Tuscany in a day (Day 6) — this encore life

I’d listened to friends rave about Tuscany, read books about living there, visualized it in my mind. But never having experienced it myself, I decided on a bus tour of the place. I’d booked this before I left the U.S., putting absolute faith in the 10-day weather forecast at the time of booking. And it all turned out like this:

Fabulous! I dragged myself out of bed at 5:30, got to the nearby metro stop by 6:30, zoomed on the blue line to Termini, and then changed to the red line until I got to Flaminio. Then Piazza de Popolo lay before me just as the sun was rising. Love Rome like this--cool and nearly empty, something one doesn’t see very often!

Piazza del Popolo just as the sun is rising

Travelers need to pay attention, for several bus trips and groups leave from this point. It’s a huge piazza, and I quickly bypassed the Pompeii tour group that had gathered and waited instead for the Tuscany guide, along with like-minded tourists--4 of whom I realized were from the Twin Cities. As it turned out, Minnesota was well represented. In a busload of 48, six of us were from the Gopher state. Go figure…

So the tour was to last all day with stops in two cities, an abbey, and lunch at a winery. After an hour of traveling north, we pulled in for a potty stop, and the place had a huge gift shop and coffee/wine bar. I had my first cappuccino of the day, along with a croissant. Yummy.

After another 45 minutes or so, we pulled into Montepulciano (I remembered it as “multiple-chi-an-o”) and a guide showed us this town of 5000 from the medieval period. She raved about the “beauuuuutifullll” cathedral, which looked to me like something one might build in the sand at the beach--ordinary, square, and plain. But you have to realize the era in which it was built, and the beauty is not in being ornate. The prized wine here is Vino Nobile di Montepolciano, though we didn’t have an opportunity try any.

This town challenged some due to its incline and eventual decent--steep, steep streets. One gal on crutches elected to stay down below and I realized again how non-handicap accessible much of Europe is. But the views were spectacular and I loved the latte-colored earth and the tall, narrow cyprus.

Then on to the Sant’ Antimo Abbey near Montalcino. This abbey had fallen into ruin and is being renovated. The olive trees near here were ancient as I could tell by their gnarly trunks.

So nice to light candles and send a prayer

Gotta love this olive tree.  If only it could talk... — Gotta love this olive tree. If only it could talk...

I thought the highlight of the day was the lunch served in the midst a winery’s barrels. We had three courses, sampled five wines, and I bonded with some lovely people. Food and wine bring that out in us, right? A great key to chatting, sharing, and general merriment.

This is  "pici" pasta--of the area.  (I think it looks like Chef Boyardee!) — This is "pici" pasta--of the area. (I think it looks like Chef Boyardee!)

The five wines we tasted.  Lovely white, great chianti, and two reds that would be good with meat.  The dessert wine was strong for some, so my newly formed group of drinking buddies and I didn't let any of it go to waste — The five wines we tasted. Lovely white, great chianti, and two reds that would be good with meat. The dessert wine was strong for some, so my newly formed group of drinking buddies and I didn't let any of it go to waste

Our final stop was Pienza--created (or renovated) by Pope Pius II. This was his birth town and he decided to give it a facelift. The town is known for pecorino cheese (delicious) and Bruello di Montepuliciano wine. One fun incident was that a Russian film crew was using a piazza here to film a movie titled The Sin--something about Michelangelo. We had to be “quiet on the set” and waited until we got the nod before walking freely near and around that piazza.

A bit of gelato.  Can you tell we'd just had wine with lunch?  Haha — A bit of gelato. Can you tell we'd just had wine with lunch? Haha

The film crew.  The guy sitting down must've been chilled--he was wrapped up until the shoot began — The film crew. The guy sitting down must've been chilled--he was wrapped up until the shoot began

When the film began to roll, this guy got up and hobbled off with his "crutch."  I thought I could do the same for a lot less than they were probably paying this guy. — When the film began to roll, this guy got up and hobbled off with his "crutch." I thought I could do the same for a lot less than they were probably paying this guy.

I know, I know...but I just had to show you the severed head on the prop table.

Here, this lovely shot to help you recover

Our guide was knowledgeable, my fellow travelers fun, and the entire day proved to be delightful. I can see why this Umbrian area is a favorite of so many. Cincin!