tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36015529697594542812024-03-19T01:53:22.477-07:00Villa Vita In ItalyVilla Vita International came into existence out of pure affection for this beautiful place, warm, friendly people and enchanting culture. My wish is to share this beauty as we focus on many of the traditions that preserve living la dolce vita. Villa Vita is your resource for authentic Italian vacations. We can help you create your own holiday including activities such as cooking classes, wine appreciation tours, give focus to art and architectural visits, or spa and wellness programs.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-92079235674103157102009-05-12T22:18:00.001-07:002009-06-15T18:42:52.920-07:00My New Favorite Hill Town!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoxB_-Zj0lkIYUITYn7yAP3kvXC_r90Or6L-ioiiJGW_1tlSGH9EZBTk0DWVspAoxeiQDIaZoa8cT9FSmPqXMHszQiqcPtH1AOOdl3dV78bGzFF3muu4lVNSsDQ11qB2QeuMJxBoNKTg/s1600-h/Cartaldo+Funicular.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335179593480340434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoxB_-Zj0lkIYUITYn7yAP3kvXC_r90Or6L-ioiiJGW_1tlSGH9EZBTk0DWVspAoxeiQDIaZoa8cT9FSmPqXMHszQiqcPtH1AOOdl3dV78bGzFF3muu4lVNSsDQ11qB2QeuMJxBoNKTg/s320/Cartaldo+Funicular.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OK</span>, I have at least ten favorites. But I was quite impressed with my first visit to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Certaldo</span>. The typical way to arrive at the top is by taking the funicular from the main town square. But instead, we drove up along the steep, narrow road which followed the crest of the hills and ended up just outside the ancient walls. The parking lot was so steep that our Fiat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Multipla</span> could not even hold its place. Thank goodness my friend Giuseppe was driving at this point! <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMWcTZQfB_MBr7Kp11UnCAkBGHuGWu4kTJ0V7iqMni6Qm4E6M7q74tlWZPChQcIS94QPl3kFxRbkrEPLkxnxxgES9DznbC2N5pN8mXKSGW0l8EeBgDhD_Zrtuu32cLnqCbIOdPuHNaag/s1600-h/Certaldo+Jester.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335180117362537986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMWcTZQfB_MBr7Kp11UnCAkBGHuGWu4kTJ0V7iqMni6Qm4E6M7q74tlWZPChQcIS94QPl3kFxRbkrEPLkxnxxgES9DznbC2N5pN8mXKSGW0l8EeBgDhD_Zrtuu32cLnqCbIOdPuHNaag/s320/Certaldo+Jester.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>We found a more stable location (still quite steep) and headed further up into town. As we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">entered through</span> the old gate, I was immediately <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">transported</span> back into time, first by the unchanged structures and alleys but also by the people in costume everywhere! There were jesters and friars, monks and more. A festival for the high school students (a sort of treasure hunt) was taking place. The music was playing from its hiding place under the burlap sack. The old palace with its many coats of arms was the meeting point. We strolled around and enjoyed the festiveness. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6X_edyBH8vFkFknm8I0PyR2I0J0GhqX2GRPASrCeEED8GW4ZsU1h5K08xknZb-GuuR6HfLsFFUv2v8aaVxSbdm9nZNJm6yi9VyX3ztTidTA_MgfmSzSBHUuvYWWke2mIKfHAHquBG24/s1600-h/Certalo+Doorway.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335180122538980610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6X_edyBH8vFkFknm8I0PyR2I0J0GhqX2GRPASrCeEED8GW4ZsU1h5K08xknZb-GuuR6HfLsFFUv2v8aaVxSbdm9nZNJm6yi9VyX3ztTidTA_MgfmSzSBHUuvYWWke2mIKfHAHquBG24/s320/Certalo+Doorway.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNRm2iaTRzEU4cCEO_enC_qCrgHJ61XHW4AM_jfDdzERAYNYt_vhIBrVWXf7Qy1Vh_xq31OcR2cnf30Z354oeHBrJb141vG7UTg5oNBeutTPwNVvzFaFBPHNBB7fMnLcCBKqaQl-qqqo/s1600-h/Certaldo+Painist.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335179591122208530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 164px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNRm2iaTRzEU4cCEO_enC_qCrgHJ61XHW4AM_jfDdzERAYNYt_vhIBrVWXf7Qy1Vh_xq31OcR2cnf30Z354oeHBrJb141vG7UTg5oNBeutTPwNVvzFaFBPHNBB7fMnLcCBKqaQl-qqqo/s320/Certaldo+Painist.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>At one point, we followed what at first appeared to be a quiet side street but happened upon this open window from where beautiful piano music was spilling out into the street. Absolutely the best thing about exploring these special places are all the wonderful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">surprises</span> that happen along the way.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br />We finished the day with an amazing dinner at La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Stelletta</span> in the square of the modern town below. The recipes on their menu date back to medieval times. The owner's mother was the cook. Of course!<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-81824249136748344192009-05-11T09:19:00.001-07:002009-06-15T18:40:17.568-07:00La Foce<div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335013157561145394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 251px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlWv5m4DkHy1dxWqLzlD0CPFXjVvdJH6eSwUNSZGGgLza9jX6j9s3CtmAnsfNanjXUM2051YR_v8M8fx7EfH7cig913YO4C9WLWiRJlnwH7Jcm5Az5AFr05EYTC2vY-4sc-4FYq3mZCw/s320/LaFoceVilla2.JPG" border="0" />The soul of La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Foce</span> blossomed under the caring guidance of Iris and Antonio <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Origo</span>. Iris Cutting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Origo</span> (an accomplished author) was born in 1902 from an American-Irish father and Italian mother and raised in Florence. In 1923, she became engaged to Antonio <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Origo</span> from Florence and they set out to find their future home in the hills of Tuscany.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left">The now famous garden grew gradually, between 1925 and 1939. The house is surrounded by a formal Italian garden, which is divided into geometrical ‘rooms’ by box hedges with lemon trees in terracotta pots. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Travertine</span> stairs lead to the rose garden and a winding wisteria-covered pergola bordered by lavender hedge. Gentle informal terraces climb up the hill, where cherry trees, pines and cypresses grow among wild broom, thyme and rosemary, and a long cypress avenue leads to a 17<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span>-century stone statue. Through the woods, a path joins the garden and the family cemetery, where Iris's son Gianni who died at the age of 7 was buried. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">cemetery</span> is considered one of architect Cecil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Pinsent's</span> best creations.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w0i1U0eXiYLuBPnhLuS6wr2QAUfvmMFYYZqVzjZWUzwEc7TnEP4KXIe4rc0-69kaCeCc7cVRDIECrz1ksEQ1xo7xjhX4souPI9Lu9Fi6ZhEzahrGvOZ17uPH0o050c7DCPI0jcKhJb4/s1600-h/LAFoceCimitario.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335013775509096706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w0i1U0eXiYLuBPnhLuS6wr2QAUfvmMFYYZqVzjZWUzwEc7TnEP4KXIe4rc0-69kaCeCc7cVRDIECrz1ksEQ1xo7xjhX4souPI9Lu9Fi6ZhEzahrGvOZ17uPH0o050c7DCPI0jcKhJb4/s320/LAFoceCimitario.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center">The inscription on Iris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Origo's</span> headstone comes from St Catherine of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Siena</span>. <em><strong>"Chi <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">piu</span>' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">conosce</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">piu</span>' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ama</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">piu</span>' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">amando</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">piu</span>' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">giusta</span>" </strong></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><strong></strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>The more your know, the more you love, and by loving more, the more you enjoy. </strong></em></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><em><strong></strong></em></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGybW6u84SMG_k-E1_V3VCEJ-e1vm0jsmefSQ3N0ixaUYfZvj-vOWm7XGjqZSZpcjbIter0r42tklcqHfsP_IQUsNK3AvMpI8xu1XWp9I8sRR8rK7lniwJSlSBFPnw-yJYTk_hji-vhw/s1600-h/LaFoceMervyn.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335013777742105474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGybW6u84SMG_k-E1_V3VCEJ-e1vm0jsmefSQ3N0ixaUYfZvj-vOWm7XGjqZSZpcjbIter0r42tklcqHfsP_IQUsNK3AvMpI8xu1XWp9I8sRR8rK7lniwJSlSBFPnw-yJYTk_hji-vhw/s320/LaFoceMervyn.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>During the Nazi occupation of Italy, at considerable personal risk, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Origos</span> turned their farm and villa into a safe haven for children from Genoa and Turin who had lost their homes and families in the bombings. They also helped escaped Allied war prisoners. In "War in Val <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">d'Orcia</span>: An Italian War Diary, 1943 - 1944, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Origo</span> chronicles the crises and confusion of anti-fascist resistance at a time when Tuscany was crawling with Nazis.</em></div><div align="left"><em></em></div><div align="left">(taken from "Desiring Italy" edited by Susan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Cahill</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Fawcett</span>, 1997)</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><em></em></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXjjbcdnZWq5qyQszslrBx8f7Te3evGgZW_6UaujfJoUt3vUKdcmcjQ5hiVJBkEfG7__xqjvITBoim94nU4QiX3PCvMmzEjns5qEcg1qCJlS52JLy3NL2jHzdkRhjueZokUNjSlijdoU/s1600-h/LaFoceWisteria.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335013782312350850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXjjbcdnZWq5qyQszslrBx8f7Te3evGgZW_6UaujfJoUt3vUKdcmcjQ5hiVJBkEfG7__xqjvITBoim94nU4QiX3PCvMmzEjns5qEcg1qCJlS52JLy3NL2jHzdkRhjueZokUNjSlijdoU/s320/LaFoceWisteria.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335014329383157714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR__xC6QmC14dsL2nawpYT1nJtNvcaN85-1kcr17oWeFUbZXFoFcjO8HgM3aMNEgn1t-y0VKU6Djr8q8uM81rilvYScboTL2SxZ3enfu9NxYdrUBtEhvuBGeQE6efn227Btqa5wIqQd0/s320/LaFoceCypress.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><em>La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Foce</span>: Intersection - a place where paths intervene.<br /><br />Every Wednesday, Benedetta <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Isadori</span> conducts walking tours of the lovely La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Foce</span> Gardens. Although Benedetta is not a blood relation to Iris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Origo</span>, her mother lived on la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Foce</span> as a child and Benedetta was named after one of Iris's daughters - truly a life being lived from the heart. </em><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335014329859862626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3baUF9Wm_VRKlSpJXX9elmN7R4RWkp5RFjWq7bT5E-mBif4c0WlVUb-8SeyMjiP2ykeAX0vSWDpHQCNOjNlwu1w-zADcoHsA2QR_NjBbJneZti-_8YGimPxHsPY_cqax3vw65L8Qctw/s320/LAFoceBenedetta.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.lafoce.com/">http://www.lafoce.com/</a><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-34120226580058523212009-05-08T07:27:00.000-07:002009-06-15T18:41:52.062-07:00Rolling in the Hay<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV0E_Wofna68FLmcMg9xdpTpw6wFdb9x7cJBfpjx3geu3ygq26Ljx-ekElQfokrvwZFeo93LPzpiwrgKvw45nEDL9UbDfQPy_oINI2aiifrvw4qrh-zUj-Izh5couu2-eYJFU1aTbTfo/s1600-h/HayMervyn.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333465098578854578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV0E_Wofna68FLmcMg9xdpTpw6wFdb9x7cJBfpjx3geu3ygq26Ljx-ekElQfokrvwZFeo93LPzpiwrgKvw45nEDL9UbDfQPy_oINI2aiifrvw4qrh-zUj-Izh5couu2-eYJFU1aTbTfo/s320/HayMervyn.JPG" border="0" /></a> This morning we roamed the valley to take in the marvelous views surrounding us. I found the hay bales particularly interesting - and so did our students!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4YS3agl9T4NDGBcIp7FzFNUib-2Scq8iP1c7_6AapEgqkqzz9lipDpH_AXih7a3Lhyphenhyphen6es4l_j6J6XttctvsM1Bf3z033JmtvcvQoZcrIVnXeZnl7m0mHaZrk8soZp2bmlGbVWuVyyBA/s1600-h/HayLynne.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333465593053163202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4YS3agl9T4NDGBcIp7FzFNUib-2Scq8iP1c7_6AapEgqkqzz9lipDpH_AXih7a3Lhyphenhyphen6es4l_j6J6XttctvsM1Bf3z033JmtvcvQoZcrIVnXeZnl7m0mHaZrk8soZp2bmlGbVWuVyyBA/s320/HayLynne.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdtv323LFeM-8yr2m8JZfa5B7Jd3m-S21eL3q3Fh9zDxuqAmYW8GUammx_OXsgQ9fvJJO5cIo2jid7XabCwRbuga2n6dzg7iELqx-A8eubvHYzeGPIJsGTVe14Ie2DWia-PEC-RYCEao/s1600-h/HayPaula.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333465292699316850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdtv323LFeM-8yr2m8JZfa5B7Jd3m-S21eL3q3Fh9zDxuqAmYW8GUammx_OXsgQ9fvJJO5cIo2jid7XabCwRbuga2n6dzg7iELqx-A8eubvHYzeGPIJsGTVe14Ie2DWia-PEC-RYCEao/s320/HayPaula.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then we headed to the cellars! These are very cool (literally and figuratively) cantinas.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333466573877072434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJq0jCGuIRwD24KMFa0v6l45Cjoc76yarihyTIIDZE7Rl3PAfUhpGQN2CNW4L3-rh7bRyBa4Hvmh_WhutFpq9KtYcyEKo1Gv1mHNRMgNfQ7D3NWGAROHprzyYP4MRuHdp4yPd02LSHtQ/s320/CantinaRediGroup.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p></p><br /><br /><br />Then we headed to the "Farm" for a treat of organically grown vegetables and cheeses. It is always one of our best meals. No extra seat needed for this little guy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-XaJxCHiV1tx0xv66AtBXD1_hPcesz4o0du1gzlnPF7qKBOjdMBb6k1zxAlwQYl8zaUrNi9NAKz84Aczj6muFdShZIWa36QkyyqfQ8TITvWyClYh_ZzJPG4sJi04ImTnEEJCytmbnD4/s1600-h/NoExtraPlate.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333466733037665474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-XaJxCHiV1tx0xv66AtBXD1_hPcesz4o0du1gzlnPF7qKBOjdMBb6k1zxAlwQYl8zaUrNi9NAKz84Aczj6muFdShZIWa36QkyyqfQ8TITvWyClYh_ZzJPG4sJi04ImTnEEJCytmbnD4/s320/NoExtraPlate.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-57761560529167689902009-05-06T05:11:00.000-07:002009-05-06T06:12:45.615-07:00Prada, Gucci, and Fendi - OH MY!