroad in college. She is a celiac and wanted to offer something for other celiacs in Florence. She and her husband are expecting their first child. We talked about gluten free options in Florence and living with Celiac as I ate the most delicious marscapone and strawberry-layered crepe in my life. Deanna ordered a sweet iced tea, and we were impressed with how fresh everything was.

After the palace, we went to get a "Florence Fish Kiss," a fish pedicure. It was the strangest sensation to have a hundred sucker fish cleaning the dead skin off my feet! I knew it would be strange, but somehow was not prepared for the first moment I submerged my feet and all the fish flocked to them. They targeted my calves, for some reason, and some brave little suckers were willing to stick their heads out of the water to get a better taste. If we opened our toes, they would go like magnets in between. I stopped doing that after one poor little guy got stuck in between; he barely made it out alive. It's a dangerous line of work! The woman working there was very pleasant, and granted us a 10% discount.

Later, Deanna and I went through the leather market to pick out some souvenirs for family. Afterwards, I went home not feeling well from the farinata, leaving Deanna and Sammi to their dinner at Sammi's without me. In some way, I felt that it was for the best. I was sick, but a part of me knew I could have gone, but I wanted to give them time without me. Too much Lindsey is no good.

The next day, we met up at the food fair for lunch. I didn't want to go, but I knew that it would be an experience, and I didn't want to miss out on an experience. We went, and all my friends paid 5 euro for great food. I dished out 12 euro for something called stinco--a roasted, oily, fatty meat from the shin--with potatoes. After finishing it, I was about ready to throw up. We went to Superfox for some fresh-pressed rose tea, which helped me feel better. We spent approximately 4 hours in there doing homework, then departed for Mass.

The next day, Deanna came over and we made risotto with basil and sun dried tomatoes. We continued our homework/Friends marathon, and then went out to take part in "Music in the City," an event in which several of the piazzas in Florence have classical music performances. By the time we got to the meeting location, the skies had opened up, and our tour guide eventually showed up to tell us what we already knew--it was cancelled. We met Sammi there, and decided while standing in the rain to have a pasta night at her place. Deanna and I made the 20 minute trek in the pouring rain back to my house to get my gluten free pasta, and we then made our way to Sammi's.

We arrived soaking wet, but poured some wine and got back to working on homework while listening to music. We then made pasta and watched a horrible but hilarious movie, "They Came Together," while eating cinnamon sugar popcorn.

I was still not feeling my best, and on two occasions throughout the next week was very ill because of the farinata. But, God showed me that I do not want to harm my body by giving into temptation. And, the best part, I don't need to. Because He will constantly take care of me and put places like Superfox in my path, and will give me strength.

Over the course of the semester, I have been collecting helpful passages from the Bible that talk about bread--about Jesus being the bread of life, about God being our spiritual food and our portion, about how our bodies can find strength and sustenance in Him rather in the temptations we have in our earthly food. I began collecting scripture, and they have continually brought me strength. Sitting in Superfox, I was struck with inspiration to make a place, someday, for people who can no longer enjoy the food they want to due to allergies. I want to show them through this place that they have what they need in God. I want to call it "Feed My Sheep" (because that is what I feel God wants me to do in my life), and I want to write these scripture on the walls so others can grow and find strength and courage. It is just an idea, of course, but one I am holding on to until the day God plants something different in my heart.