D and I spent two weeks in Italy this Spring.  We went without an established itinerary or any reservations, just a guidebook for reference and a general idea of where we wanted to go.  We did, however, have a clear mission – to eat and drink and relax.  I can say unreservedly that we accomplished our mission completely.

It was odd that many of our acquaintances thought our lack of planning was frightening or somehow daring.  We didn’t know the language?  We didn’t know where we would stay?  What if something went awry?

We looked at our map and got on a train when we were done with a town.  We stayed long enough in each city to take a good look and taste some items.  We saw some important art and architecture and culture, but we did not waver from eating and drinking.

I confirmed my adoration of Italian cookies by sampling a few from as many bakeries as I could.  I ate an enormous amount of cookies.  I ate cookies for breakfast and then just after breakfast.  I ate cookies instead of lunch and then after my siesta.  Of course, I managed to have a few cookies in the evening as well.

You must believe that we consumed more than just the cookies.  There was a great deal of wine and a bit of refreshing Aperole spritzers.  We ordered blindly off of menus.  We ate pasta and meats and veggies and pizza.  Bread and cheese and paninis and olives.

It was glorious gluttony.  And during this time of feasting we managed to avoid growing ourselves any larger.  As a matter of fact, despite the moist heat that tended to drive us indoors for afternoon siestas, we managed to walk enough miles during our trip that we lost weight.