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



42. Storkenzimmer

School's out for the summer! Well at least in Italy... and so we begin our 1,000 mile trek back to England. We've agreed on a leisurely, 3-day journey, as we don't start summer school until 1st August.




We drive up to Bologna, through Parma, Milan and then up towards Switzerland. It's early evening and we decide to look for somewhere to stay on the very pretty Lake Luzern. After rejecting about four places that are either too expensive, or Switzerland's answer to the Bates Motel, we hit the Jackpot! After driving up to a place that looks rather posh, we take a quick peek at the menu, as by now we're getting rather peckish.




Then this man, here, who appears to be a waiter, approaches us. We proceed to tell him that what we're really after is a room for the night, where upon he introduces himself as 'Prince' Joseph and leads us up into the hotel to no less than the honeymoon suite!!! Of course we're thinking, very nice, but how much is it??? And then he boldly declares "tonight is your lucky night, you have won the lottery. All the other rooms are booked, so I'm going to give you this suite for the price of a normal room!"

The room has a huge wooden rocking bed? Oak beams and leather everywhere... and so we're in! We have a lovely diner in the restaurant and a late night stroll by the lake, and then rock ourselves to sleep!



In the morning we feast on an abundant buffet breakfast, rounding off a wonderful 'Swiss' experience and are ready for day 2.

(Original journal entry 29/6/02)
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