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



191. Wine Lovers Delight

There is a new weekly newspaper being published in Florence, called 'The Florentine'. It'a a free paper and is run by an American couple. In the second or third issue I spot an advert for 'writers wanted'. They are interested in all subjects based around Florentine and Tuscan themes, including wine. It catches my eye and I have the idea of maybe writing something about the wine festivals. I write an email to them and they ask me to send them a 1,00 word article. So I get scribbling, send it off to them and what do you know they publish it in the May 5th issue! I am now a published writer!!! I am very excited when the paper comes out and make sure I pick up a dozen or so copies to give to friends and family. Everybody is really happy for me and seems to enjoy the article.

Here is a link to the digital version of the article:


http://www.theflorentine.net/articles/article-view.asp?issuetocId=1423

(Original journal entry 5/5/05)

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