usvi-on-line
Italy Day 10
Italy Day 10
Italy Trip Day 10
Were up early this morning want to hit the market before our tour of the Tucsany. The market is supposed to open at 7. Get down there nobody around talked to the street vendors they tell us that it is the epfinni today so it is a holiday and they won’t be opening tell 9 our tour starts at 9. Tip always buy what you want when you see it you might not be able to get it later. So I’m not getting my mushrooms, Cheese and Kathy isn’t getting her cutting board I hate that.
Get back to the hotel and have time to grab a quick bite to eat before Alessandro shows up. Just want to tell you all this is the best day of the trip. He does this part time on his days off because he loves to show people his country and it shows in the day he has set up for us. Here is his email if anyone is going what a great guy. alecamma@hotmail.com If you go with him tell him you know Tom and Kathleen.
He has a great car for this with lots of head room for us over 6 ft people. We head to Piazzale Michelangelo it is a over look of Florence what a great view.
Then on to Castle of Vicchiomaggio. On the way there he points out all kinds of things and tells us the history of Chianti classcio. When we get to the winery we take a tour of the grounds then on to the tasting room where we try a bunch of different wines, grappa and Vento santa that you dip biscotti in Kathy buys some Grappa and the Vento Santa. I know we have some more stops so I’m waiting. Tip is not like tasting wines here where you get a splash in your glass they would pour a regular glass of wine for each tasting because they say you can’t get the true taste or smell with just a little so after awhile we learned to use the dump spit can just so we wouldn’t pass out.LOL
On to Greve in Chianti It is a hill top village but it is flat so is great to walk around at the bottom of the hill from it there is a clay pot manufacturer they make some of the biggest pots I’ve seen. Alessandro shows us a butcher and cheese shop where they have free samples we even got to go down in the cellar where they age the cheese and taste it at different levels of maturity good stuff . I bought some hard sausage made with wild boar to take back home.
Next stop is Winery of Montagliari and its cellars. Where we get to taste great wines, olive oils and the best balsamic I have ever had it is 28 years old we also toured the wine cellars and balsamic room where they have they barrels lined up they are all made of different types of wood and the balsamic stays 4 years in each barrel you can see they size difference from the big one down to the small ones that is how much evaporates out of them.
Alessandro
We had lunch here we were the only 2 in the dining room. Sat at a table in front of the roaring fire It was a great meal for dessert we shared a apple pie with ice cream drizzled with the 28 year old balsamic it was outstanding we both should of gotten our own.
Next up was Panzano in Chianti it is where the crazy butcher Dario Cecchini’s shop is located he had a fight with Mario Batali on national TV. Over beef.LOL
Next we went to Castellina in Chianti it is another hill top village but this one is all hills. But what great views. The passage ways were for getting to your defensive position to protect the town all the openings now have glass across them because a tourist crawled out and fell to his death.
We headed to Monteriggioni next. It is call the crown city because of all the towers around its walls they each had a gate that could be lowered in case of attack.
Alessandro asked if we wanted to do another wine tasting or go to Siena . We decide on Siena. There is no cars allowed in the old walled city so we park and do a walking tour. There are 17 different neighbor hoods they all have a different mascot of some type of animal or tree. On each corner there are plaques so you know what one you are in.
We went to square where they run the Palio race twice a year with each neighborhood having a horse to enter. The things they do for this race is nuts they take the horses into the churches to be blessed. They sleep in the square to get good seats. If your neighborhood wins there are parties that go on for weeks. With the horse as guest of honor.
We next scalded the hills to get to Domo was suppose to be bigger than St Peters in Rome but the plague hit and 2/3rds of the population died so they had to scale back.
Next we went to Church of San Domenico that has Saint Catherine’s head in it . The outside of this church never got its marble face because of the plague.
