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



138. Perseus and 'Open Pool'

It's over!!! After a year and a half of studying, Annette has finally finished her EFL Diploma course... Her final exam was on Wednesday and this evening the celebrations begin!  The Champagne is in and we have a date with one of Florence's top restaurants. Annette has been here many times with her student, ex mayor of Sasettta, Saverio. This is where the Florence conoscenti come (including the Fiorentina football team!)

Perseus



We have a very cosy cellar room and indulge in a huge bistecca alla Fiorentina T-bone steak and a bottle of Chianti Classico riserva courtesy of Ruffino Ducale d'Oro! What a place! And more importantly... No More Studying!!!




Open pool

Sunday and the pool at Greve has opened its outdoor pool for the summer season.





The weather is nearly up to 30° C and it's lovely and sunny, so only one place to be then... poolside!

(Original journal entry 6/6/04)









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