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



55. Man in the Mirror



Our first year in 'Bella Tuscany' is nearly over and this week we have the privilege of hosting one of my good friends from England. To protect his privacy I shall refer to him by his middle name, Clayton, thereby shielding his real identity to all but his closest acquaintances and family.

However his visit does give me the perfect excuse to indulge in some tourist-like sightseeing and in particular a 2-day visit to the eternal city, Rome.



A 9.30 pick-up from Pisa airport and already he's looking in the shop windows, not at the wares, but to check that his hair is in place! We arrive home in the Chianti to a late night supper, prepared by the lovely Annette and catch up on all the latest Worthing gossip.


I'm working mornings at the moment, so I meet up with Clayton in the afternoon for a city tour. In the evening we enjoy a nice al-fresco meal out at our current favourite restaurant, La Paglietta in San Polo-in-Chianti. Of course he spends the evening checking out his reflection in the cutlery... ok so I'm exaggerating a bit!

Thursday and we meet up in the city again and buy tickets for the Uffizi for Tuesday. Unfortunately his excellency, David, is being restored at the moment, so I take Clayton into Santa Croce to check out the 'Giotto' Frescoes. Fortunately he resists looking too long at the marble tombs as his reflection is a little blurred!  We finish day 2 with a cool sunset of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo.


Friday and a scenic drive to San Gimignano with a stop off at our now second home, Villa San Andrea, for some wine tasting and purchasing of more '98 Chianti Classico Riserva. I enjoy walking round the medieval streets of this beautifully hill- top, towered town and Clayton... well, I thought he seemed interested in the shops until I realize that he's still looking at his reflection in the window!!! And this time I'm not exaggerating... maybe his parents should have named him Narcissus!

At this point I will skip our weekend trip to Rome... (Next Blog Entry)






Tuesday we have a date at the Uffizi and there is a special, temporary exhibition on, entitled 'The Rape of Europa,' this is the Greek myth about that unfortunate maiden so desired by Zeus, who then proceeded to transform himself into a dazzling white bull and carried her off to Crete and raped her. This story has been immortalized in art by many paintings depicting the unfortunate event, some of which are exhibited here, kind of a fitting end to my good friend's visit. Suffice to say, this would prove the last time I would ever see or hear from him... maybe like Narcissus he fell into a lake? Alas I will never know!


(Original journal entry 2/10/02)
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