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



276. Regatta at Baratti

This year we've been invited to the annual regatta at Baratti, where our good friend, Alberto is taking part, as reigning champion.


A nice early start and at 10.30 am we're sitting snuggled on the beach having greeted all the gang. the place is a hive of activity, with all the participants readying themselves. The 11.00 am start has come and gone and turns into 2.30 pm! But we we have time for a swim and lunch.


There are about 20 big boats and 10 small ones for children, so it makes for quite an impressive sight... The actual course is a long way out, so it's difficult to see who is leading, unfortunately Alberto has misjudged the wind and only finishes fourth, but of course it's the taking part that counts! We watch the prize giving and then head on to our camp site to put up our new tent. It's only a five minute drive away and takes us the grand total of two seconds to put/throw up. We have a really quick shower and dress, five minutes back and we're in the Baratti pine woodsfor the regatta party. A Chilean teenager DJ is playing old skool hip-hop, there are seafood starters, porchetta, lasagne and plenty of drink. Everybody is in party mode and we dance the night away...


Wednesday


And we stagger out of the tent and try to find, the secret beach of Buca delle Fate (fairy's hole) After a few attempts we find the correct route and reach the sea at a spectacular opening on a huge rock! We enjoy some sunbathing and swimming in the deadly waters we make the difficult upward walk back to the car park... a trip not for the faint hearted!


We spend a few hours on the 'safer' beach at Riva Degli Etruschi, before heading back to the campsite for a shower and change. Tonight's special destination is 'La Pergola' restaurant at Baratt. A place we visited a few years ago and had a wicked 'Caicciucco' fish soup. Tonight's offering doesn't disappoint. An all fish affair with 5th choice wine a nice Attems Toccai from Frecobaldi, a bit pricey, but hey what a setting!

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