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span></span> - this was not on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">original</span> itinerary however, for me it was a long over due trip. So I was quite happy when a few in our group asked about visiting the designer outlet stores outside of Florence. Plus, I soon realized I was in the company of professional outlet shoppers! Our first stop was "The Mall" near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Leccio</span></span> with such stores as Gucci, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Fendi</span></span>, Giorgio Armani, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ferragamo</span></span> and many more. It was a delightful layout and the shoppers were few. I could see them plotting and planning their attack with great intent and such <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">finesse</span> so as not to miss a thing.<br /><br /><br />We did a bit of research prior and learned that January and July are the best months to visit as the designers change over their inventory in the major city stores. In addition, it is best to stay away on the weekends as this is when most Italians are searching for their own bargains.<br /><br /><br />So with a good deal of elbow room on this Tuesday in May, bright sunshine, and eager pocketbooks, the ladies set out to explore. In a few hours time, they returned with big bags and bigger smiles - not only because of their new-found treasures, but because we still had time to go to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Prada</span></span> Outlet!<br /><br /><br />We refueled at the wonderful cafe before leaving. No food court here. We are in Italy so of course we had great salads, pastries, pizza, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">paninis</span></span> and more at the bar, and a full service restaurant upstairs for those with more time.<br /><br /><br />We ate quite quickly and hit the road to find <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Prada</span></span> near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Montevarchi</span></span>. From what I read, it was going to be a bit of a challenge as there are virtually no signs. I was lucky to have an able co pilot in the right seat to read the four pages of directions to me from my blackberry. The traffic was brutal but we were determined. The outlet closed at 7:30pm and it was just after 6. Where there is a will, there is a way. And we had three strong wills in the van!<br /><br /><br />We finally saw the gas station and flashing yellow light as described in the directions. Still no sign for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Prada</span></span>. Actually, the first time we even saw the name <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Prada</span></span> was on the handbags once inside! The outlet is known as "Space". We parked the car along the giant dark gray and black building in the industrial zone and made our way quickly to the door after <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">picking</span> a number. Because it was late, we were able to walk right in... and walk right in we did. Our mouths dropped to the floor only a few feet past the door. There in front of us was the most beautiful display of handbags any of us had ever seen. Gorgeous soft leather in a subtle, sexy orange, crimson, and sage. We were surrounded by aisles of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Prada</span></span> clothes, jewelry, perfume, makeup, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">eyewear</span>, belts, shoes, and did I mention the bags??? Lots and lots of beautiful bags!<br /><br />We had only an hour to look around... and we were a bit overwhelmed by it all. But we could do this! The giant clock behind the cashier was ticking and the staff reminded us too often of the impending closing time. The ladies got to work helping <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">each other</span> to find the perfect <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">treasure</span> like loyal teammates playing together in a championship game. And in the end, victory! <em>Sweet victory</em>!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332689758650122178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 377px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKqFEhRx1_MhpfiNwDUeTQ96vGDlOq5dj4f5nrFgpARrO7xowHXWAFf3105Ive-Jfxy2u1Paqh8i6ffliip4Hccc5Z7iD1RdfugH6OeLJhD5j7RsZESTuxSbfPoCrDfhcBNPnckBdr84/s400/PRADA.JPG" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-14730290882363512292009-05-06T04:38:00.001-07:002009-06-15T18:38:09.564-07:00A Walk on the Wild Flower Side<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbl5EKHh5FN7BKtcJCEAcgzRkde64jT_Vb4_UX4nCJUJxM_Ibu0gusl5TUh1j_8z14hDBd3v417VjO6SWmuPsZRRTFxfvKmyqNXolb40Bt8l9TPfTJZ2yNvi7pR54lfmKGAhxV1efkMU/s1600-h/TerrapilleFlowers.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332678956274997426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbl5EKHh5FN7BKtcJCEAcgzRkde64jT_Vb4_UX4nCJUJxM_Ibu0gusl5TUh1j_8z14hDBd3v417VjO6SWmuPsZRRTFxfvKmyqNXolb40Bt8l9TPfTJZ2yNvi7pR54lfmKGAhxV1efkMU/s320/TerrapilleFlowers.JPG" border="0" /></a> It is no wonder May attracts the photographers and artists to the Val d'Orcia. Color is exploding all around us. You cannot look in any direction without seeing bursts of red, yellow, and several shades of purple.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYstihWhWGhENt-oS1YitY7FcbFM0sIqVsys4P4YwVubOdEWu4gmNkPUQ6DCLYlSgrDD0rfPAsF4C0PKKYcc9HRSafXYvYrMzB3U8dnolHHgaV-ad8l5PbgsBbYAx00pYGyY3bJ4if4KY/s1600-h/PienzaPoppiesSky.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332676669721573490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYstihWhWGhENt-oS1YitY7FcbFM0sIqVsys4P4YwVubOdEWu4gmNkPUQ6DCLYlSgrDD0rfPAsF4C0PKKYcc9HRSafXYvYrMzB3U8dnolHHgaV-ad8l5PbgsBbYAx00pYGyY3bJ4if4KY/s320/PienzaPoppiesSky.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>This morning I took a walk around the outskirts of town and here are just some of my views: </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aiZ9n1q3Vo-72ouWpyB7-hzDPUECMAFfVoifkSiN5S9eDDnd2OFuXcWqhysGKSuOfD0txS6M2BOdD7cxl4HZw0RLGpHPQkdHFj_WOqkuRbDigyDOf3b9VbB6D4BHgQkQQHVEIW2_7O4/s1600-h/FlowerDoorWisteria.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332677670969620834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aiZ9n1q3Vo-72ouWpyB7-hzDPUECMAFfVoifkSiN5S9eDDnd2OFuXcWqhysGKSuOfD0txS6M2BOdD7cxl4HZw0RLGpHPQkdHFj_WOqkuRbDigyDOf3b9VbB6D4BHgQkQQHVEIW2_7O4/s320/FlowerDoorWisteria.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfPuvcQ6rqADQvZzrr-Txdi91jTrzt7eyqYSLeMLNWJjwI_cDhXoyyjgERHQEg-TDyhrTD1fleZxe75EUV4QpaxgvMw9Sky4eErFOGTPQqMX0R2BgSYb-X84Ki-UYy7_vojKyR3PS3D0/s1600-h/FlowerYellow.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332676667488660082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfPuvcQ6rqADQvZzrr-Txdi91jTrzt7eyqYSLeMLNWJjwI_cDhXoyyjgERHQEg-TDyhrTD1fleZxe75EUV4QpaxgvMw9Sky4eErFOGTPQqMX0R2BgSYb-X84Ki-UYy7_vojKyR3PS3D0/s320/FlowerYellow.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSwSCHh5z4IeDN7mYkfSq_rMXsJFLehnIrC-ezkSZOmEr5HJdDJifYP_GvE1wnv9DdEGanDX7PbDJHmespKmt9kaHt1-2MrHW24VO5-a6O_GSJEx58xxOsbrLsZ8NCEbJ2PWN8axlWDY/s1600-h/FlowersPurpleGate.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332677669512165362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSwSCHh5z4IeDN7mYkfSq_rMXsJFLehnIrC-ezkSZOmEr5HJdDJifYP_GvE1wnv9DdEGanDX7PbDJHmespKmt9kaHt1-2MrHW24VO5-a6O_GSJEx58xxOsbrLsZ8NCEbJ2PWN8axlWDY/s320/FlowersPurpleGate.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJexA56zISLi1h9nT_VIcINkmLqZCISGIEtGYA2o790zD2xe46bAVzZ-YsfbZQlDjWyzWPjAfRd0w_zIdjcBEO-k4r0CVhQBrEQXm7iZA1rHuHVHDBEjrxtcExoqref-H45lepvQsfq8g/s1600-h/RedPoppiesWhiteIris.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332680548550015474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJexA56zISLi1h9nT_VIcINkmLqZCISGIEtGYA2o790zD2xe46bAVzZ-YsfbZQlDjWyzWPjAfRd0w_zIdjcBEO-k4r0CVhQBrEQXm7iZA1rHuHVHDBEjrxtcExoqref-H45lepvQsfq8g/s320/RedPoppiesWhiteIris.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AqHjkpbqoWoq9m4eZiic6A8kyliXsZ2Gq1672_g4PhNB7Qbdke1AE5mO7kcKNRuDZQlqkxlq1fp-eUCxVv3TtFH_u3hniJP2NTm6mCLmyHtaI1FR69-lQE2xEiRQYvfw7AtaR7Tfi30/s1600-h/FlowersPurple.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332677676474859618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AqHjkpbqoWoq9m4eZiic6A8kyliXsZ2Gq1672_g4PhNB7Qbdke1AE5mO7kcKNRuDZQlqkxlq1fp-eUCxVv3TtFH_u3hniJP2NTm6mCLmyHtaI1FR69-lQE2xEiRQYvfw7AtaR7Tfi30/s320/FlowersPurple.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Red Poppies, Yellow Aster, Wild Irises and several types of wild peas, wisteria and lilacs. Thank goodness we have our own botonist on staff. Joel's Wife Barbara can tell you the latin and generic name for just about every species we came across. All I know is that they are most beautiful! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqxr_WRi42Ir6vLRsNjoK2yUX_0NSmKLuiHFzZ8FTv6Bfoa1Qxn4pf2KjZJc0JG_AYVA__Je64L92BXELyzhgQQTV5_uN80Hw7_rPCt1UVHJ__c_-V7Mi3XzYP-aRKMuT4wYuv4Bxjf8/s1600-h/FlowersIrisSkinny.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332680926539051810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqxr_WRi42Ir6vLRsNjoK2yUX_0NSmKLuiHFzZ8FTv6Bfoa1Qxn4pf2KjZJc0JG_AYVA__Je64L92BXELyzhgQQTV5_uN80Hw7_rPCt1UVHJ__c_-V7Mi3XzYP-aRKMuT4wYuv4Bxjf8/s320/FlowersIrisSkinny.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4DT9i3-1-7o-4gWoDfBs-SpecLKWWmfQ7Hp_BkRwPDq10KozHtpV1O8PV2r632oUdxiL9xvPm2wz9M_YxjZbql4caN-ErWeYQ2lNkgmVMncDn-vADPxqHQXDCadpg1gVYgoAitwea9M/s1600-h/FlowerPurple.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332676663821606898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4DT9i3-1-7o-4gWoDfBs-SpecLKWWmfQ7Hp_BkRwPDq10KozHtpV1O8PV2r632oUdxiL9xvPm2wz9M_YxjZbql4caN-ErWeYQ2lNkgmVMncDn-vADPxqHQXDCadpg1gVYgoAitwea9M/s320/FlowerPurple.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332677987281444802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPGnUjLo3E4uzxMWqUrcVKnZXo0GkNpvyoy6mPiNaFXowP3OcFa_au2ryiFVR3jsOIA2O4kWZXM8sFGkV_gG668zPCfFa_kQTuX1Oj61d_VSvPef9SCMITlGQQKJSTV3PSaXwko5QUgM/s400/RolledWheat.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-5402171752491179212009-05-05T01:58:00.000-07:002009-06-15T18:32:12.673-07:00Postcards Everywhere!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwv7HFg59c-z6rfN-vmllY6alJx7zTjt2OkupIPQQT9rfLtEBwUZuo3TmOdnFNnFdMg2b8PYzAQgulJUyOFCFDv3hkicshvjbgnRf3fDv_Gjhm2oxsFi8oA1jO-GyixZoTEYbsW5JHrDY/s1600-h/BarSanQuirico.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332699709117629026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwv7HFg59c-z6rfN-vmllY6alJx7zTjt2OkupIPQQT9rfLtEBwUZuo3TmOdnFNnFdMg2b8PYzAQgulJUyOFCFDv3hkicshvjbgnRf3fDv_Gjhm2oxsFi8oA1jO-GyixZoTEYbsW5JHrDY/s320/BarSanQuirico.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>The first few days of the workshop have been amazing <em>and FULL</em> - first of course, with a fabulous dinner.<br /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><em>First - For you Foodies out there:</em><br /></div><br /><div>Day of Arrival: Our arrival dinner at our hotel was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">squisito</span>! Our first course (antipasto) was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">pecorino</span> cheese souffle served in a celery and basil sauce. Wow. Our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">primo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">piatto</span> was zucchini and local saffron risotto. Another wow. Our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">secondo</span> (main course) was roast guinea fowl served with local wild mushrooms and rosemary potatoes and vegetables. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Delicioso</span>! The wine was a perfect <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Rosso</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">di</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Montalcino</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Fanti</span>. All was topped off with home made coffee <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">gelato</span> served in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">zabaione</span> cream sauce... <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Ok</span>! Not a bad start!</em> </div><div><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332264820853267922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeLXqQ8sJTuz2abGcahfghdHQxx3K792UqWgagYS6zr1gaORNwg1jpBHTiz0oFTwQFCabtRyqwwgaorM8qAkgU_qwJ9OOHwgjoAfZP72-GK2kflJiEDRD8X6raAv86OQkmBYwvIj6-FA/s320/MervynChapel.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Day 2: The students rose at 5 am for a sunrise shoot their first full day! (no sunrise photos from me, sorry) Then class - Then a walking tour with our lovely guide Anna - Then a delicious lunch at a local osteria (tavern). Then a late afternoon and sunset tour - then another delicious dinner at another fine local ristorante. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Mamma</span> Mia! </div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGvJQHTzKrudxlrEvH8Q7a_uNMZNJZhoXxtcy-ulOI2kfzN2GdwdvPpOFLr_u48DPQ_THEjflupFcG_xKfjR1X60-K5sF_P9ARdHSLoaFCcbWwZl3aoKk13R5F9x3KyrfmRrtZG9qjIw/s1600-h/bluedoorbluecan.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332700102474326882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGvJQHTzKrudxlrEvH8Q7a_uNMZNJZhoXxtcy-ulOI2kfzN2GdwdvPpOFLr_u48DPQ_THEjflupFcG_xKfjR1X60-K5sF_P9ARdHSLoaFCcbWwZl3aoKk13R5F9x3KyrfmRrtZG9qjIw/s320/bluedoorbluecan.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332264818564512402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIlP1HxMBhpq2jAjhyMaxZ2WMCeV7xjxiWwFdnkDqrlFyxp-6p6vywMaCTC4AKVpEfS93YiqN3mDHtJeSdFDwEVJvbLhnh_PzmjConuY8KwuwcwHf664NBCxiWN2zRISuvptay50P3lw/s320/PienzaShots.JPG" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LbgCd4L7vNSWrgUPuMM6CwsUJXzGyZvMEAfZfUwnH5DLTSellB9Qv66UCmO7ayiEVUEGXEo7LgHbnW-vHlDP6h4MqScL-Ti-zixiNHe0hXVXnByf4WfwVhwPtYRp6sKSMNxRtYnNrTQ/s1600-h/sweeper.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332698973144025890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 141px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LbgCd4L7vNSWrgUPuMM6CwsUJXzGyZvMEAfZfUwnH5DLTSellB9Qv66UCmO7ayiEVUEGXEo7LgHbnW-vHlDP6h4MqScL-Ti-zixiNHe0hXVXnByf4WfwVhwPtYRp6sKSMNxRtYnNrTQ/s200/sweeper.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Day3: The classes are in the field today. We head out to another charming hill town stopping along the way to take in a magnificent cluster of Cypress trees. I was surprised to see a street sweeper sweeping by hand the road and parking area here. Perhaps he enjoys the view as well and wishes to take his time here.