Since it was 10 am by this time, we naturally went to Grom, the most famous gelato place in all of Italy, for a tour. We learned that the ingredients were all natural and imported from countries such as Venezuela and Guatemala. The man working there also taught us that if any other shop’s gelato was piled up, it was filled with preservatives, rather than Grom’s deluxe, natural ingredients. I ordered their signature, crème de Grom, combined with the worker’s fave, nugget. Strangely enough, I’ve actually been to their only other location with my dad in New York and loved it! Massimo seemed to love it, too:
Afterwards, we were again given the opportunity to walk around the duomo and take pictures for 20 minutes before jumping on the bus for the olive press. The bus ride was short, but when we arrived, we had a bit of a hike on our hands. When we arrived at field number 13, we entered a small little room, crammed tight with three picnic tables and corresponding chairs. We set our backpacks down and followed the owner for a tour of the land. He described various olive-oil-making processes while walking us up and down a dirt path, explaining that (much like Grom) they used only the finest ingredients and do not tolerate preservatives and pesticides. Anyone who knows my mom (Dena, Callie, Maddie and Mrs. Hartman) and I remarked that Alison would be proud of the healthy day we had had so far. It was around 2 and we were all starving so we sat down at the picnic tables and did a little olive oil taste test, accompanied by bread and small, open-sided, sandwich-like finger foods. The difference in taste between the unnatural oil and the press’ own was impeccable! Here are just some pics I took/ were taken of me in our time there:
By the time we returned to our new, 2-star hotel (upgrade!), it was time for dinner, so we walked to Ristorante Alfredo Pizzaria. At this restaurant, they bake their pizzas with special dough and, since we hadn’t pre-ordered any, Massimo hooked us up with the left-overs, and we all shared desserts.
While waiting for the check, Maddie and I compiled this list of funny moments/inside jokes/ hilarious dialogues that I am honored to include and am sure I’ll eventually add on to:
Mrs. Hartman: What do y’all want for dessert?
Stephanie: Anything with calories.
Stephanie: Did we go to the Statue of Liberty before or after lunch yesterday? (meaning to say the Statue of David)
Stephanie: Is the Hunchback of Notre Dame set in Italy?
Maddie: I think so.
Demeris: No, it’s set in Paris… where Notre Dame is.
Erin: Out of all of my friends, you would be the one to stab me. (to Holly Hepper)
Stephanie: Sobriety is making me queasy. (Maddie thought she said “sobriety” rather than “the bus,” which sounds nothing alike…).
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