Ciao Readers!

Today I am taking you to a festival!  This past Thursday – Sunday was the “International European Market” in Piazza Santa Croce (which just happens to be right outside my Italian school).  I discovered it after class on Thursday and then brought Steve back for dinner that night.

The festival is pretty much what you would picture from the title – lots of booths with foodstuffs from around Europe, as well as other handmade goods (wooden shoes, soaps, dolls, etc.).  There was lots of food from Austria and Germany (think wurst) and a little bit from elsewhere in Europe.  The piazza smelled like cooking meat and fried dough – Yum!  Now I suppose, objectively speaking, it wasn’t the most amazing festival ever, but, in a way it was…

I love festivals (right now I am seriously missing the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, which I wrote about with photos here).  I love everything about festivals – the festive atmosphere, the eating of random fried things you would never eat at home (and overpaying for them willingly), the people watching….  Usually, in order to go to a festival, we would have to plan, get in the car, and find parking in some huge lot far from our destination (and pay for the privilege).  So, what made this festival so very cool was the fact that we could just walk out the door, and viola!  (well, after a bit of a walk, voila!).   If it weren’t for the waiting in lines at the post and going through the immigration process (and not having a clothes dryer, and living on the 4th floor, and…..), living in Italy would be like living in a never-ending festival!  I suppose this ongoing merriment is the reward for all the not-as-fun parts.

Below are some shots of the festival by day, as well as one in the evening (pretty, yes?), and of course of our respective dinners (hint, mine still has its face).  Enjoy!