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



156. Windsurfing in Baratti

The weather is still scorching and another invitation from friends Alberto and Nadia for a day at the beach and dinner at their house in Campiglia is too good to pass up. A late start on the Sunday morning and we arrive on the beach at Baratti just before lunch.





All the usual gang are there and I'm treated (or rather pushed into) my first ever impromptu windsurfing lesson by Dario! It is far more difficult than it looks I can assure you, but I have great fun trying. The boards belong to the sailing school, so I can use it for free .



After a very relaxing day on the beach we drive up to Nadia and Alberto's house in the hills og Campiglia Marritima and enjoy another wonderful meal courtesy of chef Alberto. Stuffed courgette flowers, pasta with a nice tomato and carrot sauce, pecorino cheese and pears etc etc.

They have sky tv set up and after dinner we introduce them to the Naked chef, who much to Nadia's disappointment is fully clothed! He's cooking an Italian dish of course...

(Original journal entry 5/9/04)
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