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Though cloudy and misty, the Tuscan hills are as beautiful as we remember them. Weaving through tiny villages, we encounter sights across the valleys that make us feel like little has changed in the 8 years since we were here. A stop at the gelatoria in Castellina in Chianti seals the memory. On to Radda where we stop for lunch--salamis, prosciuttos, ribolleta (bread soup), spaghetti (jumbo girth) with red sauce, bruschetta,wine. And then to the Verrazano Winery for a tour and tasting. Fabrizze fills us in on the 1100 acre vineyard that has been producing wine for nearly 1000 years. As he describes the wine making process, we see a full grown man squeeze into a barrel through a hole that seems far too small for him. It is the only way to clean the barrels, Fabrizze tells us. The wine tasting happens in a beautiful restaurant overlooking the grounds. I am offered a small carafe of grape juice which I accept. A young Australian couple is with us and we hear about their 6 month journey--now just 6 weeks old, which began in Egypt. One of the best parts of our trip so far has been the conversations with fellow travelers.
The ride home was just short terrifying. Darkness had fallen and showers gave way to thick fog. Julie and Eileen manned the GPS while I drove and Nancy held on for dear life. The trick was staying on the road with limited signs and visibility. After about an hour of back-road travel we finally emerged onto a major highway and made our way home safely from there.
No more car rentals until we leave Florence.
- comments
Marina Love reading about your adventures!!! I will check in regularly so I can live vicariously. Happy travels!
Diane Boettcher The trip sounds wonderful! So nice to have your family there too. It's fun to hear of the food and transportation challenges. We'll follow along.
Pam This is so fun reading the blog - you write wonderful stories Phil