The Moody Traveler Returns to Florence During the Pandemic Summer 2021

The First Evening of Dinner: Dante’s Pizzeria

Lorenzo, one of the waiters, also teaches Italian at a local school

After an exhausting first day in Florence, I decided to take a walk around the corner from my apartment to dine at Trattoria Dante, recommended to me by Paola. The evening was warm but not scorching like the daytime. So I agreed to be seated outside facing the street. Lorenzo, my waiter, was very pleasant and talkative. The owner, Dante himself, proudly informed me that his restaurant had been around for 48 years. I enjoyed a delicious dinner of salmon and vegetables beautifully displayed on two separate plates. Dante spoke English very well and told me he had been to the United States in earlier years, specifically California, NY, and Las Vegas. He turned out to be quite entertaining and full of fun! Jovially, he expressed that he wanted to go to Kentucky next! Soon after our pleasant conversation, Dante’s fun side quickly turned to business as he ensured that all customers were taken care of continually.

  • Salmon dinner with vegetables
  • Dante, the owner, with a friend
  • Part of the inside restaurant decor
  • Dante & Viviana, serving staff
  • Gigio, one of the cooks, with Dante & Viviana
  • Rachid, my waiter during a second visit
  • Enjoying conversation with Viviana who is from Sicily! She is also a student studying mixology!
  • Fun with Rossalla, from Seracuse and it was her first night as a waitress at Dante!

I really enjoyed the Dante trattoria! It wasn’t just the food…it was the care and kindness along with friendly conversation that brought Dante to life. I couldn’t help but return several more times. My last night of dining, I sat inside and was served by Nordinq. He was very efficient, moving quickly to take care of all the patrons. After my dinner, he escorted me to the back of the restaurant, near the kitchen, to choose a dessert. I decided to take it with me and savor as a late night treat!

  • Another night of salmon!
  • Nordinq , always efficient & dedicated to his job!
  • Dante even makes their own wine called Dante, of course!
  • My tasty cheesecake to go!

There never seems to be enough time to visit Florence and it made me a bit sad to leave this wonderful group of people. Thank you Dante! I hope to return again to see all of you! Tanti aguri a tutti voi! (All the best to all of you!)

My last evening at Dante!

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Author: vmcarson

Traveling has always been in my blood since I was very young. My family moved frequently to different locations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the United States due to my mother's teaching jobs. As a young girl, I would accompany my mother on bus trips to visit her relatives in different parts of the United States. Throughout my younger years, I could only dream of traveling to Italy and being fluent in the language. My father was Sicilian but rarely spoke in Italian. In 2013, my mother took me on my first international trip to Italy. I felt so fortunate to see Rome, Venice, Florence, and other regions of Tuscany. At that time, I became determined to return to Italy. I was obsessed with discovering the most economical way to solo travel. Eventually, I took a chance and learned along the way to solo travel. I was able to return to one of my favorite cities in Italy, Florence. In this area, I have enjoyed studying the Italian language and familiarizing myself with the art and culture. Furthermore, I have gained a new inner strength and the ability to expand my life. Every year, I try to explore and write about my travel experiences. I have made many wonderful friends and found endless new places to explore. It is my pleasure to inspire other travelers to unhook the inner fears of trying something that seems impossible. The results are incredible! You may contact me at vmcarson@aol.com with any solo traveling questions!

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