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)

146. Sailing at Baratti and dinner in Campiglia Marritima

After my May 2nd trip to Baratti, where my good friend Alberto only took his 'one-man' boat out, this time he's got the 4 1/2 metre two-man boat rigged up and I'm ready for my first sailing lesson...

Again we've been invited to the lovely beach at Baratti and dinner afterwards in the gorgeous Campiglia Marritima. This time we finally make it...

We have a wonderful time, meeting three other couples from various towns in Tuscany, sunbathing, chatting and of course my maiden voyage in the very beautiful gulf of Baratti. We see some big jellyfish, 'shark island'(apparently someone was eaten by a shark many years ago!) fortunately for me there isn't much wind, so the sailing is slow!

After a long, hot day on the beach we drive up to Campiglia and enjoy a wonderful meal together... cooked by capitain Alberto of course!

129, Boating in Baratti 130, The Mille Miglia

Saturday at the monastery, Sunday at the beach - my weekend is kind of in reverse, as the weather is slightly better today. Good enough for a spot of sunbathing, a dip in the ocean and some sailing...

I have been invited to the small seaside resort of Baratti by some of my private students, Nadia and Alberto. I arrive nice and early and drive up to Populonia, an ancient Etruscan stronghold overlooking the bay of Baratti.

                                         The tower at Populonia


I meet Nadia and Alberto on the beach. They are part of a local sailing club and there are lots of small boats  in a pine woods which leads onto a pretty, sandy beach. We spend a very enjoyable day and they even introduce me to some of their friends.

In the evening they invite me up for supper to their holiday house which is in the nearby town of Campiglia Marritima. We came here last year. It's an old mining village that has now been restored with many holiday homes.

                                          The view from Campiglia Marritima


 Before I head back home I pop into San Vincenzo, it's already packed with people even though it's only the beginning of May!




130. The Mille Miglia


Another Annette-less weekend as she is still studying...

After a Saturday morning at work I stay in town and check out this year's 'Mille miglia' the classic car race as it crosses the Arno on the Ponte Santa Trinita and goes towards Piazza Signoria.

Many of the cars stop on the bridge to take photos of themselves with the Ponte Vecchio behind!

An added extra as the cars are stopped to allow the president of China and his cavalcade to stop - I see him waving from his limousine! I wonder who we'll see next year?

                                                             (Original journal entry 2/5/04)

75. Castagneto Carducci and Baratti

After yesterday’s festivities we have some time to explore the local area. First stop is just down the road at Castagneto Carducci, a small, well-know town of about 9,000 residents. Originally called just ‘Castagneto’ it was re-named Castagneto Carducci in 1907 in honour of Italian National Poet Laureate, Giosue Carducci who came to live here in his youth.

There is a bust of him outside the town hall at the top of the main pedestrian road. I can certainly see where he got his inspiration from, it’s a gorgeous hill-top town with views down to the Tyrrhenian sea. There are lots of interesting artsy, crafty type shops displaying some very individual pieces.

Unfortunately yesterday’s blistering heat has failed to reappear, so I only have a brief dip in the sea at Marina di Castagneto. No matter as there is plenty more to do in this area.

We drive on to Baratti, where there is a picturesque harbour and settle ourselves down in this great, fish restaurant. We have our first taste of ‘Cacciucco’, a kind of thick fish soup, which seems to have every kind of fish thrown in and is about ten times as tasty as any Bouillabase I’ve ever had! The French may think they have the best cuisine in the world, but I beg to differ...

After this hearty lunch we have a very pleasant stroll along the beach and fresh pine woods, before heading back to Florence

(Original journal entry 2/5/2003)