Continued Musings on Italy...

f. and so, to carry on the Minotaur story....Katie G. found out somewhere or another that the Trattoria de Maiano was the place to eat if traveling to Fiesole.  So, of course we did our best to find it.  Unfortunately, our best meant ending up on a dark narrow road some 30 minutes after sundown.  At the first sign of civilization (a hotel this time), we waltzed in to the reception area and asked about it.  "Ah!" said the jolly Italian bellhop, "the Trattoria.  It's just down the road and a bit to the left.  You'll pass the Frattoria first, but that's not it.  You're looking for the Trattoria.  The road will be narrow, so be careful."  We left with far more confidence than we ought.

Another 20 or so minutes passed and we began to wonder if all those stories about Roman expansion were merely lies to make outsiders believe Italy was actually inhabited by people.  They were not lies, I am happy to tell you.  The Frattoria was now in sight!  Which meant the Trattoria was only minutes away.  So.....we kept going...and going...and going.  Lights laughed at us from miles away, the wind blew a cold breeze in our faces, and the sounds of night saturated the air.  Alright, so that's a little dramatic...But (!) we did finally see a sign that said Trattoria, and at this there was much rejoicing - which was followed by much lamenting - and shortly thereafter by someone making some comment about how it would be a good story anyways...(that was probably me).  The Trattoria was closed - shut down for the season, as far as we could tell, and ne'ern a soul in sight.  There we some lights up the hill, but they clearly belonged to some pedestrian who took up residence in the otherwise abandoned village.  So we about-faced and walked 100 yards right into a couple of elderly Canadians who were either taking a midnight walk through the breeze (which we found highly unlikely) or hoping to find the same place we were.  They were loud, a bit loony, and some of the kindest chaps we'd met all week.

My goodness, I haven't even gotten to the Minotaur yet.