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332266900595608754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1A4hlZdARwTbnDQz0yWd9bK60Sm_QPqBuZubmDn5xc3llTmCL-wHgCBh-1ehyphenhyphenZAqUY44D1YTlnjFose7EuhtKNhSatYAaoEUZYchYi_NuOK7_qxmBGkCxs-kzbD9MkHXKuK9BcHFoAU/s320/CypressGroup2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhofzBeH7P7rH_d7E6zVPaOa-a08S9z24bXeYJuJHrS9GuTJarSt1mFnUfr5O4kOXe46tC3Re3m08GNPr7nelcEix58yXEPxeZXrmyzB9Qvudo4cT3KMwk8cUPQlEPWHgxi2hQ_DPRc8/s1600-h/JoelPaulaFieldClass.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332280798138607538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhofzBeH7P7rH_d7E6zVPaOa-a08S9z24bXeYJuJHrS9GuTJarSt1mFnUfr5O4kOXe46tC3Re3m08GNPr7nelcEix58yXEPxeZXrmyzB9Qvudo4cT3KMwk8cUPQlEPWHgxi2hQ_DPRc8/s200/JoelPaulaFieldClass.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Instructor Joel assists Paula as she checks the settings on her camera at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Banfi</span> Estate. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Of course the meals are always an important part of our day. We enjoyed a three course tasting menu at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Castello</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Banfi</span> paired with their marvelous wines. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Castello</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Banfi</span> is the only vineyard to have a Michelin star-rated restaurant in Italy. </div><br /><div></div><div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332264818391592338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lmLUhd7FKgy8A1dec5PPUhOauWfU6yx5bIo90ShUnAy1igRg8D9zOL-UjoFjJUrr4QXOeY6d7577ED8DZBGxq2zN0Pcri9cXYMJTARouc6PmyzeGSpLzCBtcfrfMdlmqBl7LpXbKdgA/s320/GroupPhoto.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div><div align="center"><br />And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">bella</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Pienza</span> is turning out to be the ideal place for us to see it all!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-65571349237847498252009-05-01T12:57:00.000-07:002009-06-15T18:37:26.968-07:00Photo Workshop EveIt is the evening before the students arrive. Photographer Joel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQom9YEKncCtZfBF1FSq1gLZRPsWi7vdPS2PE6roOREXHZE2nhyphenhyphenLhcxNf3scH2nqJAAUqnbku920CbGqNj2xgo59_yL_EzM2VKo8X8zDW2jsJooeGvOyR-pe15Q6cizuOVKUVpBPb-XY/s1600-h/Photographer+Joel.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330962084611227298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQom9YEKncCtZfBF1FSq1gLZRPsWi7vdPS2PE6roOREXHZE2nhyphenhyphenLhcxNf3scH2nqJAAUqnbku920CbGqNj2xgo59_yL_EzM2VKo8X8zDW2jsJooeGvOyR-pe15Q6cizuOVKUVpBPb-XY/s200/Photographer+Joel.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wolfson</span>, his wife Barb and I head out for one last scout to a desired shooting area not far from our base in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pienza</span>. The white roads with green highlights do not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">disappoint</span>. (Unpaved roads are printed in white on most maps and the green highlights indicate a scenic route). These roads often lead to some very special places as it certainly did inour case! <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRVUDvpY1XXV_vv-SC7h9kslRK82h870p7ZlZipUYjMWwpnSZ62mAwz6a6yC33UZHgbLWdpX1ySPEj1NAf_JbmnDpdWSNvdBwxobL13vMS4-vGl9ih1w5ulfV2LI0he205tu2vgQ7EME/s1600-h/Photographers+Wife+Barb.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330961653735358114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRVUDvpY1XXV_vv-SC7h9kslRK82h870p7ZlZipUYjMWwpnSZ62mAwz6a6yC33UZHgbLWdpX1ySPEj1NAf_JbmnDpdWSNvdBwxobL13vMS4-vGl9ih1w5ulfV2LI0he205tu2vgQ7EME/s200/Photographers+Wife+Barb.JPG" border="0" /></a>I feel especially fortunate; first, because the weather has turned beautiful, and second, I have the teacher and his faithful assistance all to myself for private lessons! Barb assists Joel with the accuracy and urgency not unlike a surgical nurse to a doctor during an operation. Instead of "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">scalpel</span> or gauze", we hear "polarized filter" and "tripod" quick before the light fades." Barb is on it! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0gth6LQ2PlgJiSLRJsYRW7WMhXKnNsm5aILIpknIwhTzE17q-rvSbMGArDRHu0ma42cmtfsiIuJv-xBs7b_kBR8tgkcYNsCSdUAxfvmQ9gBN9Ib4Pkxg0zj_o0lU5sivqMlf9duQMpA/s1600-h/Lucignano+Bandnini.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330962353201261426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0gth6LQ2PlgJiSLRJsYRW7WMhXKnNsm5aILIpknIwhTzE17q-rvSbMGArDRHu0ma42cmtfsiIuJv-xBs7b_kBR8tgkcYNsCSdUAxfvmQ9gBN9Ib4Pkxg0zj_o0lU5sivqMlf9duQMpA/s200/Lucignano+Bandnini.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>It is about 6pm when we head out. We still have a good 2 hours left of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">shootable</span> light. Jack rabbits and wild pheasants scurry in front of us as we make our way down the country roads. With each turn is another spectacular vista.<br /><br />Once we arrived, we parked the car and headed out on foot to capture the many splendid shots surrounding us. One building where the light seemed "just right" turned out to be a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">casa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">vacanza</span> (a vacation house for rent). We took many photos and then rang the bell to obtain permission to use the house in photos to possibly sell. Within seconds, a gracious Signora arrived with a warm greeting and invited us inside to take a further look. Then she directed us on a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmSK5UNpA-4j9-luWNg5EjqmjQQZNeM0pH91tKizpIW0Q6NtbuzPTPUqKLo3gunAg4QJaiOw_NDDdVwmigQoA1YNS2w3LTRVjc6Q-csjbQNinhGlzBT-KItyX5oCBVCHhh5SY3a9i-6s/s1600-h/Lucignano+Pool.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330962523517354146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmSK5UNpA-4j9-luWNg5EjqmjQQZNeM0pH91tKizpIW0Q6NtbuzPTPUqKLo3gunAg4QJaiOw_NDDdVwmigQoA1YNS2w3LTRVjc6Q-csjbQNinhGlzBT-KItyX5oCBVCHhh5SY3a9i-6s/s200/Lucignano+Pool.JPG" border="0" /></a>walk through a small park and up several flights of lichen-covered stairs, passing through an alley-way lined with pots of roses and geraniums and up a spiral staircase to finally arrive on the very top of the town where there was a grand pool bordered by rosemary bushes and a view that stretched for miles in each direction. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Tuscans</span> take their holidays very seriously. A treat for all senses. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Bellissima</span>! </div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblOPq8ZAJU60bzbcMNJXUCTkdhYnkZK1PFaaIEHAHFGE8rbcE372FUjrvAMxxbd6QvMvCQpvzpDjYCIOMYlB-09AtbkNWKM601A2PRGb9t678ebq_YYNyI-xcoYW8zNRJfblmeFXkNhI/s1600-h/Lucignano+Roof.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330963515865639666" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblOPq8ZAJU60bzbcMNJXUCTkdhYnkZK1PFaaIEHAHFGE8rbcE372FUjrvAMxxbd6QvMvCQpvzpDjYCIOMYlB-09AtbkNWKM601A2PRGb9t678ebq_YYNyI-xcoYW8zNRJfblmeFXkNhI/s200/Lucignano+Roof.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330963080273503474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLRXwzUFlLaQcM94Ptpmq1j2MlCkYNR8rkQDbPvwXCueZuVSz_UfwwR11rSUtoGQS0dizL87rV7m_9Jbtl5rhazEjp5zFOAgRfwxU5xAAeXnmMkKF4uN7GJ3y4_kXxXy_OsXzn3wuj5o/s200/Lucignano+Lion.JPG" border="0" /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyWsPDBliq7e1-Fzt9x9hu7czCyaXENctoJNlqOhd1zx2rtwpm8GihRnnPbeFFx16nca_hZ5SBk2C6tkBe5IbtayNxP1MjFqKKw76vMkBkJ_FZbF2Mw8j7hUf8GpSet_SrNr-060MRSc/s1600-h/Lucignao+Chapel.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330965076589918914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 153px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyWsPDBliq7e1-Fzt9x9hu7czCyaXENctoJNlqOhd1zx2rtwpm8GihRnnPbeFFx16nca_hZ5SBk2C6tkBe5IbtayNxP1MjFqKKw76vMkBkJ_FZbF2Mw8j7hUf8GpSet_SrNr-060MRSc/s200/Lucignao+Chapel.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div>Heading out of this lovely little gem town with its streets so narrow that even <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Smartcars</span> must pull over to let the other pass, we slowly took in the white road that followed along the crests of rolling hills offering up a magnificent view of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">il</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">tramonto</span> (the sunset). There before us was the Tuscan Sun we have come to love, sinking slowly from the sky before our eyes. <em>And the workshop has yet to begin! </em></div><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330964611519809426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe546gO9DXSs1Q0aW9j1nc3G7IEI8FRcEDVt18sEsp5YZkn6srSi4RFBGM9k8Cpswby7Sexkd0hTTAN1AHSpiG136NRHbiEhrgPGL4XFKXChHlJRmQiE1lT4TnAPl-7-g9RxY0vC6x4Ps/s200/Under+the+Tuscan+Sun.JPG" border="0" /></em></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-47736798122991778222009-04-28T14:41:00.000-07:002009-04-28T14:49:52.647-07:00Return to TuscanyFinalmente - we are on our way back to Tuscany! We are headed to Pienza for our Creative Vision in Tuscany workshop with photographer Joel Wolfson from Flagstaff AZ. He went over early to get the rain out of the way for us! Looks like sunny skies ahead. Follow along on his blog <a href="http://joelwolfson.blogspot.com/">http://joelwolfson.blogspot.com</a> as well. Our group will be in Pienza and surrounding areas from May 2nd - May 9th. Come along with us as we capture the beautiful scenes of the Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A presto!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-88743978537741145062008-09-03T12:05:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:10:48.835-07:00The Art of Chianti<div>During the week of August 17th - 24th, while many Italians were still on holiday for Ferragosto - a few artists from Phoenix took in the Chianti Countryside with their eyes, with their paints, pastels and with their hearts. We spent a wonderful week once again at Il Borgo Villa di Bossi Pucci located just south of Florence near the town of Montespertoli. Pastel artist Liz Kenyon created this trip to allow fellow artists to join her while she worked on her own series.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245247762471033074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTc3d5ajKxhlJ1aQngTq58OJwRyi_zcjGLvreAm23SXRlZ4SwTcI3nLa5x_8PN-2-nnOjkbecXGm7ymjIhMtOUMwY4_KYaHL2AxN3U0x5kYScw82h1h-kkB5LU3Tp2XPzig-55RYqN14/s320/LizLunch.jpg" border="0" />On the day we arrived, we all checked into our simple but elegant apartments just prior to a huge downpour which drenched the land and, as quickly as it came, the skies opened back up to bright sunshine and puffy white clouds. We all enjoyed a wonderful welcome antipasti - which is typically appetizers but always turns into a full blown meal at Il Borgo. We enjoyed fresh tomatoes picked from the garden, Il Borgo's own wine and olive oil from their nearby castle estate, hand-made pasta and bread made by Alessandro's 8 year old son Francesco and much more. Above, Liz helps set the tone for the joyful week ahead. Ahhhh Chianti!<br /><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrbaqTIiMbYNlzFrgRj923azA6V5a1i3tHYhCV4CHsmbY_mcTdiOXgrlcU-EIf89XSeA64QgfCQYZlclSBCEeJCGHP6jTsR8R0rNAUDkqNjVplK3h1E0Udy6kJfz0sYrgddQ6FxFQmWI/s1600-h/BarbsArt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246318266540135378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px" height="179" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrbaqTIiMbYNlzFrgRj923azA6V5a1i3tHYhCV4CHsmbY_mcTdiOXgrlcU-EIf89XSeA64QgfCQYZlclSBCEeJCGHP6jTsR8R0rNAUDkqNjVplK3h1E0Udy6kJfz0sYrgddQ6FxFQmWI/s320/BarbsArt.jpg" width="187" border="0" /></a>After a much needed siesta and time to unpack and get settled - we hopped into the van to take a good look at the surrounding beauty which would make it's way onto the canvas over the next few days. At left is Barb's wonderful interpretation of Il Borgo's grand front yard.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div>That evening we all walked over to the community park where we enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner. Our reservations were drawn clearly on the butcher paper which lined the table! Even our guests who arrived from the U.S. that day were such troopers ignoring the time change and long flight to stay and enjoy this typical local summer dinner - the typical dinner which starts long after what we consider dinnertime to be! There were great cheers when the three-wheeled vehicles showed up with the giant pots of linguini and clam sauce and delicious fish stew! </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NHIoUZvmiF-EF9PDFQVZli3CAhEb9J_Y8o7IlLRwMemGyJjMFA-EmslHOYu-eljSNtzBQ0EUKnF0Vl8SAk156FJ9EZtGqHYht31TR0iXAAxkKYAAk05DeSk3x9x6u7MjwnZwuWsEtso/s1600-h/Barbara1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246319283379036370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NHIoUZvmiF-EF9PDFQVZli3CAhEb9J_Y8o7IlLRwMemGyJjMFA-EmslHOYu-eljSNtzBQ0EUKnF0Vl8SAk156FJ9EZtGqHYht31TR0iXAAxkKYAAk05DeSk3x9x6u7MjwnZwuWsEtso/s200/Barbara1.jpg" border="0" /></a>The next day, the artists found their places around Il Borgo to begin their "field sketches" and record their interpretations of the Chianti countryside. The artists would create several paintings over the next few days of various sites in and around Il Borgo and the surrounding towns. The property itself lent many opportunities for artists with its fiascos and courtyards, cypress lined drive, charming chapel and sprawling valley views.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEjEaZWHqb1LjO3muKR4wM0BOM9gUdrwGRaI3-ktStfPsF6VD0W2kPRwmDVdA_0uLWJVC4ZyHEsOxsBJJYj-KWMSrRoS4OUaUO6j-hXERCtKIqTlWdSUF8GGvafi206GMNkkjTtCKrPw/s1600-h/LizBaptistryDoors.