How do you explain to a 3 and 5 year old that we are so far away and its only breakfast time for us, and yet they are ready for bed?
Had a lovely chat and heard about Ella's first wiggly tooth, plus news of school and friends etc.
But its time to go exploring in Tuscany......
Today we decide to head off towards Forli. Its a fairly ambitious route for one day, but it is very interesting terrain.
After an hour of driving that had speed signs which varied between 30 and 50km per hour, we decide to stop for coffee and a bite to eat and re-evaluate our ambitious plan. So we stop at a wee place called Dicomano and had the best coffee of our whole trip. THE very best :) Sorry Thomas!
We decide to head back along a different route and stop at the very pretty town called Pontassieve. This translates to 'the bridge on the river Sieve'. We have another coffee and a nice cake and a look around the old centre of a pretty town. As per always, the shops are shut for the 3 hour siesta and its very quiet.
On our way back I see the signs for 'Designer Outlet Shopping Mall'. Now, I am thinking....'here we go for some good shopping time - finally!' WRONG. Our idea of an outlet store, and the Italian idea seems somehow to have got lost in translation. Its a mini city, and it took only 5 minutes to realise I couldnt even afford a scarf!
Sorry to everyone I had planned to bring a gift home for. But you name it, it was here...Gucci, Prada, Salvatore etc. As well as that, there were bus loads of tourists - mostly Japanese and Americans from Florence for the day, who were shopping 'big-time'.
The best part about this stop was the awesome derelict homestead and farm right next door. Great photo opportunity :)
Back in the car and head for home.
Have a lovely late afternoon stroll in our own little village and take another 50 pictures.
This one is to show how small some of the alleys are, and that Craig actually managed to get the car down this one without a scratch :
Tonight we decide to go to a restaurant called La Torre (The Tower). Its cute, old, up several flights of narrow stone stairs and has more character than you can imagine. No English spoken, so finally, I can speak Italian! Its been very frustrating during this trip to speak to someone in Italian, and then have them answer me in English! Fair enough if they cant understand what I am saying, but I have waited years to get another chance to speak Italian!
We had beautiful meals of fish and salad, and then Craig decided to have tiramisu for dessert. He thought about the creme brulee, but saw table next door with tiramisu and he was sold. The waiter bought 2 spoons and was hilarious making a big show of giving me the extra spoon to try to get a share of the dessert! I did have one wee spoonful and it was so lovely, but I left it for Craig and I had a lovely espresso instead.
Then after all that, we had finished our dinner, and our bottle of lovely red wine, and our lovely waitress came over with an orange liquer for us to finish. Yum and more yum!
We ended up buying a bottle, and if it makes it back to NZ unopened (which I seriously doubt) then we will share it.
Today its Wednesday and we head off on another adventure towards the little scenic village called Greve in Chianti.
On the way we stop at Gaiole in Chianti and also Radda in Chianti. yes we are in Chianti Country :)
All of these little villages date back around 500 years or more and they have most, or part, of the original city walls intact. The scenery on the road between these stops is breathtaking. Little windy mountain roads with lovely views of countryside, grapevines and terracotta coloured buildings at every turn. Semi derelict castles on the hills and men working the vines. Its a peaceful and relaxing drive.
The weather on these last 2 days has been lovely. Warm spring days, a little cooler to start and finish but still bare legs weather.
Thursday another adventure....
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