Episode 5: Charlie and his factory ain't got nothing on me!

Just when I think Florence is as good as it's going to get, it gets better.  Now you're already trying to figure out exactly what has transformed a beautiful, archaic city rich in history and art into the next level.  Some may think it's a boy.  Some may think it's theatre.  Some may be thinking just get to the point.

For those who know me pretty well, I have just two words for you: Chocolate Festival.

For those who don't know me that well or are confused, let me explain.

If I could marry an inanimate object, I would marry chocolate.  And it truly would be a marriage that would last till death do us part because either I'd run out of chocolate to eat or I would die from a heart attack - not because I ate so much chocolate but because my heart exploded from all my love.  Chocolate is one of the main reasons I value originating from the Americas, because it wouldn't exist in the rest of the world if it wasn't for us.  And for us being discovered.  And by us I mean the natives of South America, such as the Mayans and the Aztec who were the first ones to understand the glory of the bitter cacao seeds, whose scientific name Theobroma translates into all languages as 'food of the gods.'  However, whereas the people of Central America get the honor of the original cultivators of this tropical rainforest plant, the Europeans get the honor of perfecting its consumption.

So I walk amongst the tents, weaving myself through booth after booth of cioccolata.  Lollipops, chocolate covered dried fruit, hazelnuts, almonds.  Chocoate in the shapes of ducks, owls, cells phones, wrenches, anvils, vise grips. White chocolate, dark chocolate, powdered chocolate.  The aroma seduces my nose, doing an argentine tango with my olfactory sense, kicking Pavlo into gear and making my mouth water.  I don't care how big or awesome you're chocolate factor is Charlie and Mr. Wonka, you've got nothing on this place.

I called my friend Cami who I was going to meet and tell her to come and see, though truthfully I knew I would need help leaving. I was simply biding time before I bought something.  But before she got there, I caved in.  With 2 euros I bought cioccolata calda classica, translated means the best cup of hot chocolate I have or will ever have.  It was literally melted chocolate.  Not powdered or a chocolate substitute, but pure steaming hot chocolate from a container that had to continuously stir the delicious contents, and they even give you a spoon with to help you devour that much wonderfulness.

Cami ended up getting, after persuasion from me, a pure chocolate lollipop that had a few rice krispies in it probably to help biting into it.  I warned her that I was the worst person to go chocolate shopping with, because I will most always say to get it. Because you should.  Because it's chocolate.  Especially here where the chocolate has no perservatives or weird after tastes. 

We finally left, mostly because our stomach were growling and we knew we should fill them with real food.  However, the best part of the Chocolate Festival isn't that day, but the fact this festival will be going on till the 14th, and I am determined to eat a chocolate bolt or hammer.

Until next time!
Ciao!