Headed back to Florence we got back after 5 so it was along tour. Put our purchases in our room and headed to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge to get a couple of other things. Ran into a parade for epfinni all the people in it were dressed in medieval clothes and the drums and horns were so rustic kind of moved you. Of course everything on the bridge was closed. When the last of the parade crossed the bridge the city crews were out in force that had signaled the end of Christmas and all the decoration had to be taken down. Had another wonderful dinner at a restaurant close to our hotel. Packed up to be ready for the morning flight back.
We had a great time. I don’t think I would be able to handle this trip in the summer as it was crowded enough as it was and if the temps were in the 100s I’d wouldn’t have enough patience.
What I’d do different I think I’d not fly a discount carrier for that long of a flight. The hotel in Rome was great because of the subway being right there. But next time in Florence I think I’d look for a more centrally located one.
I told Anthony before I left I was dressing like I was going to STJ but only warmer I wish I had stuck to that I brought way to many clothes with.
The trip wasn’t as expensive as I thought it would be. I’ll be back to Europe again.
On a sad note my brother watched Kathleen’s dog for 12 days while we were gone he lives in northern WI. And has 2 labs every time I check in her dog was having a great time we got home late Wed. and were going up to pick her up on Thursday after work 2 hours before we are to leave he calls and tells me she ran out on to the road and was hit by a car and was killed. She hadn’t gone on the road before. Mid week in northern WI the chances of a car coming by at the instant she ran out there is remote.
So I dedicate this trip report to Duchess we miss her happy dance when we get home. I’m sure she is in Airedale heaven
I hope I didn’t bore you all too much.
Tom
I added a bunch of pictures to my album just click on one to go to it.
Were up early this morning want to hit the market before our tour of the Tucsany. The market is supposed to open at 7. Get down there nobody around talked to the street vendors they tell us that it is the epfinni today so it is a holiday and they won’t be opening tell 9 our tour starts at 9. Tip always buy what you want when you see it you might not be able to get it later. So I’m not getting my mushrooms, Cheese and Kathy isn’t getting her cutting board I hate that.
Get back to the hotel and have time to grab a quick bite to eat before Alessandro shows up. Just want to tell you all this is the best day of the trip. He does this part time on his days off because he loves to show people his country and it shows in the day he has set up for us. Here is his email if anyone is going what a great guy. alecamma@hotmail.com If you go with him tell him you know Tom and Kathleen.
He has a great car for this with lots of head room for us over 6 ft people. We head to Piazzale Michelangelo it is a over look of Florence what a great view.
Then on to Castle of Vicchiomaggio. On the way there he points out all kinds of things and tells us the history of Chianti classcio. When we get to the winery we take a tour of the grounds then on to the tasting room where we try a bunch of different wines, grappa and Vento santa that you dip biscotti in Kathy buys some Grappa and the Vento Santa. I know we have some more stops so I’m waiting. Tip is not like tasting wines here where you get a splash in your glass they would pour a regular glass of wine for each tasting because they say you can’t get the true taste or smell with just a little so after awhile we learned to use the dump spit can just so we wouldn’t pass out.LOL
On to Greve in Chianti It is a hill top village but it is flat so is great to walk around at the bottom of the hill from it there is a clay pot manufacturer they make some of the biggest pots I’ve seen. Alessandro shows us a butcher and cheese shop where they have free samples we even got to go down in the cellar where they age the cheese and taste it at different levels of maturity good stuff . I bought some hard sausage made with wild boar to take back home.
Next stop is Winery of Montagliari and its cellars. Where we get to taste great wines, olive oils and the best balsamic I have ever had it is 28 years old we also toured the wine cellars and balsamic room where they have they barrels lined up they are all made of different types of wood and the balsamic stays 4 years in each barrel you can see they size difference from the big one down to the small ones that is how much evaporates out of them.
Alessandro
We had lunch here we were the only 2 in the dining room. Sat at a table in front of the roaring fire It was a great meal for dessert we shared a apple pie with ice cream drizzled with the 28 year old balsamic it was outstanding we both should of gotten our own.
