Holiday in Tuscany



Tuscany Country Side



Richard had a holiday at his work Thursday,the 17th, it was Italy's 150 years union of all the regions.  So, we took vacation on Friday and took a 4 day weekend.   We made our base and hotel stay in Siena.   Our hotel was great, it had a pleasant garden overlooking the countryside. 

Siena is medieval city with narrow street and steep alleys. It is surround by a brick wall that was used to protect  people from attack from Florence.  

We vistited the Duomo, which is beautiful Gothic cathedral.   

The Duomo was built in the 13th Century



The inside ( they do not let you take pictures) of the Duomo is so awesome, words can not describe how beautiful it is.

Next, to visit in Siena is Piazza Del Campo, know as il Campo.

This is the town square with shops and cafes.  It also has their town hall there, gothic Palazzo Pubblico     People just sit and enjoy the square.  In July and August is Palio horse race.  They have had this race in the square since 1310.  It is race between the 17 neighborhoods.

                                                     Richard and I took off to explore the Chiani region.  The hills and vineyard and rolling green fields were out of a picture.  Everywhere you looked were vineyards and olive groves.  There was wineries everywhere.  We stopped at 2 to taste the wines and visit.  One man at the winery told us he just got back from Houston visiting with Specs and going to Rodeo.  How cool is that!  

Paladin Vigne E Vini

  Then we headed to Castello di Brolio, built around ad 1000 and owned by monks.  The new owners the Ricasoli have have possession since 1141.  We took a tour, then toured the winery, ending with of course wine tasting.

 Castle Church

Family members buried there

Another day we took a private guided tour with another couple to three small family owned wineries.  The region was Montalcino and it produces very strong sangiovese grapes.  The wine is called Brunello di Montalcino.  Regulations are they have to be made totally from that grape and age for at least four years.

We really learned alot about wine.  I have to tell you though, drinking wine and going up and down those hills don't mix.

It was great long weekend, but back to Rome.   For those who don't know the sites are wonderful, touring like on vacation great but living in a foreign country, there is no place like HOME!

USA, I want to come home!

One last picture of Siena streets....

We will be in Houston April 6, for how long I don't yet.  We are working on our Visa.

Until next time......................

Orvieto, Italy

Ciao!

Orvieto is a small town about an hour drive outside of Rome.  So, we decided to go Sat and have an overnight stay.  It is on a plateau rising 1,000 feet above the flat valley.  It is one of the oldest cities in the region.  This place was awesome!  Small narrow cobble stone street with shops, wine bars and restaurants.

It is also known for their Orvirto Classico vino made from grapes grown in the volcanic soil in the valley.  Our little hotel was charming and the breakfast was served in the cave below.  Also course our dog Harley went. I don't if I told you but dogs are allowed everywhere.  They even bring their dogs to the malls.

 We walked the streets and went to the main square and saw the duomo, church.  The church was just beautiful!  (see picture above)

After taken in the sites, we decided to try some of the vino.  Headed back to hotel with a bottle, which they let us drink in the lounge.  Of course Harley was in the lounge with us for the occasion.

The hotel suggested Le Grotte del Funaro for dinner.  The restaurant is down stairs to a under ground cave.  How neat is that?  Now you have to remember they speak very little English and I am Texan but we get by.

Side streets with shops etc...

After a restful night, we were up in the morning for little breakfast down in our hotel which was also in a cave like setting. The weather was overcast and raining, so we headed back to Rome.

This is a carving on the church.

Arrivederci!

Spanish Steps and via Condotti-the famous shopping street!

Got off the Metro,walked a couple of steps into the plaza and there it was the crowded Spanish Steps.   Lots of steps leading up to church.  These steps were in an old movie Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.  There was tons of people sitting on the steps just enjoying the beautiful sunny day.

The square was surround by little cobble stone street and of course the main on was via Condotti Street.  This street has all the famous shops, Prada, Channel, Dior and Gucci to mention some.  It was crowded and there was guards at the doors of these shops.  We are talking about prices in the thousand for clothes ect.
I was in heaven!  Then I found a shop with purses I like, it is called Furla.  An Italy leather purse shop since the 1920's.  I fell in love with a blue purse from the spring collection.  Richard said get it, so I did and the lady talk me int a matching wallet.  I never had a matching wallet before in my life.  If it didn't match black...  It was white with a blue flower, go figure..
Looking at the sights and stopping at a small cafe for late lunch and some vino.
Lots of walking up the steps to get to the Villa Borghese park.  All up hill and I was tired to the Park.  Very nice, lots of trees and statues. Found a nice outdoor cafe to stop and have some vino before going home.

