Ottobre

Since writing my pumpkin rant, things have improved in the land of the Florentines.

Well, moderately.

Woah - woah - woah! You weren't expecting that were you? Halloween overload. What is this blonde complaining about? Italy is decked out in punks' and morbidly iced cookies! Yes, this is the curious case of Mama's Bakery. This glorious place advertises itself as being stocked with American food, which I can attest to. Its counter is overflowing with mini-cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and NY style cheesecake. It even has to-go cups that are made of cardboard!!! Gasp. This is in contrast to the Italian hot coffees I receive in plastic dixie cups with a make-shift lid of saran wrap.. so functional, as you can imagine.

Today I got... wait for it... CHAI TEA!!! The cinnamon-y goodness of the fusion of fall flavors. Oh man. Things slowly ascended from last week's orange tea, which trumped English Breakfast in its undertones of autumn. But, chai. There are no words.

What's a fall-themed post without a chunky knit scarf? But really, I found this beauty at H&M for a handful of euros and I'm not taking it off until Spring. Not featured: Little pom pom attachments at the bottom. Youuu are perrrfect, Mr. Scarf. Florence is starting to get chilly! I thought Harrisonburg had bi-polar weather. I'll start my day here at 45 degrees bundled up and end up sweating at 80 degrees midday! Layers, people, layers. Also - can't wait to snag myself some devil horns for 1 euro from the Italian "dollar store!" (Yes, they have those!)

Ciao for now!! xo

Mission: Pumpkin head

Fall is in the air. The leaves are turning, the cider is churning, the -- wait, no it's not. I'm in Italy and still wearing flip-flops. I went to Croatia last weekend and sauntered around in a bikini while gazing at aquamarine water. Unlike America, which breaks out the orange and black in August, Italy does not seem to carry the same seasonal obsessions. In fact, they seem pretty season neutral. No one is dying their hair auburn for fall, or switching out their pastel wardrobes for warmer burgundies and forest greens. Black attire in the summer - black attire in the winter. Va bene. My friends are posting about their pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin bread and pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin. It's like they're rubbing Starbucks in my face, while I order my ho-hum espresso at my lackluster Italian caffe. Well, I had had enough. This bionda was about to find some "zucca"-flavoured things in Florence.

I went to the nearest CONAD, hoping to see my familiar orange squash on display. Alas, there were only bananas. We were off to a bad start.

"Scusa"-ing my way to the tea section, I fervently searched for something that reminded me of fall. Apple, chai, anything! Scanning boxes of chamomile, green, black, and something called "Prince of Wales" tea, I realized that my quest was in vain. I perused the coffee shelves for a pumpkin-flavoured creamer or something similar. No. There is clearly a reason why America takes the gold for obesity.

Accepting my loss, I settled on a soup mug (because they do not seem to believe in over-sized coffee mugs. Nothing is over-sized here except for the nutella.) and a box of blueberry green decaf.

This chica is satisfied with my fruity, warm drink. It's not pumpkin, but it's comforting. As all of you live vicariously through my travels, I will be living vicariously through your Instagram pictures of cardboard coffee cups overflowing with whipped cream and liquid caramel. You win, Starbucks.

Ciao for now xoxo, and happy fall!

Side note: Italy might be lacking in the zucca department, but they do have Mcdonald's mayonnaise! I know, you never thought that two things so perfect could be fused into one.