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246296994960761586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 109px" height="178" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEjEaZWHqb1LjO3muKR4wM0BOM9gUdrwGRaI3-ktStfPsF6VD0W2kPRwmDVdA_0uLWJVC4ZyHEsOxsBJJYj-KWMSrRoS4OUaUO6j-hXERCtKIqTlWdSUF8GGvafi206GMNkkjTtCKrPw/s320/LizBaptistryDoors.jpg" width="211" border="0" /></a>With Florence only 20 minutes away, we always make sure to include a full day visit during our stays at Il Borgo. Our artists opted to visit the Uffizi Gallery and Academia to view some of Florence's most treasured <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSRUFM07a8eRtJ3bWx33A34yPJsEmHURhUlMQFlxr-ScvOyoy8jfptLjcT_d0Fhk3NIvbGTYFjg4fzN7bft3LhrVK6-p7hUpL8kYu92EFcPnubal7S1mVfFRK4pmnnal-qV6soHUApys/s1600-h/GelatoforTwo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246297475276730034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" height="181" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSRUFM07a8eRtJ3bWx33A34yPJsEmHURhUlMQFlxr-ScvOyoy8jfptLjcT_d0Fhk3NIvbGTYFjg4fzN7bft3LhrVK6-p7hUpL8kYu92EFcPnubal7S1mVfFRK4pmnnal-qV6soHUApys/s320/GelatoforTwo.jpg" width="251" border="0" /></a>works of art including Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Birth of Venus. We strolled along the River Arno and spent some time on the infamous Ponte Vecchio. Piazza Signori is always a focus of attention while in Florence with its grand statues and fountains. We also made some time to view the amazing Duomo and Baptistry as well as enjoy some gelato, of course! </div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246305714524332626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyUBdH6GIr4w8cJIyxctvZYPGlPtLPA1bOxLqOJlBf0w1A4jduuf-i8nzMByH5bYz8UJkKnAiCmrLNpAi-Jpmsm-asCSsyM8DL2-RXFvYG_T28LZHtip_bM3l-S5tygVm2up8y4voKek/s200/Liz6.jpg" border="0" />Another wonderful field trip was to the small town of Volpaia just north of Radda in Chianti. This little gem of a town has a small cafe in the central piazza and a wonderful restaurant called La Bottega both owned by two sisters who have lived in Volpaia for over 70 years. We had incredible views of the valley from our table and enjoyed a variety of wonderful dishes from the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP4o7uzjSF504Ye4EzhOWgxfSrON0AM42pzlXbtf6SFmoUpy7rIEHvAtNw07_TGBhXRS0H2lxBoL4AS13NYZZlUtMPYL9p2gg3g6xVoTA3MRBNNmEpU4RpRnyMBfNnmufrtajNov0_M4/s1600-h/Liz5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246306340461261650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP4o7uzjSF504Ye4EzhOWgxfSrON0AM42pzlXbtf6SFmoUpy7rIEHvAtNw07_TGBhXRS0H2lxBoL4AS13NYZZlUtMPYL9p2gg3g6xVoTA3MRBNNmEpU4RpRnyMBfNnmufrtajNov0_M4/s200/Liz5.jpg" border="0" /></a>country kitchen such as handmade ravioli and tagliatelle with mushrooms. In Volpaia, there are no gift shops, markets or tobacco stores and best of all, there is no traffic! Streets and doorways are lined with flower pots bursting with colorful plants and herbs. Here the artists set up their easels in town to capture some of the beauty this town offers. A small tour group of American students came through on foot admiring Liz's work and the aspiring artists among them longed to join us!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250099434329954242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BwbeXQ4LfSm72Bodpw4A2XxsRR14SLz_nqVz7l0fN-u01AY8GiOriT5vyhV2ylnlYEiNkhI_O83SwaXpQwtWw_ktCxA7UoUgRuR-PsuU_ViX4ZK-C3qNTz_nIE28Rr44ekdSSc9-ihc/s320/Chianti+Cafe2.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">To view more of Liz Kenyon's Art, please visit <a href="http://www.lizkenyon.com/">www.lizkenyon.com</a> </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWsEAVBGDFOphYUS3ow2sglcIZN01cc7oSYvkrNYh5owmW7Dytb5SQtYcY9899Z0xotiCjJjxYHCiufYkXSimvF_gDvRmRUoTqfSS2RGfc7N4KN9ZI8R_4cU9d0ssh7SW-e66XgBBtPY/s1600-h/poppiano5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246314658228719746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="222" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWsEAVBGDFOphYUS3ow2sglcIZN01cc7oSYvkrNYh5owmW7Dytb5SQtYcY9899Z0xotiCjJjxYHCiufYkXSimvF_gDvRmRUoTqfSS2RGfc7N4KN9ZI8R_4cU9d0ssh7SW-e66XgBBtPY/s200/poppiano5.jpg" width="175" border="0" /></a>Poppiano was another very special place just minutes from Il Borgo and her grand castle was always in view from our rooms. The sunflowers in the foreground had since passed with the exception of a few late bloomers, however, the scene was no less magnificent. We set up along the cypress line road in front of vineyards, peach, pear, and olive trees with the castle in the distance and Puccini playing in the background courtesy of our laptop. The sun was hot and bright - the colors brilliant. The clouds moved in giving the artists a bit of shade and offered new hues and puffy clouds for their skies. The interpretation of the scene was varied and interesting. It was another lovely day in the Chianti countryside.<br /><br />Our visit to Chianti through artist's eyes has opened my eyes even more to the marvelous beauty, the brilliant colors, patterns, and patchwork this land beholds all which has been created by the fine hands of the agricultural artists of Tuscany and dutifully and respectfully preserved by the creative and talented hands of our artists Liz, Barb, Alicia and Barbara from Phoenix, Arizona. </div><div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246317505508351362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXhEnKsgHwv4dW_7aHK7kNRBsNSvYhrFc3u3J0qmPqaZwx18opijFhWeuMKIbWtP7UjFUQtXueSLqkwQSx6q6YqEGmlpRGx3dMuAuZUb092OeSGw-Ti2S7ZXn3lw7mMxgEpnTR5A2U7M/s320/Farewell+Dinner.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div><br /><br /><div>See <a href="http://www.villavita.net/workshops_pastels.htm">http://www.villavita.net/workshops_pastels.htm</a> for more information on this workshop. </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-43936104111222150532008-08-27T03:30:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:04:06.360-07:00Ferragosto in the Val d'Orcia<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30qmogOQTxnRpIiWRxvd1dcDBxBsU1_lg9buqDRiB3BgOBdGy01PSn6Rq5Xz47KpMv36KYUQWET-ydWTUoaR3w4JnCkc4_SijLRFTbri738-Hyx8WUJgALnM6VbUQYPo626NrQxwq3IU/s1600-h/ValdorciaHayRolls.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241578800112900466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30qmogOQTxnRpIiWRxvd1dcDBxBsU1_lg9buqDRiB3BgOBdGy01PSn6Rq5Xz47KpMv36KYUQWET-ydWTUoaR3w4JnCkc4_SijLRFTbri738-Hyx8WUJgALnM6VbUQYPo626NrQxwq3IU/s320/ValdorciaHayRolls.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Fairs of August - celebrating the end of hard labor in the fields and marking the beginning of the harvest. August 15th is the actual holiday, however, generally the entire month of August recognizes this holiday. Before the Roman Catholic Church came into existence, this holiday was celebrated in the Roman Empire to honor the Gods and the cycle of fertility and ripening. The name of the holiday derives from its original Latin name Feriae Augusti - Fairs of August. In time, the Roman Church adopted this date to commemorate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the real physical elevation of her sinless soul and uncorrupt body into Heaven. Whichever, it is a time for relaxing by the sea or in the mountains, enjoying fabulous feasts with family and friends and being thankful for the magnificent land of Italy and all that she provides... and we did just that!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27bePYLvtaYGMhVX-pbf30MLTBPtDIGjjqJ5Pc-F0xCRXQ6AVv6Ln3ZUE2jzd-2z-060X1jsqBjldnXqFn9JdaEW_fL7CJvHpGwaiRddA1YjlTwyywwPR7u13BSZQAkIsJOrnAvisEeU/s1600-h/PienzaAnton.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241596974586045874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27bePYLvtaYGMhVX-pbf30MLTBPtDIGjjqJ5Pc-F0xCRXQ6AVv6Ln3ZUE2jzd-2z-060X1jsqBjldnXqFn9JdaEW_fL7CJvHpGwaiRddA1YjlTwyywwPR7u13BSZQAkIsJOrnAvisEeU/s320/PienzaAnton.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We spent a week in Pienza - from August 10th - 17th. A lovely Renaissance town created by Pope Pius II. Originally named Corsignano, where he was born in 1405, and returned as Pope in 1459 transforming the peasant village into the ideal Renaissance town - an early example of urban planning at its finest. Streets named for love, fortune and hugs and kisses. Still to this day, 550 years later, the town continues to retain its charm evident in its structures as well as its residents. </div><div align="left"><br />Arriving on Sunday - we checked into the <a href="http://www.albergorutiliano.it/">Albergo Rutiliano </a>- a lovely B&B walking distance to town with large rooms and a sparkling pool which came in quite handy on a few occasions!. The best part about this place is Silvia - our warm and attentive front desk manager... and the breakfast is pretty good too! </div><div align="left"><br /><br />The Internet was not working and because it was Ferragosto - it was not about to get fixed anytime soon. Everyone was on holiday. So that left more time for me to be out and enjoy - dancing to the rhythm that is Italy.<br /><br />Our first full day - we all took part in a walking tour of Pienza - Our guide Anna - was so thin, the slightest breeze we were afraid would take her away from us - so we paid close attention as not to lose her! She gave us the grand tour of the Duomo - the Piazza - the transformation of the town form Corsignano to Pienza - Pointed out the Palaces - each architects work - and then we strolled down the street of new houses - new in 1462 that is...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X250Vf_01IZF1_hzswo7vREYiqgMulyOaKHYa_MEAJavFPfcj_gJIpjraUI2dfsMWepl6092ktwUpw8Mq1Rw0fLFUYKUnM2XBrR1obcV9bCwq2_M8dkx4Dde4F_avYDiteAqKz38V28/s1600-h/AlnBarbsmall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241584125022536946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px" height="203" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X250Vf_01IZF1_hzswo7vREYiqgMulyOaKHYa_MEAJavFPfcj_gJIpjraUI2dfsMWepl6092ktwUpw8Mq1Rw0fLFUYKUnM2XBrR1obcV9bCwq2_M8dkx4Dde4F_avYDiteAqKz38V28/s320/AlnBarbsmall.jpg" width="250" border="0" /></a></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Following the tour tour - we stopped for lunch at the Latte di Luna - Milk of the Moon - a favorite restaurant of many visiting this town. We had handmade pasta and crostinis - and of course, the local salamis and pecorino cheese made from sheep's milk. By day 3 we would be praying the next meal would not be including more cheese! </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">This was the first of many fantastic dining experiences we continued to enjoy during the days ahead.<br /><br /><br />Our week included things that you typically would not visit as an American tourist - One in<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO6T5QGWG-e0j42z5jfKZ4j4N2Wc50_8YOZBOzNy5aH8TIYbvd-ft_XWGjsXn_mGaRMZBRFs6tb33SN4ZauujQnM9pdUuYSHpof236x3rXbxx_NeleuQzNQNi18o1mMX9QGCuDSx39xk/s1600-h/TeatroGroup.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241585780097721986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px" height="176" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO6T5QGWG-e0j42z5jfKZ4j4N2Wc50_8YOZBOzNy5aH8TIYbvd-ft_XWGjsXn_mGaRMZBRFs6tb33SN4ZauujQnM9pdUuYSHpof236x3rXbxx_NeleuQzNQNi18o1mMX9QGCuDSx39xk/s320/TeatroGroup.JPG" width="213" border="0" /></a> particular is the <a href="http://www.teatropovero.it/english/english.html">Teatro Povero </a>in nearby Monticchiello, mainly because it is entirely in Italian, of course. Every summer for three weeks, the entire town square of this medieval village is transformed into a grand stage and the residents become actors - amazingly good actors! Created in the 60's as a way to express the hardship of living in the Italian countryside during the industrial revolution, the Teatro Povero (Poor Theater) has become extremely popular with Italians and theater goers worldwide as a unique and memorable experience.<br />It can be however, one of those evenings where you wondered why you were there at the time and spoke eagerly about it to others upon your return home... </div><br /><p></p><p><span >One of our favorite afternoons was spent at Casale Farm. We were given a brief tour of the grounds, introduced to the donkeys, pigs, goats and peacocks and Sandra, the elegant caretaker carefully explained proudly the unique process of making organic pecorino cheeses by hand. Afterwards, we sat down to what was to be one of our favorite meals of the week... all organic foods, fresh tomatoes drizzled with homemade olive oil and fresh basil, spelt (barley) salad, handmade wheat pasta salad, grilled veggies including zucchini, eggplant and peppers, and cheeses - lots of glorious cheeses...<br /><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241584388482115186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKUUr4NLrCkPEV2YQZX2JzF84WTGcnYXyrwSxV0lCxQsEGlSB08HofkVyoxxBmEUohAaR5szR09dMyzWc9CDaK_VrkBRQ1V8HBVP8p5Wbps-pEukIfdy9Uo5r5rwRxhmdkzY6bbCqhHk/s320/FarmLunch.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm_M_DlMD5ApPXMc2jcPluA-TdbN4Bfyz75k5R3OsiVGEoaF5Z-tIWqwKQwKMx06ZJXQL9BH_cUtjyk0VvKLmvIhJ0DHeSlq5H-mgneiYh3vExBvdyxShncMp3HhULjUsjJEePpsPCzA/s1600-h/GelatoChoosing.JPG"></a><span >Now, you may have already heard this, and I am here to tell you that it is all true - the most </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9F0ebnJee666zfC3ooaW4vXn2VlueSAn25-IdY5eqBrtKfry8VEqpLlNxBw0ALtvTPMGmyN96Iw9_WU28FhrJGhvjjR4SGq3Lyf1O-voKY5Dr_R6jLRhIYuZJJiUzy2C9c4Ju2qYd8E/s1600-h/FragoleNLimone.JPG"><span ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241602938231246514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 176px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" height="141" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9F0ebnJee666zfC3ooaW4vXn2VlueSAn25-IdY5eqBrtKfry8VEqpLlNxBw0ALtvTPMGmyN96Iw9_WU28FhrJGhvjjR4SGq3Lyf1O-voKY5Dr_R6jLRhIYuZJJiUzy2C9c4Ju2qYd8E/s320/FragoleNLimone.JPG" width="226" border="0" /></span></a><span >important part of almost any trip to Italy is the visit to the gelateria! The selection process is not taken lightly... many of the choices are typically between strawberry or melon, chocolate and cream, banana, hazelnut and pistachio - and even saffron if you are lucky (a Sicilian favorite). But which goes best with which? And in a cone or in a cup? Surely you will get two flavors.... I recommend ordering your favorite as a base and pair that flavor with every other flavor offered <em>every chance you get!</em> Al loves strawberry and lemon! Fragole e Limone!<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgA-bD4V4QgMG9orTXR5ljdhUQqvgZ5PchnKjUkckmFXFGP6NXSol9wRQsArz-CFxd8Jsb9gbspJvL-4JxEqwMPYK0584Js46np8ij5A9VY-6hnDd2gad5sCm4B01M63J-VXuCaXP_NV0/s1600-h/MontalcinoDonna2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241586770596271186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px" height="284" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgA-bD4V4QgMG9orTXR5ljdhUQqvgZ5PchnKjUkckmFXFGP6NXSol9wRQsArz-CFxd8Jsb9gbspJvL-4JxEqwMPYK0584Js46np8ij5A9VY-6hnDd2gad5sCm4B01M63J-VXuCaXP_NV0/s320/MontalcinoDonna2.JPG" width="181" border="0" /></a> </p><p><span >Wednesday was a full day tour of the surrounding area... Our trusty driver Ilario ensured us of the highlights and hidden gems of his neighborhood. We drove through the center of neighboring San Quirico - only vehicles with special taxi licenses afford this benefit... then we visited the beautiful town of Montalcino where the famed Brunello wine is produced. We strolled through the quiet streets stopping for pictures or shopping... The residents, even during the late summer after months of seeing their streets lined with tourists, still offer a warm smile...<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br />And the landscape continued to be simply stunning.