Back to subway and of course Sat evening, it was crowded.  Thia time Richard had his wallet in his side pockets.  Off the subway and wallet was gone.  Can you believe?  They reach in his jean side pocket !

Again, I love the sights but "there is no place like HOME"

On the subway again to San Clemente Church

First I want to let you know I had my hair cut with no one around speaking English.  It came out ok but interesting a women was getting her hair cut while she was breast feeding her newborn baby.  Just thought I would share.
In Rome there is a group that is called Americans living in Rome, so we join this group on a tour to San Clemente's church.  This church was beautiful and extraordinary.  This church was built on top of another church and another building.  It has been dug up so we could travel three levels down and see all.  Very interesting
After that was over and I was ready, it was cold going down three levels.  We went to eat at a recomended restraurant.  Others from the group was there.  It was to talk to people in English.  A student, a spanish lady married to an Italian and a women who work at the United Nations from North Africa.  We had a nice time.  Again to subway to return home.

Another Day of Touring Rome

Again, Sunday we took the subway into Rome.  We were headed to the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.  Off the Metro and got out our map to find our way around.  Finding our direction we headed down the people filled streets towards narrow cobble stone streets in the direction of the fountain.  Along the way was shops and lots of outside cafes and then we arrived at the fountain.  It was awesome!  Very crowed with tourist.  I have always wanted to see this fountain, since it was in an old move called "Three Coins in a Fountain"  One of those girls, romantic movies.  You are supposed to throw a coin in the fountain and make a wish.  That is what everyone was doing.  We stop and had a Gelato, that is Italian ice cream.  It is really good and they have shops everywhere.

By the way it was a beautiful day!  High in the 60's with sunshine.  After taking in the foutain, we heading for the Pantheon.  Again walking through the narrow coble stone street among the cafes and stores we arrived.  What a site!  Some history, it started out square and ended up round.  It is where famous artist are burried and they have altars for church. Beautiful statues and paintings.  You'll have to look up the rest.  We walk around some more and decided to eat.  We found this small cafe and had a great bottled of vino and eats.

We then headed back to the Metro to go home.  It was packed with people, when we got to the 2nd subway we had to push our way to get in and stood packed together.

Nice day, but here is the bad news!  Don't know why but Richard had his wallet in his back pocket, guess? 
Yes, someone stole his wallet!  So go home and cacelled cards and lost about $100.....

So, will post some pictures on facebook and bye until next time...

Vatican

Sat we went into Rome.  We took 2 subway to get there.  We decide to book a tour and we were glad we did.  One thing the tour does is saves you from standing in line and the other it would be hard to find your way around.  Our tour guide was an American who went to college in Italy, after she finished and went home, she decided to come to Italy and live,  She was very good and we had a small crowd of 9 people.  After the tour we got her number to call if we want personel tours.

The Vatican was awesome.  We saw the Sisine Chapel and the museum, I like St Peter's church the best.  This place was really big.  It took about 3 hours of walking and up and down stairs.  My legs hurt!  I will post some pictures on facebook.

We we got out it was about 5:30, so we were then trying to figure out how to get back to the subway.  We were let out a different exit than we went in.  Downtown was alive, lots of people on street.  Lots of shops.  We stopped at a cafe to get something to eat and then asking the whole way to different people, where is the Metro!  We found it and arrived at home.

Looking forwar to next weekend to see something else.

More about living in Rome

I told you about the driving here but I wanted you to know that all the cars here are little.  Lots of smart cars and parking is hard to find.  So, when they need a parking space and none available, they just make their own.  Pull up on the sidewalk or park in back of someone.  Also when they turn, they use all lanes to turn left.  Richard just goes crazy!  You may be thinking about the police!  What!  Who cares what you do..

Drinking glasses, they are all small, even the plastic ones.  When I say small, I mean small.  Plus no one serves ice.  Now when a sign on a cafe says bar, that not mean alcohol bar.  It means they have a espresso bar.  All the cafes has a counter people go up to and order a little cup of espresso.  They all crowd in at the bar and down a cup of espresso.  That gets you going!

By the way don't send us any mail, we are still waiting for our land lady to give us a key to our mail box.  We are trying to go to the Vatican this weekend.  I hope the weather will be good.

More later...