Next up was Panzano in Chianti it is where the crazy butcher Dario Cecchini’s shop is located he had a fight with Mario Batali on national TV. Over beef.LOL
Next we went to Castellina in Chianti it is another hill top village but this one is all hills. But what great views. The passage ways were for getting to your defensive position to protect the town all the openings now have glass across them because a tourist crawled out and fell to his death.
We headed to Monteriggioni next. It is call the crown city because of all the towers around its walls they each had a gate that could be lowered in case of attack.
Alessandro asked if we wanted to do another wine tasting or go to Siena . We decide on Siena. There is no cars allowed in the old walled city so we park and do a walking tour. There are 17 different neighbor hoods they all have a different mascot of some type of animal or tree. On each corner there are plaques so you know what one you are in.
We went to square where they run the Palio race twice a year with each neighborhood having a horse to enter. The things they do for this race is nuts they take the horses into the churches to be blessed. They sleep in the square to get good seats. If your neighborhood wins there are parties that go on for weeks. With the horse as guest of honor.
We next scalded the hills to get to Domo was suppose to be bigger than St Peters in Rome but the plague hit and 2/3rds of the population died so they had to scale back.
Next we went to Church of San Domenico that has Saint Catherine’s head in it . The outside of this church never got its marble face because of the plague.
Headed back to Florence we got back after 5 so it was along tour. Put our purchases in our room and headed to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge to get a couple of other things. Ran into a parade for epfinni all the people in it were dressed in medieval clothes and the drums and horns were so rustic kind of moved you. Of course everything on the bridge was closed. When the last of the parade crossed the bridge the city crews were out in force that had signaled the end of Christmas and all the decoration had to be taken down. Had another wonderful dinner at a restaurant close to our hotel. Packed up to be ready for the morning flight back.
We had a great time. I don’t think I would be able to handle this trip in the summer as it was crowded enough as it was and if the temps were in the 100s I’d wouldn’t have enough patience.
What I’d do different I think I’d not fly a discount carrier for that long of a flight. The hotel in Rome was great because of the subway being right there. But next time in Florence I think I’d look for a more centrally located one.
I told Anthony before I left I was dressing like I was going to STJ but only warmer I wish I had stuck to that I brought way to many clothes with.
The trip wasn’t as expensive as I thought it would be. I’ll be back to Europe again.
On a sad note my brother watched Kathleen’s dog for 12 days while we were gone he lives in northern WI. And has 2 labs every time I check in her dog was having a great time we got home late Wed. and were going up to pick her up on Thursday after work 2 hours before we are to leave he calls and tells me she ran out on to the road and was hit by a car and was killed. She hadn’t gone on the road before. Mid week in northern WI the chances of a car coming by at the instant she ran out there is remote.
So I dedicate this trip report to Duchess we miss her happy dance when we get home. I’m sure she is in Airedale heaven
I hope I didn’t bore you all too much.
Tom
I added a bunch of pictures to my album just click on one to go to it.
Last edited by waterguy on Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:29 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Thank you for the reports Tom. It has been so interesting to read about your trip and see the pics
(tell Kathleen that I think, she has such a nice smile). I have been in Italy several times, but have never visited Rome or Florence – have preferred the beaches. Both places are on “my list”, and your report confirmed that we have to go.
Linne
(tell Kathleen that I think, she has such a nice smile). I have been in Italy several times, but have never visited Rome or Florence – have preferred the beaches. Both places are on “my list”, and your report confirmed that we have to go.
Linne
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piscesgirl0314
- Posts: 598
- Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:31 pm
- Location: Chesapeake, VA
Thanks so much for that great report. I'm so happy for you both and the wonderful memories you made.(I've followed your posts for a long time). I know what you mean about the parade. For some reason I was really moved by Tuscany....there is such a sense of history there. I kept thinking of Gladiator coming home to his family in the end.
I'm so sorry about the pup. We had to put one of our collies down last week. At 14 his kidneys had failed and it was time. Hugs to you both.
I'm so sorry about the pup. We had to put one of our collies down last week. At 14 his kidneys had failed and it was time. Hugs to you both.
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:40 pm
- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
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cypressgirl
- Posts: 2178
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: houston