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241585185831742898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZnDi_kMnLAFpC_gZZDg4XwzeglMNLkcOyYUUSYFdb_mr5o0n8_I3Z_XU81iu__NIAhHspCJPX2lOLsAALfMvnA-d45NXQFqOMYBNpbTgFFVrcnbdKQBEbNhXTJUpCqeGrnm6oCrU2K8/s400/PienzaVista.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />After Montalcino - we enjoyed a tour of the Fattoria dei Barbi situated just south of the town - one of the oldest wineries in the region producing fine Brunello wines for 5 generations... Bottles on display dated back to 1895! Our tasting including samplings of their wines as well as their salamis and of course - cheese!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0pxwg487gmw9bRV6aFOsOM7YToayFEE1i8JkzMrnV3gFqzpmrHGCKGLZJsA6X6LPrJm-l4TxvauWfNoUepfG44qwjPXrJseBNSzDcRKHjAryMY3-kzk8myxQgBWSSqeiKqqa8En_BLA/s1600-h/SantAntimo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241607539638721586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0pxwg487gmw9bRV6aFOsOM7YToayFEE1i8JkzMrnV3gFqzpmrHGCKGLZJsA6X6LPrJm-l4TxvauWfNoUepfG44qwjPXrJseBNSzDcRKHjAryMY3-kzk8myxQgBWSSqeiKqqa8En_BLA/s200/SantAntimo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We also stopped at <a href="http://www.antimo.it/pagine_en/00FRAME.html">Sant'Antimo</a> Monastery arriving in time for the 2:45 mass and chanting. These days it is a bit different as most pews are filled with tourists instead of townspeople - however, the chanting continues to stir our souls...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One of our days, a few of our guests partook in an early morning balloon flight with <a href="http://www.ballooningintuscany.com/">Ballooning in Tuscany</a> - Englishman and veteran pilot Robert Etherington was at the burners launching from his home in nearby Montisi. As they ascended into the sky for a bird's eye view of Tuscany- we headed back to gather up the others to head out on our half day tour visiting San Anna Comprena (made famous in the U.S. as the setting for the English Patient), Il Casale farm and the artist studio of Aleardo and <a href="http://www.enricopaolucci.it/mostra/mostra.html">Enrico Paolucci </a>- a father and son artist studio producing some very important and magnificent artwork from the Pienza region. Aleardo is explaining his work above and son Enrico's studio is below. The passion of artwork transcends much of our language barriers. Absolutely wonderful.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241608211252904114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf26HSsQs8_yQ1MrIS04d8Q0rQs2RqbLUU1T7391XIifzF8gQzQUOiFUS4cPXlRn1yNjdListJByC0zwbj65F1zHR8kzgAC1BTMihvQOKmt2vmLjfUq0fm885das4O0jh3NdjkcYMVzhg/s200/AleardoPaulucci.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241608298686197842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLO1_bgAc_rOw8rJfZbUydbEGDuu-Nm6WzxNxVp3C7j5L8pqPDTFfG9SmV6g0i7-KavQh3GWzyvLRBM_dRS4Gz4u5OuhvbnNhq8LyQWzrZg1DaKfpOLCGU1CVvDRzLP1x3SiTB53ngrkI/s200/EnricoPaulucci.jpg" border="0" /><br />So much more to see and say.... and of course then there is Siena - and the Palio... next up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-22783822355230252812008-08-16T05:59:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:14:41.246-07:00Siena during Palio<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242539789932123586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtjcuB85TtTwUD92n6rzurSOCWGulNKBebh4MjU8l6B2WPHwqeQd_KASBAHPrUbQLbzDlcDcJ26gjKd9qMxV1ndM0IlYOs980B9xCwjDsm6KuHDUuzQOSIf1gOsL6wYTkAX-MuJSGJCk/s320/paliodisiena.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>July 2nd and August 16th each year the town of Siena is transformed into a grand arena where one can experience what the Sienese life evolves around all year long - The Palio. A tradition dating back as early as the 14th century, the Palio has retained its importance in daily life today. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>To the visitor, the Palio is an anything-goes, bareback horse race between 10 horses which race around a track 3 times and the winner gets the Palio - a beautiful silk banner designed by local artists which is proudly displayed in the town hall of the winning neighborhood or <em>Contrada.</em> The track is made with truckloads of earth laid down around the Piazza del Campo, one of the most beautiful piazzas in all of Italy. The days leading up to the event are filled with trial races and fanfare , flag waiving and general pageantry. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>To the Sienese, the dedication and conviction to their heritage, to their religion, to their community, and to their entire existence is based around the Palio. Only the Sienese can truly understand the importance of this race - It is indeed the true pulse of Siena. </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Palio of August 16, 2008, it was also a very special day as it was a big birthday of one of our very dear friends Al and the reason for our trip. Our group had fun selecting our favorite contrada , purchased flags denoting their emblems and colors and watched the race from a small bar outside of town - far from the madding crowds. This year Il Bruco won - the caterpillar - it was the neighborhood I stayed in while attending language school in Siena. It was good to see Il Bruco win. Just 4 years prior on the Palio of August 16th, 2004, Il Bruco's horse fell and was badly trampled and died of its injuries. A very sad sacrifice. Long live Siena and the Palio. </div><div></div><br /><div>For more information on the Palio in Siena - please visit <a href="http://www.ilpalio.org/index_english.htm">http://www.ilpalio.org/index_english.htm</a></div><div>Here you can view videos and more <a href="http://www.ilpalio.org/assunta08.htm">http://www.ilpalio.org/assunta08.htm</a></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-27041633189178322772008-08-10T00:32:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:02:57.026-07:00A Few Days in Rome<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLXDQ1Ht4aI-33-XvMFhZxsCj_qenRpmbGTRbbtWUnVeSgFcYwZg2oJGFryLjQuCBlH6zF5ZxWP018T0nUpsuqHHIqRq6kzaZzFqQqtUEpdszR3caG-WC00QMNaaT9CiAuHkMhQq8hFc/s1600-h/PantheonFountain.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232789413374769490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLXDQ1Ht4aI-33-XvMFhZxsCj_qenRpmbGTRbbtWUnVeSgFcYwZg2oJGFryLjQuCBlH6zF5ZxWP018T0nUpsuqHHIqRq6kzaZzFqQqtUEpdszR3caG-WC00QMNaaT9CiAuHkMhQq8hFc/s320/PantheonFountain.JPG" border="0" /></a>Rome is one of those cities that you fall in love with but cannot actually pinpoint exactly why. It could be the incredible evidence of the past centuries where current day Rome still flourishes. It could be globalness of it all; dozens of languages spoken on every corner and bar. It could be the sacredness of this eternal city with its hundreds of churches and sculptures of worship. Whatever floats your boat on the Tiber, you are among the masses that come each year. Most come just for a few days to catch a glimpse of the Coliseum, or Pantheon, to throw a coin in the Trevi to ensure a future return trip and/or spend the day in the amazing Vatican City<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9heCZEoUKuQLQaXt5nUm9t-EQw3PRAa5-ipbzHS2e875aIDvKDp2pPv_Iaj1HeKtEuJgOgvpnXy7elgE7DkK9P0kNAke96DxeVyywKadmpYTvwrZLdjQG8fvojizQcouXCkIfnMIIj8/s1600-h/Pantheon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239736090951182530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" height="190" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9heCZEoUKuQLQaXt5nUm9t-EQw3PRAa5-ipbzHS2e875aIDvKDp2pPv_Iaj1HeKtEuJgOgvpnXy7elgE7DkK9P0kNAke96DxeVyywKadmpYTvwrZLdjQG8fvojizQcouXCkIfnMIIj8/s320/Pantheon.jpg" width="178" border="0" /></a>. And no one seems to leave disappointed with however they spend their time here. We spent 3 nights in Rome prior to our Val d'Orcia Tuscany program. I personally spent most of my Rome time taking in the atmosphere around the Pantheon. For me, this area pulsates with the ancient roots of the city. The mighty and resounding Pantheon surviving over 1800 years in the center of this empire is stark proof of the city's resilience and stalwartness. And you do not need to know much about this large domed temple to feel her magnificence... even through the hundreds of cameras clicking, horses drawing tourists, and crowds of on lookers... there she is - majestically maintaining her center-of- the-universe stature she justly deserves. Rome is worth the visit, if even only for a few days... </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-79691137799689358882008-08-08T08:42:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:04:06.361-07:00Agosto in ItaliaIt's no secret that Italians go on holiday in August either to the beach or to the mountains. This August, more Italians are coming to the U.S. taking advantage of their favorable exchange rate. Americans too, are still enjoying visits to Italy in more creative ways in response to our not so favorable exchange rate. We look more now for smaller family-owned places to stay in the country instead of larger hotels in the heart of the cities. Places where we can cook a few meals for ourselves instead of dining out every night allowing us visits to the local markets where we interact more with the residents. Travel itineraries include more walking and cycling than driving. We tend to enjoy more educational programs versus general sight-seeing vacations. The result? A richer experience that is still affordable where we bring home so much more in addition to our photos and souvenirs.<br /><br />And traveling in August is warm, yes. And many places such as stores are closed for the month, yes. But the traffic is lighter, the museum lines are shorter, and there is still much to see and do in Italy in August. Besides, with the dollar as it is, we do less shopping anyway! And we enjoy more just being in Italy in the summertime.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-28711786150598548482008-06-13T07:15:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:04:06.362-07:00Ciao for Now Il Borgo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWsWSkYsm6qJLFg3vhSg-P5g-pJboKJHtaGGyaCQphgJLdpMOeWrFCpv2ciZugdERlI9dUZ8dYYbNiB_48q82MDk0J2KZVbe2R76E0NcJSwa9O_qLfIjXjGifALmtUUy7Nu17f5lTFQc/s1600-h/smallkey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211381333046073186" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWsWSkYsm6qJLFg3vhSg-P5g-pJboKJHtaGGyaCQphgJLdpMOeWrFCpv2ciZugdERlI9dUZ8dYYbNiB_48q82MDk0J2KZVbe2R76E0NcJSwa9O_qLfIjXjGifALmtUUy7Nu17f5lTFQc/s200/smallkey.jpg" border="0" /></a>I am sitting on the plane en route back to the U.S. after another absolutely wonderful stay in Tuscany thinking to myself “how can I be so lucky”? I believe a large part of my good fortune can be accredited to learning about Il Borgo Villa di Bossi Pucci. Since I first entered through the grand gates last year, I (and everyone I bring here) have been treated with such good <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zlhcVnR1Vpv30u2jQZjYb0rU0h2PAJdijeAOQgPsu8A5QXaITkQneyTCOKEYmHtMFDBj5wd0Dh6jjG1AnpLSLpIF0Qobj8MXlsb3XQRZrdyyT4Nk11upOhY2XwfIFC7p0-YyHZyBV30/s1600-h/chairview.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211371274385848546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zlhcVnR1Vpv30u2jQZjYb0rU0h2PAJdijeAOQgPsu8A5QXaITkQneyTCOKEYmHtMFDBj5wd0Dh6jjG1AnpLSLpIF0Qobj8MXlsb3XQRZrdyyT4Nk11upOhY2XwfIFC7p0-YyHZyBV30/s200/chairview.jpg" border="0" /></a>care. The apartments are simple and elegantly furnished with full living rooms and breakfast kitchens. Each building is restored to reveal its original typical Tuscan architecture. The views from the terraces in the 2 bedroom villas are stunning. I must admit I spent a great deal of time here admiring it all during my stay. The fog rolling down into the valley in the morning, the late afternoon cloud burst and thunderstorms, and the sunset (after 9pm in June) turning the valley to a gold and green paradise is as much a part of the holiday as is the trips to all the charming hill towns and restaurants.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211381113053034722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIabsgZJzTOIUZ8rQ_VlXVhYOZjRQLi0VpVkcUKgPkF7V-j2WAYbBVd29fltoLW2HzMfAtgn8Y8k5gRXkuiQ1E6emBWJnsvRN-jsNZmHaFpeLstqFkJlLFY-epBDB22ExKzkrz1E3JDs/s320/landscape.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211380867285104946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyVWJYWuczmP9rItMCsNeI7ZE4kQwBK5dXhzTdVkwDLP20rWHj7Kt0DRA_0H_ur4JPrvLonsfdfQQK7Nh_rZFRm9LHw3o8n4TB7z_Fys9hrj_1Otg5-4acqUKtFX0jf_D9L-4r2mS8xM/s320/ilborgo2bedrooms.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>The owner of the estate is a former CEO of Hilton International and American Express which helps to explain the top notch service and quality accommodations. Daily management of the property is under the capable hands of Alessandro Guerrieri. He, his wife Julia and their two sons all live on the estate. On a quiet afternoon in the summer, you can catch a glimpse of the boys playing soccer in one of the many grassy fields<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DYuATb5GsIPvtA5E3JmFzM5oQLcok1NcVRgPnYpeyxQpvXMDDN40zhiJHVrqdvh_7b86gk7wD1z7sm_rmWGKZUbvqGKZc8re86yBjECxS0mdCJi1X2q240WpBTQCXT6MjBAZxohEdXc/s1600-h/poppy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211373675019103218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 89px" height="106" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DYuATb5GsIPvtA5E3JmFzM5oQLcok1NcVRgPnYpeyxQpvXMDDN40zhiJHVrqdvh_7b86gk7wD1z7sm_rmWGKZUbvqGKZc8re86yBjECxS0mdCJi1X2q240WpBTQCXT6MjBAZxohEdXc/s200/poppy.jpg" width="149" border="0" /></a> surrounding the estate. On special occasions, the large central courtyard plays host to classical concerts with local musicians and other such venues. The pool boasts the same fantastic views as the 2 bedroom villas with Poppiano Castle to the left and Montespertoli in the direct distance just past the vineyards and olive groves. Walking paths and quiet country roads lead in all directions from here taking you further into a Tuscan dream.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211372968249808402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy35NYXyx9cotJKAzaCq9dbW8tSJwDFefJgFWZMerE52gXCwVqc5vnN9U-z3iv6x-eSASjLbeV0G6eD3pbcxNijO9dtEE8dlWmkJc7KN6OAixHVguMlPJvQSXNQB8mWUM_EmJlrUUEck/s320/countryraod.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="left">The landscaping is abound with rosemary and roses, terra cotta pots brimming with blossoms <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMZT6rnuDz_tOleGeoKgVJT7aDQerPqA8E16bssIjj6bREkEAzRWN22gG_AEXBpVqv1uF1IljdrCbQKQ82YSp2HP1qqA1uzN44vtKZ9oMwI3flYr0CDQbve1Px4etifYiv_Lvlx9RXLM/s1600-h/smallfocalare.