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



263. Granducato and Davide at 40

Sunday afternoon and we take a drive out to Pratolino for some lolling about on the grass. The mood is somewhat spoilt by a children's festival complete with flag waving and a brass band!






But, hey, yesterday was my good friend, Davide's 40th birthday and this evening he's taking us out for a meal at the very posh Granducato Hotel in Campi Bisenzio. We're being joined by his Chinese work colleague, Kelvin. His book and Brunello wine presents seem to go down well - even if the food is not as spectacular as the place!




Tanti Auguri Davide!

(Original journal entry no. 325 - 11/06/2006)

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)