Posts Tagged ‘san gimigiano’

Assisi

Friday, April 8th, 2011

oh my..well, I joined the thousands of pilgrims in our long treck to Assisi. (wish list) Too big, too crowded, too confusing. We booked ahead the Hotel Umbra on the advice of a fellow tourist we met in SanGim.  Good grief!!! What it takes to find these places; we are so lucky to have our side view mirrors.  

We headed to the Abby around 4:30 and took our time examining the frescos depicting his life.  We did NOT join the others crawling on their knees.

The basilica “Santa Maria, degli Angeli” in the valley below was much more approachable and tho’ the 7th largest in the world! was more humble than the Abby up the hill, built in the honor of a very humble man of God.

Hill Towns

Friday, April 8th, 2011

What a find Volterra was! We had a long ramble and a quick panini lunch and an awesome look at an enormous roman ampitheater.  Very impressive but as the town aged, it became roman baths , and then the town dump, because it was in a ravine…not to be rediscovered in the 1950’s.

Further on, we be in San Gimigiano. Gutsy (or stupid), we went into the TI (tourist information) and asked if they could book us a room. We rendezvoused with Eva, who took us in her car thru all sorts of back streets and up to the 3rd floor for a deeelightful apartment. Came with a garage a block away all for 75 Euros.  For all hill towns, you have to be a mountain goat, so I  strapped on my attractive knee braces and off we went!

We splurged on dinner at ” La Vecchia Mura” (the old view) where we ate on the terrace at the edge of Tuscany.  A local wine, tortellini con burro y salvia, a choc dessert, and nothing but twinkling lights and stars.

We even found our way back to our abode. (and found a couple cache…more on that soon!).

San Gimigiano Checkin

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Rented a 3rd floor apt. in the center of town, kinnda cool. San Gimigiano is suppose to make a great white wine which we are about to go out and taste. We also are gonna go Cache hunting (did one in England) I know you think it’s crazy, but I think It’s fun.

‘About time for KC to bring her brood across the pond.

I MISS you and wish you were here.

We Have Arrived In Italy

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Ciao!!!

We arrived a couple of hours ago in Pisa. It feels good to be back on Italian soil. Tomorrow we head to San Gimigiano, Thursday to Assisi and Saturday to Montalcino. Can’t wait to see everyone.

Steve