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211372584265598706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMZT6rnuDz_tOleGeoKgVJT7aDQerPqA8E16bssIjj6bREkEAzRWN22gG_AEXBpVqv1uF1IljdrCbQKQ82YSp2HP1qqA1uzN44vtKZ9oMwI3flYr0CDQbve1Px4etifYiv_Lvlx9RXLM/s200/smallfocalare.jpg" border="0" /></a>and of course, lots of olive trees and cypress. There is a little ancient chapel on property tucked away in a small wooded area just past the pool. It was very common for larger estates to all have their own chapel centuries ago. Just below the pool, a grassy pathway leads to the small town of Montagnana. Here there is the general store, (alimentari) a wonderful pizzeria, un ristorante, café, hair salon, gas station, post office, and real estate office. I could not resist taking a look at the few homes and apartments for sale, after all, this is a slice of paradise. Many of the apartments in Il Borgo are for sale as well if you are like me and would like this to be a more permanent holiday. In the meantime, staying at Il Borgo and participating in the Lessons of Tuscany program is the next best way to experience all the splendors of Tuscany. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.villavita.net/experience.htm">http://www.villavita.net/experience.htm</a><a href="http://www.villavita.net/calendar.htm#Lessonsoftuscany"></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211375370803173266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQAGV9jEfn3ShYIowJ0bvyH-KDvF9ppDv3WUx2dFLjOS6DvbwtzYv2T-FefCxt8h54XZnKPeOm6hhBowYFYn6pJYFOyH6CYRszx-B6wNTmVfvJZ-tIfwB2QAAIHtFVWLbnpRjXLddONc/s400/view2bedroom.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQMUUQCc7jNTB-aHkwiy9KACt9S4_eU8B9VKwGDIdAUOTPeTD6B_BAj9r3Ga_9xT4hC89gd3-ahHLtwWskmcwyWU00l3QmcROunITXDvh_gFmhWVjSB-_-j4Xsyr60ij6dm_H2kdSrTo/s1600-h/ilborgo2bedrooms.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-12466217375272348332008-06-11T07:08:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:00:11.289-07:00A Local Ceramics Shop<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210629616396423698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UuBToi9lSRMPs24m947I9bEm5qa7nw_l2a-2QieupZ6W9FXIZylgcsnmCc78irgzhteN_hcDeKrMpVTxvZd00nCEiipBX6ziARnUovet8XYgPvyhufcZDJo9ZDD7vvn7RxLOu0nHwAE/s200/showroom.jpg" border="0" />Just a few kilometers from Il Borgo is a ceramics shop … well, more like a ceramics production facility, or even a ceramics warehouse. Simply put, it's a large building housing many beautiful ceramics, a grand showroom and stations where the artist paint. The driveway was quite difficult to find – there was no sign. Anselmo, the town it is in is not even on most maps. We entered through the garage door. Immediately upon entering, we were in front of large shelves full of every kind of ceramics you can imagine - Large platters, plates and pitchers of every shape, size and design. Whichever pattern you liked, you could get every piece to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeM8-l21yaQvwKVMpDU8VE52Um4fg3mcN0WYFxM-fyUru6eILX0SiyYNQUud8398-Pg3VAvWUjL91I_OOqZLV4PfC0oCCeDxjCHk8XBCQmzL2SQatPnsb8O-tJu2kNMNeARF9-GUvpzY/s1600-h/artistseries.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210628997422414354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeM8-l21yaQvwKVMpDU8VE52Um4fg3mcN0WYFxM-fyUru6eILX0SiyYNQUud8398-Pg3VAvWUjL91I_OOqZLV4PfC0oCCeDxjCHk8XBCQmzL2SQatPnsb8O-tJu2kNMNeARF9-GUvpzY/s200/artistseries.jpg" border="0" /></a>match – and if you don't see it, just tell them what you would like and they will gladly make it for you. The upstairs showroom features their most requested designs. From up here I could look down on the rear of the storeroom below for a bird’s eye view of endless rows of white and terracotta forms waiting to be put into the hands of the local artists who were sitting quietly in the midst diligently bringing a life of color and design to each three dimensional blank palette.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiEY_DerCVX7iahLfpxv-eIi_KW6ppSVl2XlkJaSF5WQUMvBsslyMeMFf3CHCGLi7yowGrsyGXJfG6-vQJMX1f903N8rElNB2ZNwJag7355xLArpjEHxATJ1QDs8ArsSUKpktmTWMlxQ/s1600-h/gabrielle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210631420548847362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiEY_DerCVX7iahLfpxv-eIi_KW6ppSVl2XlkJaSF5WQUMvBsslyMeMFf3CHCGLi7yowGrsyGXJfG6-vQJMX1f903N8rElNB2ZNwJag7355xLArpjEHxATJ1QDs8ArsSUKpktmTWMlxQ/s200/gabrielle.jpg" border="0" /></a>The art of ceramics dates back almost 1000 years here. This area in the Tuscan hills is known as Montelupo Fiornetino and has been an epicenter for this handicraft peaking during the Renaissance era between the 12th and 15th centuries and still thrives today. Proprietor and gracious host Gabrielle gave us a unique inside look into the process of creating the colorful pieces that grace almost every Italian home from tiles and bowls to giant urns and planters. He pointed out the large vats for glazing and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gDrMuY8r-W0PLBoSDhedxOFrCVwDFU7eWv4Shxrc9G-s5dILb_u9gAgh-bqi5lP7IDZfltMFl5QkkRIpapolCM7nZ9NpBu9OGBHWL1B5pFkko4TPEiC-Ca3t0GT1r8vP461MRpOH0EM/s1600-h/rowsceramics.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210629428877126722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gDrMuY8r-W0PLBoSDhedxOFrCVwDFU7eWv4Shxrc9G-s5dILb_u9gAgh-bqi5lP7IDZfltMFl5QkkRIpapolCM7nZ9NpBu9OGBHWL1B5pFkko4TPEiC-Ca3t0GT1r8vP461MRpOH0EM/s200/rowsceramics.jpg" border="0" /></a>their massive furnace for firing. Many rows of shelving were filled with orders waiting to be shipped to addresses all over the globe – <em>we were at the source. </em>And when we visited the many ceramics stores in the surroundng towns and saw the price differences – we knew we were in on a good secret. And right here in our neighborhood. <a href="http://www.ceramicammannati.it/">http://www.ceramicammannati.it/</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-37446158145495203432008-06-10T09:51:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:56:33.419-07:00Lucca<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxvFceSNSyVeMs4p8ZTPV7afW8cWLOmSchPGaCD6GcUdCHoHM94lvnjKz2EyiAL4zufzskedexbPfDBkesXMAlAlX7jR-mWn3hLkhTxpnn593Y12PMEfG1TDqvl_Sk-S5jOY6J4ggaug/s1600-h/lucca2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210299315560085058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxvFceSNSyVeMs4p8ZTPV7afW8cWLOmSchPGaCD6GcUdCHoHM94lvnjKz2EyiAL4zufzskedexbPfDBkesXMAlAlX7jR-mWn3hLkhTxpnn593Y12PMEfG1TDqvl_Sk-S5jOY6J4ggaug/s200/lucca2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Lucca is a town that is so easy to reach - just off the main highway between Florence and the sea. But once you arrive, you feel worlds away from everything. This perfectly sized walled city is not considered a hill town – the hills are surrounding the town just past the River Serchio. It is primarily flat which is why bicycles are by far the preferred mode of transportation here. One can also easily walk on top of the massive sixteenth century walls around the town for a lovely stroll or taking a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMJZ5gjc1cmV839aCyfbRQjIEs63xGKWX6X9GhTz1WU_9Xp5Pr09L-jPOBsaQDstNCS_38YW_ZEMz9XQofSY6H9trEFXRvyVv6kOhxA7GorgnTFks0Lg4kR7onFju4QouxxYHnzbklPo/s1600-h/lucca3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210298430446587986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMJZ5gjc1cmV839aCyfbRQjIEs63xGKWX6X9GhTz1WU_9Xp5Pr09L-jPOBsaQDstNCS_38YW_ZEMz9XQofSY6H9trEFXRvyVv6kOhxA7GorgnTFks0Lg4kR7onFju4QouxxYHnzbklPo/s200/lucca3.jpg" border="0" /></a>bicycle around the outer loop is also very popular. <div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>Inside the walls is everything you would want your favorite medieval city to have; a grand piazza where everyone meets and local musicians play, lots of local markets and fine shops, an antiques market, many fabulous restaurants, great bakeries, fruit markets, wine stores, gelaterias , museums, theaters, incredible churches and lovely hotels. It also happens to be the birthplace of the famous Giacomo Puccini and this year marks the 150th anniversary of his birth. There were banners hanging from every lamppost in honor of remembering this great author of some of the world’s most famous operas. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR0L9k9iJ0cdXysQT5_ZiFiaDpN5gPYqzZASukQH0RME-JHnCBGiqa6a-hY69msf2jYDROaCdC3mKOiETKpDIoK_Q_Xzz_7JU0RnI7FvAizYTWcUa26XSLOY0kqvrf3znOFTGz8Usqtk/s1600-h/SilviaGiuseppe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210298642092228578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR0L9k9iJ0cdXysQT5_ZiFiaDpN5gPYqzZASukQH0RME-JHnCBGiqa6a-hY69msf2jYDROaCdC3mKOiETKpDIoK_Q_Xzz_7JU0RnI7FvAizYTWcUa26XSLOY0kqvrf3znOFTGz8Usqtk/s200/SilviaGiuseppe.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We had the good fortune to be shown around this town by local resident and tour operator Silvia from Tamitaly Tours. Born and raised in Lucca, she knows the intimate details and history of many of the magnificent structures. One tower which she pointed out to us had large, beautiful trees growing on top (see photo top right). The height of a tower she told us was a sign of power and wealth. When a neighboring tower was built of similar height, these trees were planted to rise above and keep its tallest structure status! A medieval and Renaissance way to keep up with the Jones’! </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuTsHsisEh7Cd9u4AJmS04BjLdLoYVqXspuDaW14O6dWf-bULaMMlB76R-iCYnLfpAQXHMuhaIUz-9UXK511c3iQ3HtfN6OmnTy-0l4pZgDseO8K81Xr0hLZBj4nb2iIQUW0ij2roq9s/s1600-h/luccabeans.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210298844500928962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuTsHsisEh7Cd9u4AJmS04BjLdLoYVqXspuDaW14O6dWf-bULaMMlB76R-iCYnLfpAQXHMuhaIUz-9UXK511c3iQ3HtfN6OmnTy-0l4pZgDseO8K81Xr0hLZBj4nb2iIQUW0ij2roq9s/s200/luccabeans.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div><br /><div>There are many ways in which to visit Lucca – One way is to come for a Tuscan Cooking Program with local chef and culinary teacher Giuseppe Mazzocchi (who also helped to show us around this beautiful town). He was born on a small olive farm not far from Lucca and has spent many years enjoying and teaching the fine art<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGSau_LRpf-4vg5JmOJ5rteK6LRSy7J9UK909bmW6AfoGKrSEZD2mykWajFYCX20Qx1wv1W2KefwP0GO24zchse6rxbu9P6x_qLte5zt8Yv21-boMv67HgksAOe7jyXxUjowJqKkHQkA/s1600-h/lucca1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210299027073312450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGSau_LRpf-4vg5JmOJ5rteK6LRSy7J9UK909bmW6AfoGKrSEZD2mykWajFYCX20Qx1wv1W2KefwP0GO24zchse6rxbu9P6x_qLte5zt8Yv21-boMv67HgksAOe7jyXxUjowJqKkHQkA/s200/lucca1.jpg" border="0" /></a> of Tuscan cooking. He shows students how to create wonderful and simple meals which can easily be recreated upon return home. The classroom is in the heart of old Lucca and the program includes visits to the surrounding small markets to collect the freshest of ingredients as well as journeys outside of the walls to the local farms, vineyards and olive oil production facilities. A stay at the 4 star San Luca Palace Hotel also helps to make this program unforgettable. And, visiting for a day in Lucca as we did still made our trip unforgettable. A presto Lucca! </div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-62758044509098665862008-06-08T10:26:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:01:45.787-07:00Siena and San Gimignano<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrhfexuaYbOIkrx7OTB3DJivwcgy47DyfNSzTfVMdoyzHCpE1-ItJJ7pGe3-02DKelzcuKFVkTTtorEBvpzeg_uI28-AZaDHtJrdxay1HDco74sz8Yf7grBTGSqHPwhGZwitU1d-gRVQ/s1600-h/sienasmall.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215628349386883970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrhfexuaYbOIkrx7OTB3DJivwcgy47DyfNSzTfVMdoyzHCpE1-ItJJ7pGe3-02DKelzcuKFVkTTtorEBvpzeg_uI28-AZaDHtJrdxay1HDco74sz8Yf7grBTGSqHPwhGZwitU1d-gRVQ/s320/sienasmall.JPG" border="0" /></a>Without question, Siena is my favorite town. Maybe because I spent a few summers here trying to learn Italian and got to know it better. Or, maybe because one of my favorite friends lives here. Or, maybe because the city is small, beautiful, friendly, safe and well grounded with its heritage. The central focus of the town geographically and culturally is its Piazza del Campo. A large shell shaped piazza surrounded by medieval palaces. Quaint restaurants spill out onto the walkway which outlines the piazza – <em>Until Palio</em>; the central focus of the town in every other way including geographically and culturally. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeR1SXT2zIdcJOhIfLoIU5dMZ2Nf-f_onhiZy0Kc5dS55nVActL6TqCxbPvE6HhEtTS0Uk1RD0JxVxm0jFPKhhpxOFzvVZ_JsNpdf3_bgyn9yCvnL9Sje7wYlUFBSYG3fr02EST5CfdI/s1600-h/Preparing+for+the+Palio.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215627653742404738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeR1SXT2zIdcJOhIfLoIU5dMZ2Nf-f_onhiZy0Kc5dS55nVActL6TqCxbPvE6HhEtTS0Uk1RD0JxVxm0jFPKhhpxOFzvVZ_JsNpdf3_bgyn9yCvnL9Sje7wYlUFBSYG3fr02EST5CfdI/s320/Preparing+for+the+Palio.jpg" border="0" /></a>Seventeen neighborhoods designated by their distinct identity such as Giraffe, Rhino, Tower, Unicorns, Wave, Goose, Silkworm, Dragon and more make up this city. Every July 2nd and August 16th, ten of these neighborhoods (or contrade) compete against each other via an astounding 3 minute bareback horse race. Then the entire Piazza is transformed into a race track where an anything goes competition in the fiercest style takes place. The horse which crosses the finish line first (with or without rider) captures the holy grail – the flag known as the Palio. From then on it is proudly displayed in its local community center. Moreover, a win of this race signifies a much greater importance of gaining acceptance into the almighty kingdom – a rebirth, if you will. To fully understand this is to be born and raised in Siena. The rest of us watch in awe of the emotion and dedication to these major events which make up the true pulse of this city.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209566248687036466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 217px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="175" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU-KcAwtsu56pQ1LXGv7gf99UWR20j6AGga8u-mDMQkp5qIMe4ajFpnxT-fdROKt9u3323an2nx6nULJ9WENIZCR7M5VLfkXvxr9yhz4N3d6jNBcRoGQsMjzIcsgfiBOH_T6VhQRmeCM/s200/Siena.jpg" width="300" border="0" /><br />However, this time we did not come during Palio – so our group arrived at San Domenico Church where the somewhat preserved head of Saint Catherine is actually on display. Saint Catherine of Siena is still alive and well here just the same. Then we strolled along the main streets shopping and visiting the magnificent Duomo which no visit should go without. We all enjoyed lunch in and around the Piazza all agreeing this was a very special place. I do it no justice touching so lightly on the magnificent sightseeing here. Viva Siena.