Around Tuscany

Wednesday 27th June
Today we drove to Florence about 1:15 from San Sano (our village). Thank goodness for a Tom-tom as driving around Florence is quite a challenge. I wanted to head to the leather shop where I bought a jacket 8 years ago & amazingly soon found it. The owner, an Australian, was still there & was pretty impressed that I had returned & with friends! I did buy a jacket this time in a very unusual green colour. Not that I wanted back but she said they sell very few black ones now. I also came away another bag - I hate handbags, what am I doing? The leather is beautiful, so soft. I did get a good discount & the others came away with leather goods too.

We were also on a mission to find a particular sock shop to purchase special long golf socks (don’t ask) & after lots of walking we found them. By then we were in need of shade (it was 36C) & food & were eventually seated in the piazza beside the statue of David - not the real ones he was safely behind glass in the museum!

The afternoon was spent in cultural mood at the Petti Palace studying(?) the art works. I found the ceilings to be the most interesting _ hope I haven’t upset any art lovers!

After a refreshing swim we cooked our own dinner - a BBQ.

Thursday 28th June

A relaxing stay at home day with an hour or so in the cooler morning at the pool, a great alfresco lunch with different cheeses, salami & olives then a nanny nap. Out to dinner at a local restaurant.

Touring Tuscany

Monday 25th June
After about an hours drive through beautiful Tuscan countryside today was spent in hilltop towns. These towns were walled and were fortified to protect against the invaders from Siena & Florence (in the old days!) They were interesting places with alleyways and one even had the remains of a Roman amphitheatre - very impressive. Another had 14 towers - down from 60! Well you do need to watch for invaders when you are up high. We were about to walk into an old building when a priest walked out & we realised that it was a jail - needless to say we didn’t enter! We had a fabulous pizza before heading back down the winding alleys.

The weather was very hot again - 31C so when we got back to the villa we were straight in the pool and then across the road for dinner.

Tuesday 26th June
We drove to another walled city but this one was well know for wine. We thought we were close to the centre so didn’t take the bus but we found that it was a long way to the top of the hill, luckily there were plenty of shops to look in!!

Unfortunately there were a lot of leather shops but I did get a cute leather bag and it was good for pottery oil/vinegar containers. After an afternoon snooze we are waiting for the chef to cook our dinner. Yes you can pay for someone to do this - the smells are amazing!

Arrived Italy

Friday 22nd June
Caught the first train to Sydney after work and arrive at good old Formula1 at about 6:30. Dinner was on the agenda & the bright lights beckoned but when I realised it was Krispy Kreme, Macca’s & KFC’s bright lights I went to the ‘posh’ hotel over the road. An early night was needed & I’d been away with the Fairies for about an hour when I was awoken by the fire alarm! I tried to get dressed - hard when in an unfamiliar room even getting bra upside down -  when a voice came over saying “We think this is a false alarm. Stay in your rooms.” Some time later “ Sorry it was a false alarm!”

Saturday 23rd June
Managed to get up & dressed (clothes in correct order!) & arrived at airport at 3:45am.Unfortunately only place open at that time for a cuppa was Macca’s but hey you have to change your principles sometimes! Flight left on time at 6am and 14+ hours later we were arriving in Dubaii where it was a ‘mild’ 39C. All people connecting to Rome were gathered together & marched to the departure gate - it was far enough away to feel like we were walking to Rome! Another good flight & 6 hours later were arrived at Leonardo De Vinci International airport (sounds good doesn’t it!). Then caught airport express train to the centre. Hotel, not the best but it is right next to the station & I have a train to catch to Florence. One thing I’d forgotten about Italy was there bath towels - not like our fluffy - mine was, luckily, the size of a tablecloth & in fact would have been a good tablecloth. The towel are like thin tea towels - strange!

Sunday 24th June
Woke far to early but that’s jet lag! Arrived at railway station & got on wrong train but realised in time to get on the right train. It was one of the high speed ones & in little over an hour I was in Florence & the gang was there to meet me.

We wandered through the streets to the river passing various sights that I had seen before - the replica of David being one. Not many shops were open &  there were few tourists. The leather area was interesting - windows full of brightly coloured gloves, We will return in a few day to shop!

As we started to drive back to the villa we found that the temperature was 39C - slight change from 16C in Sydney! The villa is in amongst the vines - this is the Chianti region. a snooze & quick swim took us to dinner. There is a restaurant straight across the road - ten steps & you’re there - perfect!