Advertisement
DAY SEVEN - BY ROBYN
Because Sandra had been sick for a few days and we were sick of Jenny’s company, Pete and I decided to go solo on Thursday (only joking of course Jen). Peter got up at 600am and went for a walk all around San Gimi, for his morning photo shoot of daily life activities. Found the old Italian lady stacking wood, previous day she was stacking all the wood with her husband sitting watching having a cigarette, very chauvinistic we thought. After breakfast we walked back into San Gimi waving to our old Italian lady friend who sits on her balcony waiting for us as we pass. Before we knew it we were wine tasting (what a surprise) then we realised it was only 11.00 am in the morning, oh to be born Italian.
With Peter leading the way, I walked, walked and more walking and took in the sights of this local historic city. It is hard to describe how great this place is, full of life and local culture. My biggest enthusiam ws when I sighted the local market, much to Peters disgust. Stopped for a typical Italian lunch of vino rossi and pasta.
Absolutely delicious sitting outside people watching. We then headed off for more walking at Pete’s request mind you I am all for the Italian siesta by now. We went into a local art gallery which was fantastic. Tried to tell Pete that they shipped back to Australia but he had turned his selective deafness on by then. After more walking around we made our way to the local PAM (supermarket) which is always an interesting trip in itself to purchase our daily essential items which is of course is vino, salami, vino, bread, more vino and cheese. We then walk home tomeet the girls who are having a lazy afternoon by the pool at our villa overlooking the Tuscan hills. Very hard to take!!
Only have time for a 15 minute siesta today as Peter has booked us in for a romantic dinner for four at a restaurant that has been recommended by an Australian tourist we met. Jenny and Peter opted for roasted rabbit (Sandra and I thought we were not up to eating Bugs Bunny). Then wandered home and Jenny and Peter had a bottle of vino rossi on the balcony discussing the full moon on the
Tuscan hills. Another great day had in Tuscany.
DAY SEVEN - BY JENNY
Sleep in today, didn’t get up till 730!!!!! Decided to have a quiet day, Robyn & Pete went their own way and we set off into San Gimignano, first to update our Blog and then for a leisurely lunch. Lucky for us there was a market in town so a spot of shopping was the order of the day - Sandra and I both managed to buy shoes, mine are killer walking shoes. Home to relax by the pool in the afternoon with a book and a breezer and then off to dinner at a quaint little restaurant in town, Pete and I had ROAST RABBIT, fantastic. Home to the balcony and another bottle or two of red, moon watching and enjoying the Tuscan air.
DAY EIGHT - BY SANDRA
Oh my god, what a day! We got up sort of early and walked into San Gimi to use the internet, buy a map and buy some bread for our picnic lunch. We found a hiking map that was supposed to take us for a lovely walk through the countryside, stopping at wineries.
That was our first mistake!! We loaded up Pete’s backpack with rolls that we made with salami, cheese and tomatoes and decided not to take the wine and glasses as we would get some on the walk. Ha Ha!! First of all it took us three goes to find the walking track we needed, but then we were off doing a lovely walk through the vines and olive groves and up the big hills!! We walked and walked and the first winery was closed, as was the second. Eventually we stopped by a river and had our rolls and would you believe it, water for lunch!! We managed to continue on with much consulting of the map by the navigator and Pete. Nearly had conflict on which way to go but the navigator was determined we were on the right track.
So on we walked, and walked and walked. Finally we made it onto a real road, and we thought we were just around the corner from home. Oh no how wrong we were!! We continued to walk up the main road, dodging the cars and thinking around the next bend we will see San Gimi. All of a
sudden we see San Gimi, over two hills in the distance. It then dawns on us that we are really lost. Robyn and I are ready to have a sook, we have had enough of this walking especially with no wine break. We finally spot a trattoria and think we will go in there and sit on someone’s car until they drive us home. And then, coming towards us like a vision - a taxi!! Can you believe it, out in the middle of Tuscany on a road towards who knows where a taxi is coming towards us. I said here is a taxi, Robyn said you are hallucinating and Jenny jumped up and down and waved him down. He stopped thankfully and said 30 Euro’s to take us home. We agreed we would have paid 100 Euros.
We worked out we probably walked about 16 kms today and we were heading away from San Gimi, though the trusty navigator says she would have got us there eventually!! We are having a quiet glass of wine now at home and will head into the closest restaurant for dinner tonight. Even Pete has had his walking quota today!!
PS
Editor recommends you never take a self guided walk in Tuscan Hills using an Italian map, unless you have had a vino or two (and have a taxi card on hand)!!!!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.044s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 12; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0228s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
anonymous
non-member comment
never going on a no frills tuscany hills trek eva eva again unless we have a local tourist guide who can read a map