<br /><br /><br />Another gem of a town on the same day? Why not? We left Siena and journeyed up to San <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209565174924052002" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOvIeXftUcZpWMiOSj-d-IAeTNTn6cy5KfNfQQE9aio4x-kSdHCq9U13Bv48pUERh8t12cvYsaWhEWAE4FbdlTp4whkwKxdA5RF6UIpPkzCSbkp4Fw9y3x7lPB6ESs1Dc9FIn0pLVuVk/s200/Ceramics.jpg" border="0" />Gimignano stopping at a small winery along the way to sample the well known Vernaccia, a white wine which is only produced in and around Siena. Arriving in San Gimignano is like arriving on a movie set which transports you into medieval times. The streets are long and narrow and now lined with art galleries, shops, enotecas and cafes all of which could easily be a beautiful postcard image. At one time, there were over 70 towers gracing the skyline of this town. Now 14 still stand proudly making its profile very unique. For the average visitor, the two things to see in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdbJExcv8S0_jhjkoURDBGuLAKnrSZgqpD92l0vtWWWG2ZO-UIMPovcMly0uR99qFa6YIxr9iWVF1w1unTvgYJdU1wE9s2sehqq2DmcG0DiyKEMzpYoDXTKd-j6jqaEnP0Xar63TeXXY/s1600-h/SanGimignano.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209565693452726290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdbJExcv8S0_jhjkoURDBGuLAKnrSZgqpD92l0vtWWWG2ZO-UIMPovcMly0uR99qFa6YIxr9iWVF1w1unTvgYJdU1wE9s2sehqq2DmcG0DiyKEMzpYoDXTKd-j6jqaEnP0Xar63TeXXY/s200/SanGimignano.jpg" border="0" /></a>San Gimignano besides all of its amazing historical structures and artwork are the ceramics shops and gelaterias. Of course we all visited both! Per a recommendation for the best gelato by our trusty driver Daniele, we enjoyed a combination of Pistachio and Zafarano (saffron) – Indeed a heavenly delicious choice. A special place for just a few hours, for all day or for a few days – The nighttime is even a better time to see these towns when all of the day visitors have gone – leaving the more serious visitor to stroll along the now quiet streets of these two very special hill towns.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-25932543636015285372008-06-08T04:25:00.001-07:002008-09-25T16:04:06.363-07:00The Castle Dinner<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXzIZpKBpWJPO5SrDY0M2rlEozREl4pGFgnPxuYv5PWN7sWk6GlAMNQ1qyd-jy-DmzpLOGzaCLIlcUeQERtHorfiYvIZUUwawaz04GdG1ykF8ubXP3d0bPFCAvNYhVsTnrtQ29gSGaY4/s1600-h/castlecourtyard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209471390117869906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXzIZpKBpWJPO5SrDY0M2rlEozREl4pGFgnPxuYv5PWN7sWk6GlAMNQ1qyd-jy-DmzpLOGzaCLIlcUeQERtHorfiYvIZUUwawaz04GdG1ykF8ubXP3d0bPFCAvNYhVsTnrtQ29gSGaY4/s200/castlecourtyard.jpg" border="0" /></a>A stay at Il Borgo would not be complete without dinner at their sister property – Castello di Santa Maria Novella. This 11th century structure which was destroyed and rebuilt in 1313 has significant importance to the surrounding area between Florence and Siena. Sitting atop one of the highest points in the area, the castle boasts spectacular views. Upon arrival, we received a warm welcome and a grand tour from Fernando, the director of the estate who eloquently gave us the condensed history of this stately property and graciously paused often to allow for the many photos being taken. The castle is meticulously restored to its original splendor <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqfBGcO2_2XRYhzz0fALVr50SpRlOKJKCqRhJ5NxkJsYwejkd1RWvDzhnQhj_seTwOP1tqusHT4K5uphFEOda3v5Cle1CJsuGgDzVYSXFum7tJS2LEnRG2IBDP66a3frxSloJbGXbRsk/s1600-h/Castlecourtyard1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209470697941713634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqfBGcO2_2XRYhzz0fALVr50SpRlOKJKCqRhJ5NxkJsYwejkd1RWvDzhnQhj_seTwOP1tqusHT4K5uphFEOda3v5Cle1CJsuGgDzVYSXFum7tJS2LEnRG2IBDP66a3frxSloJbGXbRsk/s200/Castlecourtyard1.jpg" border="0" /></a>sporting a grand courtyard where the local residents would gather. This night it is where we enjoyed a nice aperitif – a carafe of white wine with a sprig of Rosemary giving it a wonderful earthy aroma and flavor. We enjoyed lightly fried zucchini flowers and sage leaves and Tuscan pecorino cheese served with fig marmalade. Yummy.<br /><br />Afterwards, our group of fourteen went into one of the many main dining rooms to enjoy a feast fit for Noble Italian families. The table was beautifully decorated with candles and fresh flowers. We started with the house wine, Chianti of course, and then <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLXUqJWZ5hLOejjhss85SqeNeqJAHzxhWyXXzWE0-DzamOqDxiFUF43q9OkTYea3qNjYHZSNJ68A9EL9DkzhrzT_YLdKSTRg5lrRTBAtbCub-NxLZhR324vPJ7xx_LEvlsUQCYr6UsPU/s1600-h/Castledinner1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209470883910569058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLXUqJWZ5hLOejjhss85SqeNeqJAHzxhWyXXzWE0-DzamOqDxiFUF43q9OkTYea3qNjYHZSNJ68A9EL9DkzhrzT_YLdKSTRg5lrRTBAtbCub-NxLZhR324vPJ7xx_LEvlsUQCYr6UsPU/s200/Castledinner1.jpg" border="0" /></a>enjoyed antipasti of perfectly ripe cantaloupe and local prosciutto, followed by handmade ravioli stuffed with spinach and fresh ricotta cheese. Our second plate or meat course was mildly seasoned thinly sliced beef served on a bed of arugula served with a delicious cherry tomato salad. Our servers were attentive and charming coming around and offering seconds of every dish. We topped the meal off with a light white cake layered with a delicate custard served with frutti di bosco – the fruit of the forest – flavorful tart and juicy berries handpicked from around the property. We all gave a well-deserved round of applause to Chef Claudio who gratefully accepted and was clearly pleased to see how much we all enjoyed his creations. Dinner at the Castle is always one of the highlights of a stay at Il Borgo.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209471154200290786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTiHPgyDmeAxAzptVx23GvJ0ix0hqFdvxn9IzPl5H4QMuOyFb6nVph9ytTD2o5VflZApk4J35W8F_e26rDc3aJgJ4vvZjkBNU3CBT_hyphenhyphenWCPJuMepAYoC1UYQvGrhyphenhyphen61XOV5rrhC3VdRs/s320/Castledinner.jpg" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-72103014415508216562008-06-08T03:26:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:56:33.422-07:00A Day in Florence<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR46-0lnMDBGRlD_iVfwpUWTFBV6arcW3yQOfX883s5LViqeTEQjdhWSVAEso2dQ65hyGGUFhZQZ1SO65sBb1eLJO183C9EMpgEN3khwpsb1ESE5fFtGml69TS6h-KM5OhBrlWYfFem4/s1600-h/FlorenceGuide.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209455722082235890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR46-0lnMDBGRlD_iVfwpUWTFBV6arcW3yQOfX883s5LViqeTEQjdhWSVAEso2dQ65hyGGUFhZQZ1SO65sBb1eLJO183C9EMpgEN3khwpsb1ESE5fFtGml69TS6h-KM5OhBrlWYfFem4/s320/FlorenceGuide.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Our full day trip to Florence started with a 3 hour guided tour of the main sights such as the Ponte Vecchio, passing by the Uffizi Museum, Piazza della Signoria, the amazing Duomo, the Central Market with endless food stands, and ending with the viewing of Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia. Our guide Elisa was very informative and like so many other local guides, her passion for the history of her home town comes through loud and clear as she tries to explain 1000 years of history in 2.5 hours! She appropriately gave us all a few moments in silence to admire David in all his grandeur. It was just the right amount of time and information for our group. </div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QegSkXvjaCjyFWTr5-Q3K6WZprPY-5XXYXrqVXx_JGFHyGfQGF47J8MxaFkC5o40ds0AY3rQA-FacQz6OPw69esv7YmWDDnkdUArtXonfoToCuClKks_qlb7HrqpaB_5pNvGELlyaVs/s1600-h/CentralMarket.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209455983731935090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QegSkXvjaCjyFWTr5-Q3K6WZprPY-5XXYXrqVXx_JGFHyGfQGF47J8MxaFkC5o40ds0AY3rQA-FacQz6OPw69esv7YmWDDnkdUArtXonfoToCuClKks_qlb7HrqpaB_5pNvGELlyaVs/s200/CentralMarket.jpg" border="0" /></a>We all went our own way after the tour to discover our personal view of Florence. Some went shopping in the grand Straw Market, some went back to the Central Food Market and a few went to walk through the wonderful Boboli Gardens. I personally found a little trattoria on a quiet side street where I enjoyed delicious Tuscan fagioli (white beans drizzled with olive oil – simple and delicious) along with grilled vegetable calzone. Right on queue, an elderly gentleman came by my table with his old accordion to serenade me with what sounded like a polka in hopes of receiving a few coins for his efforts. But before I could respond, the waiter came out to shoo him onward protecting my tranquil setting . I will certainly return to this restaurant next time I am in Florence!<br /><br /><div></div><div>A bustling city alive with thousands of tourists, artists, and all types of business people, we were all trying to leave the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgq2pcNqbMAXpexQDVT9FsxYktmUx8J-YEKEo4KCuNhSlkp63Dtw4MYcTRkyt1zyHQtw9B9qeaps__CA9rCg_XrwMuCwBC3ReykcdJMcyae4Nl4pddeiDnYvSr8i5nyP6cGif4kiZ-Hw/s1600-h/StreetArtist.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209456321606679922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgq2pcNqbMAXpexQDVT9FsxYktmUx8J-YEKEo4KCuNhSlkp63Dtw4MYcTRkyt1zyHQtw9B9qeaps__CA9rCg_XrwMuCwBC3ReykcdJMcyae4Nl4pddeiDnYvSr8i5nyP6cGif4kiZ-Hw/s200/StreetArtist.jpg" border="0" /></a>city at the same time causing some major congestion. It took us about 1 hour to go 1 kilometer as we inched our way slowly to cross the Arno River trying hard to always leave only a 2 inch gap with the car in front so as not to lose your place in what could be considered a line. It’s a stretch calling this a line. Italians are not very good at lining up and following any kind of order, but it is a way of life here and it seemed no one was getting upset at the traffic – we just inched our way out of town back to our country estate of Il Borgo still buzzing with the energy of Florence. </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-32322172236174875902008-06-07T09:43:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:57:40.026-07:00Volterra<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3b7C2YpqDv3HHEWGzESTZOmsgyN1RYU9vlmwn17ICf4zM4TzVdeREbcvpq4XWzc8SaJ2HNk9TfWQ78k6mrlmKvotlPd8lfBdfr8ADFaI0q_0wPnpZC8TD1iZr8eI4xS-eusCELg1yPQ/s1600-h/Volterra1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209183328928064914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3b7C2YpqDv3HHEWGzESTZOmsgyN1RYU9vlmwn17ICf4zM4TzVdeREbcvpq4XWzc8SaJ2HNk9TfWQ78k6mrlmKvotlPd8lfBdfr8ADFaI0q_0wPnpZC8TD1iZr8eI4xS-eusCELg1yPQ/s200/Volterra1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Volterra is an ancient Etruscan hill town situated between Siena and the west coast which is a little off the more heavily traveled path which we guessed would not have so many visitors. Upon arrival with no available parking spaces, we figured the secret was out. However, when we entered the city, there was a unique quaintness to this town – it did not seemed tainted by tourism in the least – mostly artists and residents filled the parking spaces outside the ancient city walls. <div><div><div><br /><div></div><div>This town preserves its historical charm in a major way dating back almost 3000 years. Its magnificent Porta all’Arco is still one of the main entrances to the city since almost 300 BC made up of massive stones and the remnants of three heads that are believed to be Gods of Greek Origin. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI2kbLoBToTA1M_w_jXfzIT58ED16nBknmRSL3Ide9neOTNPrc8SUHuG9qwIsb7tZxGDWnYB9N5sPWuhbU2zSzF09AkQpAiY7rEwxzCe0u3uPse4TZVSs2rOyl3p0oJxKnmewEhXYs_I/s1600-h/LArco.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209182130981403090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px" height="282" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI2kbLoBToTA1M_w_jXfzIT58ED16nBknmRSL3Ide9neOTNPrc8SUHuG9qwIsb7tZxGDWnYB9N5sPWuhbU2zSzF09AkQpAiY7rEwxzCe0u3uPse4TZVSs2rOyl3p0oJxKnmewEhXYs_I/s320/LArco.jpg" width="202" border="0" /></a>The Roman Amphitheatre is one of the best in all of Italy for acoustics built in 10 BC, buried in the 13 century to finally be revealed again in the 1950’s. The sightseeing and shopping were plentiful. </div><div></div><div><br />The symbol of Volterra is Alabaster and the month of June was a celebration of the local art of Alabaster sculpting. We happened upon a group of artists carving this soft white rock just outside the Duomo. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0FVleDLr5FNSlAYmMyHQ6q_7cV5IvK5jLVA-9J_Id10yp1unEN-upUX6DSdGvhQzkIoeRqlZkv49ushwlG0ahcQ3dXl-7X28xaf31PYDTj4G1s0DGFP2NiOALrW0biGK0jC0RsYDlk4/s1600-h/AlibasterStudent.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209182948063726354" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0FVleDLr5FNSlAYmMyHQ6q_7cV5IvK5jLVA-9J_Id10yp1unEN-upUX6DSdGvhQzkIoeRqlZkv49ushwlG0ahcQ3dXl-7X28xaf31PYDTj4G1s0DGFP2NiOALrW0biGK0jC0RsYDlk4/s200/AlibasterStudent.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0FVleDLr5FNSlAYmMyHQ6q_7cV5IvK5jLVA-9J_Id10yp1unEN-upUX6DSdGvhQzkIoeRqlZkv49ushwlG0ahcQ3dXl-7X28xaf31PYDTj4G1s0DGFP2NiOALrW0biGK0jC0RsYDlk4/s1600-h/AlibasterStudent.jpg"></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>An afternoon rainstorm moved us into one of the many beautiful cafes where we joined in on a “happy gelato” festa. Hats, balloons, noisemakers and wonderful gelato – There is always a good reason to celebrate here! </div><br /><div></div></div></div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209182749882259570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsou5n_PF0qjVt7BaIaahp98qDlZBOeWZ0s3cqy301hRdHivyPzpMUCuuAd38M99dESO8zzy-4CIqqfmskXb26NhwzadfadKe2dQltE3MGmavJ66-eHZR3-yaA_HiPNgFmzCXOiSoMZag/s200/Ristorante.jpg" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-83923189360736959762008-06-05T08:04:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:56:33.423-07:00Wine Tour of Chianti<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYVbSMAUuZUrwe5r5OazrUQpBPAY87IU6Nx_HG0EDpeRbnWjZrfNR6vcuINOpHSqZqC3ZR923xd0uljS0JKUyXL1EYDWy0nVWbJMDPkZhdrHaOcwMNpZlpW-IID5DfHilWOskPr6fl_4/s1600-h/Montagliari.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208418005755742194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYVbSMAUuZUrwe5r5OazrUQpBPAY87IU6Nx_HG0EDpeRbnWjZrfNR6vcuINOpHSqZqC3ZR923xd0uljS0JKUyXL1EYDWy0nVWbJMDPkZhdrHaOcwMNpZlpW-IID5DfHilWOskPr6fl_4/s320/Montagliari.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>Certainly popular – a tour of a few vineyards of Chianti is on most to-do lists while in Tuscany. This region consists of over 180 wineries just in the Chianti Classico region – Chianti <em>(these days)</em> is made up of at least 80% Sangiovese grapes which must be grown in this region in order to print the name on the label. These wines are heavily controlled by the DOC and DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata and Garantita) – which tightly regulate the quality of wines that are produced here. The official seal at the cork signifies that the wine has passed inspection. Since the recent regulations, these wines have continued to earn world class status – <em>no longer just for spaghetti night and a pretty candle holder!