The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo



1. Arrival - Nov.2nd 2001

                                                                                   
                                                                                    (Rocamadour in France)




After a very relaxing week's holiday in the Lot, France and a further 18 hours on the road, we've made it! We, being me and my very long suffering wife, Annette, whose burning desire it was after 6 years living in Hong Kong and only 2 years back in the UK, to tear me away from the comforts of Worthing and England! Although being a quarter Italian should stand me in good stead to survive making it in Italy. We shall see...
After a year and a half of preparations and a lifetime of dreams, our trusty Nissan Sunny loaded up with only essential clothes, belongings, bed on roof, c.v.'s, work references and bank cards, we arrive in Florence, Italy, our new home...

And so began my journal, 8 1/2 years ago. Of course just to get to that point is a story in itself, but this 'Tuscan Odyssey' starts here, November 2001. It's been quite a ride! And I'm still here to tell the tale, so come with me on a cultural, gastronomic and artistic journey through the 'Bel Paese,' The beautiful country...







(Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, France)
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