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Blogs from Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
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December 26th 2009
Activities * Roaming Pitigliano * Local art exhibition at the Pitigliano Galley * Cousin Rosana's Bar/Pizzeria/Restaurant for dinner Highlight(s) * Taking in the sites around town with no rain in the morning * Lunch at a local trattoria Odd Spot(s) * Dinner at cousin Rosana's consisted of several communal conversations occurring across the room simultaneously. We were seated in the middle of the room and people from all of the other tables proceeded to engage in conversations across and around us - catching up on local gossip, discussing our trip, debating the best route for us to head to Rome the next day. It was truly a communal experience. *Gelati count = 0 Weather Rain, rain, cold min 6 / max 8 degrees ... read more
Day 16 - Pitigliano, Italy (Christmas Day)
Published: December 30th 2009Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Pitigliano
December 25th 2009
Activities * Christmas Lunch * Drive to Saturnia to see the hot springs Highlight(s) * Christmas menu: - bread with home made spreads - spaghetti with anchovies - giant ravioli with ricotta and spinach in butter and sage - giant ravioli with ricotta and spinach with ragu - roast pork in gravy with herbs (awesome) - roast potatoes with olive oil and rosemary - salad (mixed lettuce) - Christmas Pudding - Biscuits and cakes - Coffee - Grappa. * Mum's Christmas Pudding * Spotting a Cinghiale (Wild Boar) foraging by the side of the road on the way back from Saturnia. Mmmmmm ..... Cinghiale. Odd Spot(s) * They really don't like wearing seatbelts - to the point that they just drive along with the seatbelt alarm beeping incessantly. The alarm was annoying us - s ... read more
December 24th 2009
Activities * Day trip to Grosseto Highlight(s) * Lunch at the Number Nine Restaurant in Grosseto * Joc did an amazing job driving in the rain and in the dark on the way home Odd Spot(s) * When we arrived in Grosseto there was a massive market where we parked the car - around 11:30am. We planned to check it out after a walk around town. When we arrived back after lunch at 2:30pm there was not a sign of the market - it was like it was never there. *Gelati count = 0 Weather Rain, rain, rain, min 14 / max 16 degrees ... read more
December 23rd 2009
Activities * Tourist day with sightseeing at Todi and Assisi Highlight(s) * Tomb of St Francis of Assisi * Finding our way home Odd Spot(s) * The town of Assisi was all but flattened by earth quakes in 1997. There are still some construction sites - but most buildings have been amazingly restored. * We needed to go through a large town called Perugia on the way home and had a real Griswalds moment. We couldn't find our way out! We must have completed 4 laps of the city - with familiar buildings such as the train station re-appearing. "Look kids, Big Ben." *Gelati count = 0 Weather Rain, rain, rain, min 12 / max 15 degrees ... read more
December 22nd 2009
Activities * Exploring the township of Pitigliano * Family visits in Pitigliano and San Valentino * Trying to stay dry Highlight(s) * Catching up with family * Enjoying the slow paced friendliness of the local shopkeepers Odd Spot(s) * A vast contrast to Rome - when you enter a shop in Pitigliano (or any of the small Tuscan towns) it is mandatory to have some small talk. This is true even if you are the only one in the store or if there is a queue. When we went to the fruit shop - we were third in line to be serrved - and there were others queuing up behind us. We all had to wait as the person being served updated the fruit man on how her mother was and whether her leg was ... read more
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December 21st 2009
Activities * Travel from Paris, France to Pitigliano, Italy Highlight(s) * Arriving in Pitigliano after flight cancellations and delays Odd Spot(s) * We have never experienced such a long and painful boarding of an aircraft. With mostly Italians boarding the plane - meant no queues, everyone trying to push in, taking six bags each as carry-on and complaining about everything thoughout the process. It took about 55 mins to board a 737. * The drive from Rome to Pitigliano was pretty full-on. Had to deal with pouring rain, pitch black, tiny winding roads and cars that sit an inch off your back bumper before they perform death-defying overtaking manouvers on blind corners. Gelati count = 0 Weather (Pitigliano) Cold and rain, min 3 / max 7 degrees ... read more
