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



127. Parco Pratolino and the via Bolognese

It's the last week of April and a real mixed bag of weather here in Florence.

On Saturday I spend another relaxing afternoon by the river Arno while Annette is studying. On the Sunday I manage to tear her away from the books - last night's rain has cleared and we take a drive up the very picturesque via Bolognese.

We enjoy a fish lunch at this family run restaurant with great views toward the Mugello region.

We continue on to the Park at Pratolino. Our return here is long overdue - I spend some time sketching and 'haikuing! while Annette, studying of course!






Softly drifting clouds
Passing by as lovers kiss
Ever to return





Gracefully hewn rock
Majestically stands silent
As life slowly fades

(Original journal entry 25/4/04)
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