bluerain

(04.03.07/21.15)

at half nine in the morning, together with three americans, two swiss girls, and our japanese companion, our italian tour guide (sam) picked us up from our meeting point and thus, started our trip to the ‘chianti’ region into the heart of tuscany were some of the most famous wines are produced.

me on horseback

we arrived at the horse stable an hour later.  after about half an hour, we started mounting our horses - then a fifteen-minute lesson on horseback riding, and ‘walking’ the horses around the fence.  i got gustava, a feisty, red-haired mare.  then started our trek into the tuscan countryside on horseback.   more than an hour and a half of priceless adventure.  tuscany is beautiful and can rival ireland’s picturesque landscapes. 

after the thrill of horseback riding, we went up to the hills of tuscany, to have our lunch in the mediaval walled town of monteriggione castle.  it is actually an ancient fortress which presently houses a few ristorantes, shops, apartments and a romanesque church.  it is very quaint and lovely that you would like to stay there and be lost in a medieval walled town - with the colorful tuscan hills surrounding the castle. the italian ‘chianti’ lunch that we had was heavenly, from cheese, salami, gnochhi to wines, we were pampered endlessly by our tour facilitator (sam).

with tour guide sam and ‘honey’ the most beautiful horse in the stable.

after our lunch, we went to another famous city in italy, sienna.  what can i say about this italian cities, they are lovely.  sienna, built on three hills and surrounded by well preserved walls, is filled with fine examples of Gothic architecture and has one of the world’s most unique piazzas - il Campo - (shaped like a shell with scalloped edges).  i don’t think i’m ever well-equipped in finding words to describe this walled city.  sienna houses the most ancient bank in the world the monte dei paschi di siena, founded in 1472, and also the first hospital in europe. st catherine of sienna, the patron saint for nurses, has her thumb and head displayed in the dominican church in the city - quite gothic, if you ask me.

the tuscany tourists

the day was exhausting, but very enjoyable - met interesting travellers - we talked and we listened to each other’s travel exploits, etc., very enriching experience indeed.

tomorrow we’re heading off pisa to see the leaning tower then straight up to the north to venice.  we’re into our last stretch. i’m feeling the weariness but at the same time i’m starting to miss florence, and i haven’t even left the place yet.  ciao!

- bluerain