Antiques market

Vicopisano is a small town near Pisa. Every second Sunday is an antiques market. My friend Birke and I got there at 11 and first got ourselves cappuccinos. After that we wandered. Warm October day. Casual atmosphere.

Then it was time for lunch. We’d seen a small place with tables outside. We found spaces at a table for six where only 3 seats were reserved. This place was hopping! Testi. It’s a butcher with fresh gorgeous meats but it also does take out and also has tables inside and out.

Broiled veal with salt crystals and red peppercorns, roast beef sliced very thin, tiny fried veggies, spinach+potato cakes. Their own wine, with a pig as the logo. I ordered a glass of wine and the waiter just put a bottle down for us. Just easier…

A group of young men say at the rest of the table. They were friendly and noisy. When their first dish came, it was a filet of beef. It looked great, and we said so. Immediately one of them cut us a generous chunk and insisted we try it. It was indeed wondrous. So tender and fresh. OMG!

At the end of the day, we drove back to Pietrasanta to have cocktail with Rita, but she wasn’t feeling well. So heck, we decided to have the cocktail anyhow. Both of us were surprised at how busy the piazza was. Quite a crowd. Just almost all Italian. The foreigners have mostly left.

A lovely day. Nice to have a new friend in Birke. We only met on Friday, at Studio Pescarella. That’s what happens here: you meet people from all over the world. Very fun.