Friday already and it is our last day! We woke to the sound of heavy rain dancing off the roof and patio. When it rains in Tuscany it doesn't do half measures. We had our plan to visit Sansepulcro so off we set on the same road we had driven back from Anghiari. We are definitely beginning to know our way around this region what with the help of maps and Sat Nav! We were approaching the town and I was reading from the Guide Book that it was the chief industrial town of the area so to be honest we thought a short visit would be enough. As usual the town turned out to be more catching and the old part remains much the same as in medieval times. It is the town where Pierro ... read more
Considering we have been staying just outside Arezzo for the past 6 days we thought we had better visit the town. Sandra, our host arrived over to the cottage this morning to greet us. She had been in England for a relative's wedding until Tuesday. She was very chatty and offered us an umbrella for the day as it was tipping down with rain. She gave us a few tips of where to visit as well so with extra maps and coats fleeces and brolleys off we set. We drove right up to the old part of Arezzo. It is quite a big town compared with many we have visited, the modern part being on the flat and as usual the old part on the hill top although there were just a few ups and downs. ... read more
This morning we woke to sunshine although the weather forecast for Arezzo was rain at stages through the day. We headed for Cortona the beautiful walled medieval hill top town about 45 minutes from Arezzo. The town was made famous following the novel and film "Under the Tuscan Sun" - all about a woman called Frances who ends up letting go of fear and taking the plunge to make a new life in Italy. Having spent the afternoon in this absolutely lovely town I can guess how she just fell in love with it and from what I gather so have many others particularly Americans. Every summer several American students flock to the town for Summer school and today we heard many American accents. So we had to climb to the top of the hill as ... read more
Some photos of our accommodation in Bagnoro. Sunday was our rest day. Having said that we had a jaunt to the local Supermarket. It is always interesting checking out all the different food and produce! Then in the evening we headed up the mountain road thinking we might get to the top before dark. Not a chance. It just kept on going. Jim went on ahead at one point to check out the next bend and I heard the rustle of bushes beside me. All I could think of was wild boar and I let out a Jimmmm! Fortunately there was no sign of any deer or boar but glad we turned as it was dark by the time we got back. We were told by Paul this morning that there are families of boars close ... read more
We departed from Antella at 11 and decided to take the scenic route via the Appenine ridge. Tusc50 kany has not been a disappointment. It is more beautiful than they say. The landscape is unspoiled and as you look upwards towards the rolling hills they are clad in trees and wild flowers and meadows. The small hilltop towns are so sleepy and with locals sitting in the piazzas chatting. There were signs advertising the 50 k cycle race on Sunday and there were groups of cyclists out training. The ones we overtook passed us by again on the downward slopes clearly having a ball. We stopped just for a wee rest at Popi and discovered a gem of a town - a medieval castle with the oldest library in Italy - ancient books and charters and ... read more
Can't believe it is Friday already. We headed off to Florence after breakfast with our plan for the day. First visit was to the Duoma. With our Firense cards we bi passed the queues. Not so impressive inside as the Sante Croce but the exterior is beautiful - neo Gothic marble with a huge dome that dominates the skyline Brunelleschi's dome 463 steps to the top which we decided against. To think that the dome was built without scaffolding! We then headed to the Orsanmichele Church quite small in comparison - Gothic in style and depicts the City's patron saints of the City's trade guilds. The afternoon was spent in the Ufizzi Gallery built in the 16th Century and is the oldest gallery in the world. It is crammed with ancient Greek and Roman sculptures and ... read more
We had a leisurely start to the day with breakfast in the shady courtyard. Temperature rose throughout the day to 26 so water and rests were required.We headed off with our trusty guide books and maps and the Firenze cards Jim had bought online. It was a very popular venue today with loads of groups of young teenagers here and there! Quite a few Americans around as well but we coped.So we came to Sante Croce piazza and it was brimming with street sellers and guess who fell for the gift of an elephant ornament and then another and 5 Euros later the street seller finally moved on. I got stronger through the day with the shaking of my head and definite No! Jim got it in one but then he had years of training in ... read more
So this is us Mr and Mrs Summers at the top of the tower, 294 steps up! What a view! We are really enjoying the beautiful countryside - so green - and rolling hills with the roads following the gradient - up and down and up and down and sat nav's tracking showing bend after bend! Trees everywhere - deciduous and olive trees and vines - the Chianti region! The guest house is a 14th century villa set in the countryside overlooking Antella and Florence. Nice big Persian cat to stroke. Hosts are very Italian. We enjoy a continental breakfast in the shaded courtyard. We spent the day in Pisa exploring the Duoma and Baptistry and the Campo Santo a cemetery for saints and famous people. A wedding had just taken place and the bride and ... read more
Helen Thomson and Jim Summers - married at 2pm on Saturday 4th May 2013 at Birse & Feughside Church, Finzean, South Deeside, Aberdeenshire; followed by reception at Loch Kinord Hotel, Dinnet, Aboyne, North Deeside... read more