TUSCANY

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Livorno today - Livorna port authorities would not let you walk out of the port as it was about 2km and instead had shuttle buses for passengers doing their own things for 12 Euro a head (rip off) to the station - so there was a Hertz guy at the port and we hired a car with two other couples, 8 seater VW van (140 Euro for day), and headed down the coast to Cecina and had an early morning coffee break and get money from ATM, then inland to a very quaint village in Tuscany called Bolgheri, so gorgeous - asked a girl at the wine shop about wineries and eating but she was not much help so pushed on to Bibbona and then Volterra such scenic countryside. Just outside Volterra John spotted a little painted sign that said wine and olive oil tasting so headed down this little gravel track for about 2kms and came across Azienda agricola Pase - were welcomed with open arms but Mama couldn't speak English and we couldn't speak Italian but she had a little book with a few translations in it and one was "lunch" Si!!!
Had no idea what it was going to cost or what it was going to be, but in no time out started coming the food, bruschetta, bread with homemade pate, others had the sweetest cherry tomatoes, bread with their lovely olive oil, to die for zucchini pasta! then platters of pruscuitto, salami, cheeses - we said no more thank you!!! but then came out biscotti and their 13 year old wine (grappa)and coffee, it was yum - she then called in her daughter in law from a farm over the valley who could speak a little English - then we were able to work out price etc Had some bottles of their own red wine as well - fantastic - John was very good as he was driving and Col from Sydney was navigator - this was exactly what we imaged Tuscany to be! Whole family came out to wave us off. Then onto Pontegiogiorni and San Gimignano, such a grand little village which you can see from miles away perched on top of a hill and couple of other little places and then to Pisa. Wonderful day had by all and back to ship by 6.00 - sailing at 6.30p.m.

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Photos

TUSCANY
Overlooking San Gimignano

SAN GIMIGNANO
Georgeous village

PISA
Leaning tower

FABULOUS PLACE
All enjoyed our lunch with mama and papa

Comments

[Rhonda Brand]

Pisa & Tuscany
Still loving your blogs....had to comment on this one!!! I actually walked up to the top of Pisa when I was there in early 80's...which was pretty amazing because of the lean...I think they stopped tourists getting up there a few years after I did. And Tuscany.....dribbling at the mouth as you can imagine as that it where I will be walking around for a week in a bout 7 weeks!!!!! Keep th blogs coming. Love Rhonda

[lee Eighteen]

JEALOUS
How wonderful, how will you ever come back to west footscray ???

[Lorri]

Wonderful
Thank you for this story. What a wonderful tale. Really the only way to experience a country is to visit outside the tourist areas. The Italians really know how to make a good red. Haven't tried grappa though. Cheers Lorri H.

[Caro]

Livorno
I had forgotten about the Livorno port (not a pretty place) and the fees to get out, I think we got a taxi to the train station which was much cheaper that the shuttle bus! We caught the train to Florence from Livorno for next to nothing, where we then spent $60AU on a small bottle of Truffle oil - after some buyers remorse it was one of the best purchases we made - delicious, I used it on the stuffed mushrooms I cooked at the tapas party Glor so you might have even shared our goodness. Keep having fun. Love the Russells x