</em> The recent releases of IGT’s or Super Tuscans (a nick name that stuck given by one journalist) has allowed for the creativity of the wine maker to blend other grapes such as cabernet and merlot and without the restrictions producing some very fine wines which are also recognized world-wide. The competition between all these winemakers is fierce and fun as most everyone k<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSUsWUozG6i8CjzN1GgfIU00cNIV11czQKdynjaTNEiryegOTDet9Iw-ZEELkypVO7V3QPO2MdmYiO0RSbhE9xEQOQz4ST1fu6qWE48AKY5IPUOgizAHNdEoU-Nh_zsohZkRyk5MXX2U/s1600-h/chiantiwindow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208416708038386066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 156px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px" height="241" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSUsWUozG6i8CjzN1GgfIU00cNIV11czQKdynjaTNEiryegOTDet9Iw-ZEELkypVO7V3QPO2MdmYiO0RSbhE9xEQOQz4ST1fu6qWE48AKY5IPUOgizAHNdEoU-Nh_zsohZkRyk5MXX2U/s320/chiantiwindow.jpg" width="194" border="0" /></a>nows of each family and their secrets!<br /><br />We all stopped for lunch in the charming town of Radda in Chianti in the heart of the Chianti Classico Region denoted by the Black Rooster. Here we sampled typical Tuscan cuisine such as crostini, various cured meats, pecorino cheeses served with marmalade, rich tomato and bread soups, risotto salad, and pasta. With meals such as these, it is no wonder the afternoon siestas are an important part of the day!</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVvf79AaoOo_XjvCGRLvwJDWxIMV9F_QifFsWQK7fIMo8YChkIhfz2CxBg42meK7oTTYmBc08IKtK5d75sgZCc85YtT1EtXq8KU1TY9pWgUcaNrdbI2rIJHCtT-EivYEAaPqyvEmZME8/s1600-h/oldbottles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208417375548630370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 156px" height="199" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVvf79AaoOo_XjvCGRLvwJDWxIMV9F_QifFsWQK7fIMo8YChkIhfz2CxBg42meK7oTTYmBc08IKtK5d75sgZCc85YtT1EtXq8KU1TY9pWgUcaNrdbI2rIJHCtT-EivYEAaPqyvEmZME8/s320/oldbottles.jpg" width="282" border="0" /></a> Chianti continues to allure pleasure seekers, wine enthusiasts, cyclists and general back country travelers with its stunning views along winding roads over looking fields peppered with wineries and traditions which date back centuries - A Benedictine monk once wrote over 1000 years ago that the red wine of Badia a Coltibuono in Gaiole in Chianti (the Abbey of Good Culture) is of high quality and the white is quite good too! </div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-13412744500381381602008-06-03T12:44:00.001-07:002008-09-25T15:56:33.424-07:00Chianti Festival<div><div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2lcCfBA_ykJ9qsIWDurTusKlZ-WwDNcMbUHLEU6F8zJCRmFYfhjuda2fRikYVcYx1z4GQjYMyG15RN8htX6NXXOqfws82EACcfRFbM-khcIGoyxz9q158cgqMGh2pdU88WogWLcysBE/s1600-h/Olives.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207743790514716578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2lcCfBA_ykJ9qsIWDurTusKlZ-WwDNcMbUHLEU6F8zJCRmFYfhjuda2fRikYVcYx1z4GQjYMyG15RN8htX6NXXOqfws82EACcfRFbM-khcIGoyxz9q158cgqMGh2pdU88WogWLcysBE/s200/Olives.JPG" border="0" /></a>It was simply fantastic luck that our stay near Montespertoli coincided with the annual Chianti Wine Festival. Now I must admit, many of the festivals tend to be geared towards tourists – but here, our group was practically the only people sporting cameras. We arranged our visit to arrive just prior to the parade complete with the local marching band and gigantic oxen pulling carts of wine bottles and local children throwing flower petals. There were no Sponge Bobs or Caspers here – just the local townspeople dressing in country farmers attire joining together to celebrate their agricultural heritage. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FVW2CVfnWQ2hqRHfQbvVtKI4cBQweyD0dWQlysSLcFpeE8V69iJPfAf1XoZ8CioJtYlTIJqtzL1XFvw1uCwCJ1XhRb6AaVQHNKaE-nquDjUMjOp240sw32I6TKox1mTF-M5K4IgSBl4/s1600-h/OxenParade.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207745486414631922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FVW2CVfnWQ2hqRHfQbvVtKI4cBQweyD0dWQlysSLcFpeE8V69iJPfAf1XoZ8CioJtYlTIJqtzL1XFvw1uCwCJ1XhRb6AaVQHNKaE-nquDjUMjOp240sw32I6TKox1mTF-M5K4IgSBl4/s200/OxenParade.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="left">There were several wine booths where we could sample the local Chianti and keep the souvenir glass and holder. Endless food booths lined the streets selling sweets, nuts, olives and a variety of other local goodies. Our good friends came down from Bologna to join us along with their two dogs Bebe and Rocky. It was such a great treat to have them along and a bonus to have them translate some of the happenings for us. </div><div align="left"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-m4BXnlwEuWHRKcrYvVBQgtQOiJHGo_KKYGzznd6qffyG4c5a5t-pyhEFZFA-R4Gu3GbrTBR6xZjmaIOZSjFg6LtU8hPn1FfaQAl_Yx92ZKrJaOZdCBTWVVvmJA2CXJUzn8Si1dLgDc/s1600-h/Breadman.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207745670580536338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-m4BXnlwEuWHRKcrYvVBQgtQOiJHGo_KKYGzznd6qffyG4c5a5t-pyhEFZFA-R4Gu3GbrTBR6xZjmaIOZSjFg6LtU8hPn1FfaQAl_Yx92ZKrJaOZdCBTWVVvmJA2CXJUzn8Si1dLgDc/s200/Breadman.JPG" border="0" /></a>We all went into dinner – with Bebe and Rocky too (Italians love animals) and had a magnificent five-course dinner in a beautiful restaurant in the heart of town – 16 of us at one long table just like the pizza dinner the night before. Dinner Italian style! How fun! We poured ourselves out of the restaurant a few hours later only to find that the party was getting bigger as the night progressed… We wobbled back to our vans passing many families making their way to the Carnival rides and grabbing prime spots from which to watch the midnight fireworks – Many of our group stayed up and watched from the comfort of the balconies of Il Borgo which overlooked the Festival Town of Montespertoli only 8 kilometers away. Location and timing! </div><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207745961707023634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_sP1USIdX_ol07xOtfqtRe_10blubftzOD-xyD-QkKi1ATIgKPh7JJvBT4pzUpxLCKEEB8wUBSJfryi5VsHpaFlLDW8Q1595YZMvYCd06CL3KGHGBLfYNgHrjOyPGkKP8gRLiQYue_E/s320/ParadeChat.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="left"></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-2100011141044204502008-06-03T12:34:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:56:33.424-07:00Arrival Dinner<div>Our group arrived on Saturday - some from Rome, some from Venice, some from the states and a few from the coast. So for this reason, we kept first night’s dinner low key and all walked down to the local pizzeria after getting settled. Coming from the larger cities, everyone was pleasantly surprised at the low cost and good quality of the pizza, the large fresh salads from local gardens, overflowing bowls of pasta of course, and carafes of locally produced wine and Italian beer. Our young waitress Barbara seemed genuinely enthused to take our order and tried her best to speak English to make sure she understood our wishes. She like many young Italians love America and hope to visit someday. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcALixTRFbsUpQ_1dgWhGyZxEvtsSLUC-8GDPddYmv4kK-R4RMTdm85VbstSdCvtP1yO-ji0f-GlGcv2-YrgLDjf4Ylnwcc5ggiNip-TJcw4nN0Y6LDh0d_HvL07-PV0W6G0zXGAfS9ik/s1600-h/PizzaNight.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207741254641431746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcALixTRFbsUpQ_1dgWhGyZxEvtsSLUC-8GDPddYmv4kK-R4RMTdm85VbstSdCvtP1yO-ji0f-GlGcv2-YrgLDjf4Ylnwcc5ggiNip-TJcw4nN0Y6LDh0d_HvL07-PV0W6G0zXGAfS9ik/s200/PizzaNight.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>We all sat at one long table out on the patio enjoying the fresh Tuscan country air. Only an occasional scooter screamed by keeping us alert to the contrasts of the old and new and slow and fast co-existing and intertwined in daily life - all part of the rhythm of the land. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-33192453600925991312008-06-01T04:53:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:57:09.565-07:00The British Lady in My Dashboard . . .The best way to guarantee that you have a GPS loaded in your rental car in Italy is to rent one before you arrive. Then when you pick up your car, it will most likely have one, as well. I took the advice of many people to use a GPS – life is so much easier <em>supposedly.</em><br /><br />Because I didn’t want any extra wires or risk losing my rented GPS, I reconfigured the one on the dash to English – a very proper British English Female Voice – and She and I got along just fine in the beginning only speaking when an upcoming turn was approaching, until she missed a very important one. She may have fallen asleep during the long ride up from Montalcino to Montagnana, I am not sure. Good thing I had my trusty Michelin map and more so, my trusty eyes not missing the sign to get to the small town where Il borgo is located. So I forgave her and we moved on.<br /><br />The next day, I programmed in my trip to Badia a Passignano – one of the estates where the well known and fabulous Antinori Wines are produced. Not wanting to be directed to the Strada or highway – I selected the “shortest route” instead of the “fastest route” which I imagined would take me through the secondary roads. The secondary road was more like secondary roads to secondary roads. She took me through a back road so steep and so narrow that I had to twice use the button that automatically brings in the side view mirrors to pass through large stone walls on either side of me. Shortly after, as I was being grateful that no one was coming the other way, along came a pickup truck where I then had to back up a steep hill to let it pass. Five kilometers of this does not sound like much, but it felt good loosening my stuck grip from the wheel when I arrived back onto the main secondary road.<br /><br />As for Badia a Passignano, it is a marvelous estate complete with a castle and small village – a cooking school – and the excellent Osteria di Passignano where you will be greeted by the gracious host Marcello Crini and enjoy one of the best dining experiences in Chianti paired with the excellent Chiantis of Antinori. Bravo.<br /><br />As for the British Lady in my dashboard – like the rest of us, she is far from perfect and I am still glad to have her along.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601552969759454281.post-25856600757346202182008-05-30T07:02:00.000-07:002008-09-25T16:04:06.363-07:00Home away from Home…Last evening I arrived at Il Borgo Villa di Bossi-Pucci in Chianti (Il Borgo means village in Italian – please visit our website for more information on this lovely resort <a href="http://www.villavita.net/">http://www.villavita.net/</a> ). Alessandro, the property manager, was right on queue with the remote opening of the large gates that permit access to the estate. His warm greeting <em>(along with his prompt attention to every detail from my last 8 months of emails</em>) comforted me in knowing that this was the right choice for our very special group arriving tomorrow. His cat Red was also part of the welcoming committee – happy to let you rub his belly in honor of getting to know each other better. . . It was very good to be back here.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206177197857058850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3-3UYEZLhf5VNFOTxNkZAf-K4uAhw_whXalFDa-Bo-UVtSAqr9BE_pGiEOfhhoWtcWSFOObFluquA1yK66Xt2XFzp0wgBKP3GXe5gNl6MMQvwYCG6pbSjFaMYCCS7xj1IvK39Z_oXLU/s200/Roomview.JPG" border="0" /> The evening show consisted of a refreshing rain storm complete with the sound and light show of thunder and lightning paving the way for a restful night’s sleep. The view is spectacular – even at night when it is illuminated only for nanoseconds by Mother Nature. This view stretches across an olive tree-lined valley to the next set of hills which display the profiles of more than one medieval castle in the distance. This area is not typically mentioned in the popular guidebooks. They are busy writing about Greve and Radda and Castellina in Chianti… which of course, are all very beautiful. But here in Montagnana, you are more likely to run into farm workers and local families than you are into tourists or international visitors.<br /><br />A visit here in Montagnana to the local pizzeria and alimentari or mini grocery store, transport you into the real Italy – no English is served here – just honest to goodness delicious food and sincere appreciation for your business. I always ask for recommendations which are typically given gladly. Ordering some salami and cheese, the recommendation were the products made in Toscana, naturally! Again, the pride and confidence in a culture of quality and tradition is ever present. And the grocer was right – the salami was the best I’ve ever had; made locally... by his neighbor.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySm1W_TY8UgnE-uhxRO2vn6yF5Kmu8zFNfu8PXYpDVmZ3hDe7Bj8MfRI9DzTkbtgEhWTiv3oQaYDkg36AHOZd1mKUp1sRsbo_J2nAE3VBd8rPI4wyo9Z8FMAsNE6q0RMo6DPp5Ql0wPc/s1600-h/alimentari3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206177421195358258" style="CURSOR: hand" height="139" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySm1W_TY8UgnE-uhxRO2vn6yF5Kmu8zFNfu8PXYpDVmZ3hDe7Bj8MfRI9DzTkbtgEhWTiv3oQaYDkg36AHOZd1mKUp1sRsbo_J2nAE3VBd8rPI4wyo9Z8FMAsNE6q0RMo6DPp5Ql0wPc/s200/alimentari3.JPG" width="199" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDtt6dRJ_O8yPsiwsql3dViY-0sm7fUgckb70w99pDo7fOJxrB39dQnqsqEAUNepdJluEvEqmZX84COEnQqo4rCpV_xxfhJTX4cnq_BZYSfYohKPEXlts8pwNLGTuqwtYiaJ1BE7NXDQ/s1600-h/alimentari2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206177816332349522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDtt6dRJ_O8yPsiwsql3dViY-0sm7fUgckb70w99pDo7fOJxrB39dQnqsqEAUNepdJluEvEqmZX84COEnQqo4rCpV_xxfhJTX4cnq_BZYSfYohKPEXlts8pwNLGTuqwtYiaJ1BE7NXDQ/s200/alimentari2.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFNVvvK7lVLvY0B5T8ghKUOZ-QIUBq-DdxWmJlZAAjGB856jmPp82sEln2QAknJMPG7Moxuu_imaET8Qbdfz76qh41VChLTQl8JR9C8O1i9vJTXHguqRpM411Ed51cSjWx8ladSOoqts/s1600-h/Alimentari.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206177949476335714" style="CURSOR: hand" height="141" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFNVvvK7lVLvY0B5T8ghKUOZ-QIUBq-DdxWmJlZAAjGB856jmPp82sEln2QAknJMPG7Moxuu_imaET8Qbdfz76qh41VChLTQl8JR9C8O1i9vJTXHguqRpM411Ed51cSjWx8ladSOoqts/s200/Alimentari.JPG" width="201" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0