Tuesday in Tuscany

After breakfast on our hotel Terrace, based on the hotel clerk’s recommendation, we decided to explore the Tuscany Region today. No scheduled tours, not a place we had to be, so had a lovely day stopping at towns such as Monteriggioni and Castilla in Chianti for walking, shopping, exploring churches, and some plain ‘ole people watching. The locals are so pleasant–very outgoing, friendly, yet laid back–and, most speak some English, even in the remotest of areas. We stopped at a castle in Monteriggioni, while Barry, Jackie, and Lynn walked to the depths (and, I mean depths since it was an old castle) of the shops, Nathan and Bob climbed to the highest point of the castle fortress walls to take pictures of the Tuscany countryside. We came upon a very old church with “passerbys” praying on the wooden benches inside. It was so beautiful. Jackie and Lynn lit candles and placed them on the designated area beside the cross in front of the church.

After this stop, we continued a route to a village called Castilla in Chianti, had a lovely lunch overlooking the valley, then again walked, enjoyed the sights, and talked to villagers. A very unique and enjoyable day.

Now, back at our hotel after a small siesta, we are meeting on the terrace of our hotel for wine, cheese, various salami’s and meats, and drink. Nathan took off to shop in the village while we rested–he saw a few items he wanted to purchase for family and friends. After our light dinner (we had a heavy lunch) on the Terrace, we will walk up through the village to enjoy gelato before bed. These past two days in the Tuscany Region have been Lynn and Nathan’s favorite so far….tomorrow, we head up to Florence, about a 90 minute drive.