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



67. Big Rory II and Pizzaiuolo, Castles and Ladies day.

Our favourite nephew Rory is in the country and is paying us a visit. This time he is touring Italy with some friends, what a cultured guy! He's in Florence for three days and Annette meets up with them on the Monday to take them on a tour of the city and up Piazzale Michelangelo for ice-cream.





Monday evening and we have arranged to meet up in Sant'Ambrogio at Florence's 'premier' Neapolitan Pizzeria, Pizzaiuolo. It's great to meet up albeit for a short time and his friends are charming. One of them, we already know, Manuel, who used to live in Milan. The pizza is great and afterwards we drop them off at their youth hostel where their staying. Next they're off to Milan and Venice, before heading home.


Ladies Day



Today in Italy is 'Festa delle donne', which I only discover later is International Women's day. A celebration which is held all over the world, except in England. Anyway here in Italy, men give sprigs of a bright yellow flower, called mimosa, to women they come in contact with throughout the day... most women seem to be enjoying the attention, others are more cynical and are saying that men should treat women well every day!




As it's nearing spring several more family members have expressed a desire to come out and stay with us. Today's assignment is to find somewhere for Annette's brother Phil to stay, as he will be visiting us next month. We drive up to nearby Castello Vicchiomaggio and have a look at some of their rooms, the views up here are incredible, but the rooms just not up to scratch! The search continues...

(Original journal entry 8/3/03)
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