A last picture from Tuscany, taken from the hilltop of Montepulciano. The light wasn't great, I admit, but you get what you get. Vineyards and olive groves cover much of the valley.
Lots of local events starting this weekend, which we should see starting Sunday.
Pienza is a smaller Tuscan hill town. An event was going on when we visited but we didn't understand what it was about. Some people were dressed in Renaissance clothing. A group of young people stood in front of the church with trained birds of prey. This owl was spectacular. We have never seen anything like it.
Our home away from home in the hills on the edge of Siena. The beautiful, musically Italian name means something like scatter your cares and thoughts. It is a 19th Century manor house turned into a boutique hotel. We stayed there perhaps 25 years ago. Fond memories brought us back.
We spent six nights there, going into the city and taking day trips around Tuscany. The staff, all of whom spoke excellent English, could not have been more helpful and friendly. The restaurant is a wow. The value for Americans was very good because of the current favorable exchange rate (1€ = US$1.06). If you find yourself going to Siena you should check it out.
Apologies to Frances Mayes' wonderful book, but we have been driving around Tuscany for a couple of days looking for the quintessential view and the light has been just dreadful. Dull, hazy, formless. The landscape shots I took are unusable. After climbing uphill about 125 meters from the parking lot to to the central piazza in Montepulciano, I had to satisfy myself with some strange entertainment. A German video crew had these two young women race around a corner and then collapse. I couldn't make any sense of it. The tourist sitting on a bench wasn't interested at all.
Seen in the small Tuscan hill town of Pienza. Must be the original Model 1.
Didn't make it that far yesterday, with the effect of warm, humid weather and lots of hills on old muscles and joints. Will try for Montalcino and Montepulciano today. Had some fabulous Nobile di Montepulciano with dinner last night. Tuscan cuisine is not for the faint of heart.
Two hour drive today from Bologna to Siena, braving the speed demons of the autostrada. We are staying in a place we were perhaps 20 years ago in an 18th Century mansion, the Villa Sacciapensiere, on the hills north of the city. This is the view just before sunset from one of the terraces. Day trips around Tuscany for the next several days.
