Look at these beautiful cactus flowers. Everything grows like crazy in Tuscany!
This cactus was probably more than fifteen feet tall and was held against the wall with bungee cords.
This was the first winery that we passed today and we could smell the pungent aroma of red wine from a good quarter mile away. I was able to get a stamp for my pilgrim's book. My first one from an actual winery. This one was rather plain compared to some of the later stone ones we passed. I think this was a poor person winery, if there is such a thing. The ones on the top of the mountain were definately more luxurious looking.
Dennis and I were so laughing about this sign. We have never seen a sign for driving a Camino before. I am excited that I think I have finally learned to pronounce this Camino properly. It is Via (common pronunciation) Fran-cheese-e-gina. At least I think I finally have it right. For some reason, I just can't get my tongue around the proper Italian pronunciation of this Camino. And we didn't get lost today! Hallejuah!
I am sorry for so few photos but it took me more than four hours to upload these four. Perhaps I will be able to upload more tomorrow. Today was the Tuscany of the best tourist brochures...the Tuscany of our dreams. Miles of vineyards interspersed with fabulous old stone villas. The grapes are hanging lushly on the vines and were ripe for picking. It is harvest time in Tuscany. Although our day was only 11 miles it was an incredibly challenging climb up and over the mountains. Notice that mountains had an s at the end! The vistas were breathtaking, once we got over sounding like one-hundred-year-old asthmatics. Gasp-Gasp! Pant-Pant! We keep stopping to just look at the incredible scenery.
We are staying in a historic village, San Gimignano located atop another mountain. Our hotel is in the city center and we are near the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, a Roman Catholic collegiate church and minor basilica with the most amazing frescos of the life and times of Christ. Just beautiful. I took lots of photos that I can not get to upload for you guys. Phooey!
Dennis and I had another included meal and we have decided that this is the best food of any trip or tour we have ever taken. I started with a bean and farro stew that was smokey and rich. A keeper of a recipe if I only knew how to make it. Then I had a grilled vegetable plate with Burrata cheese. I was in desperate need of something less rich and Dennis had a pizza Diavalo (sauce of the devil). The real highlight was the lemon sorbet. It was extra tart and lemony and in spite of being full, we devored it like two starving people. So as I close this we are laying in bed like two beached whales, moaning and groaning about how full we are.
Caio!
No comments:
Post a Comment