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Published: September 26th 2011
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OMG, I have never been so excited to see a supermarket open, as I was yesterday afternoon. We arrived in San Gimignano to a lovely self contained rural house, and no groceries. Ready to give up at about 4pm on Sunday(yesterday), and even going so far as saying a prayer to find the supermarket and have it be open, we found a PAM (like woolies, but only Italian style foods). Might I add this is only the 3rd supermarket we have seen since arriving in Italy over 3 weeks ago. We have been wondering where the locals shop and decided it must be at the local market on market day, and too bad if you work that day. There are no shopping malls, the biggest we have seen is a supermarket with about 5 shops/cafes along the wall near the checkouts.
Venturing into SG on our first day was an experience not to be repeated, so we decided to have a day trip to the Chianti region, and brave the driving, hoping for quieter roads. We have decided the best way is to toot, toot, toot your horn to a merry old tune, and yodel loudly out the window (Bella
will be mortified, but Bazzy would join in if she was here!), whilst driving wherever you please.
We enjoyed the day, but are disappointed so far in our photos of this beautiful region. I have heard artists speak of the difference in the light in Europe to Australia, and have seen this right from when we arrived at the lakes up in the north. Tuscany is even more pronounced for soft diffused light, unlike our clear strong light, hence the photos aren’t clearly showing the distance, colours or perspective. It is as though there is a soft haze all around you. Unfortunately also there is no where to stop, as the roads are so narrow and windy, so I am taking quick shots out the window. (Mum & Dad, not like that road to Turon where we walked beside the car taking photos cause it was so picturesque and quiet)
We have met many nice people. It is interesting that the Aussies (we can play spot the Aussie, and we pick them by their footwear usually) tourists all stay a minimum of 4 weeks, and some as long as 9-10 weeks. The Brits come 2-3 times a year
Chianti region
late afternoon storms came over yesterday, but true Aussies we still wandered around the towns. and stay a week to two at the most. The US and Canadians seem to come for 2-3 weeks. In the lakes districts at the start of the trip it was all British tourists, Venice was mostly Americans and now we are meeting some Canadians in Tuscany. The Aussies are all over of course because we have longer to travel!
I don't know if I have already said about the lack of multicultural restaurants in Italy. It is Italian, Italian, or Italian, unlike Terrigal where we have Thai, Italian, Indian, Siamese, Noodles, Fish & Chips etc. We are tiring of the same menus over and over. The Tuscan menus though lack the seafood that we have been enjoying up until now. We are certainly going to enjoy some Thai our first night back in Aus!
Today we ventured forth to do a 35km cycling tour around Tuscany, and may I say Tuscan is all hills, so what were thinking! No actually it wasn’t too bad. John has written the blog about the cycling so I will leave it to him to describe. I will just say that we are sore and nearly asleep much earlier than normal.
Tomorrow we visit Colle Val d’Elsa to do a cooking class, so hopefully I will learn a thing or two!
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