Trendy Traveler: Cheese, balsamic vinegar, and crazy soccer fans... what else do you need??

Another GREAT weekend here in Firenze!
On Friday, I had parmesan cheese, proscuitto, and balsamic vinegar tours. I had signed up for this tour with Florence University of the Arts (my school here in Florence) in the first part of the semester. It is just a tour through my school and not my study abroad program, so I had to pay extra for it, but it was well worth it. I had to get up at 4:30 AM in order to meet the group at 5:30. Yep, early... that was not worth it.
We met at 5:30 in order to be able to see the entire process of cheese making at the Parmesan Reggiano cheese factory. We did to see the whole process, which was very interesting. I was able to get over the fact that I did not get a lot of sleep. We were able to first see the raw milk (milk that is straight from the cow and not refrigerated at all) put into huge "mixers." It was then later churned and then sat until it solidified. After seeing this, we went into a huge room of cheese. There is no other way to describe then such. This was where the cheese aged and then it was tested/ tasted in order to be sold. The cheese can not have holes in it for it to be sold, so they use a special tool to listen to the cheese and make sure it doesn't have any holes. My favorite part of the tour was the taste test, of course. We first tasted cheese that was two years old, which was really good. Then we tasted three year old cheese, which was SO much better. I could definitely taste the difference. The factory did have a store where you could buy the cheese as well. I had to refrain from buying a huge block because what am I supposed to do with that amount of cheese? It is a little carried away.

The made us wear these really cool outfits.
Sarah had a hunchback from her backpack underneath

The shoes they made us wear

Sarah and Catherine

The raw milk

Giant whisk (haha)

So excited about cheese

The label the cheese when it is ready to be sold

I love cheese!

Carving the cheese

So much cheese!!

After the cheese tour, we went to a proscuitto factory. This was a little difficult because the smell and the sight of seeing all the hanging pigs' legs all around me made me grossed out. I did not really enjoy it. But I enjoyed the lunch afterwards, which was delicious and very filling. Sarah, Catherine, Elise, and I finished all the food that was given to us and then extra as well. We are girls that like to eat. I know how to choose my friends well.

The smell made me look this way

lovely (sarcasm)

This is my nauseous face

Following lunch we went on another tour where they make balsamic vinegar. It was a very interesting process. They make it from grapes, which I did not know! They make barrels out of five different types of woods and put the vinegar and balsamic into these barrels. The liquid soaks up the different aromas and flavors of the different woods. Also, this family and 120 other ones are the only ones who are allowed to make the balsamic and call it the "traditional" balsamic vinegar. So, the ones that you see in the grocery stores are not the "traditional" balsamic vinegar and they also add a lot of sugars and artificial flavors into it. We were able to have taste tests of the balsamic vinegar and it was amazing. First, we tried an orange flavored one that was good on salads and fruits and later I bought this one. Next, we tried an apple flavored balsamic, which was then followed by a six year old one, both fantastic as well. Then came the GOOD stuff. We tried a twelve year old and then a twenty-five year old one. These were expensive, but you got what you were paying for it. Deliciousness!

Today, Sunday, we went to a soccer game. It was insane. The fans were crazy and kept waving flags and screaming chants. The people behind us kept yelling at the ref and I am actually glad I did not know what they were saying because it made it more interesting. The weather was perfect and it was such a great day to be outside. The Florence team won 3 to 0, so it made it even better.