Up for the third day. First things first, pottery. Ok met with Omerd and came up with an agreement. He will be shipping in about a week. Next we are off to 2 more little towns in Tuscany. On our way there we stopped at an incredible wrought iron works and shop. This business has been in the family for four generations. Their work was intricate, artistic and amazing. If Susie could have figured out away to get a piece back to Anacortes economically, she would have. Now we continue on to the first little town called Pienza.
Pienza is noted for a few things. I am in awe as to how much history is in all theses towns. This small little town is known for it’s many cheeses. Cheeses that they wrap up in laurel leaves and let sit for many, many years. Of course the older it is the stronger it is. They taste very, very good. We did a lot of tasting over the past few days of wine and cheese.
This is also the town that Pius the Second found. There is a large church there. For all you fans of The English Patient, this is where they swung from the rafters on a rope swing. There is a fountain off to the side in front of the church and in the movie it is seen in the center outside. The film crew recreated the fountain that was off to the side because they wanted it in the center. As I probably keep repeating, these are no ordinary churches, they are very large and elaborate.
Jean and Susie fountain in the English Patient
Jean in Piazza
Next we went to San Biagio, this is another large church just on the outskirt of Montepulciano. It too is very beautiful. This church was designed by San Gallo in the 1400’s and built in the 1500’s. It also was the church where the young couple got married in Under the Tuscan Sun. Now heading back into Montepulciano to finish up shopping. This is our last day here then off to Siena.
Back in Montepulciano we have been wanting to go into this old wine cellar. It is underground and there are tombs there. Dale and Lindy would love this place. It’s called Ercolani Winery. There are levels and levels that continue to go deeper underground. On these levels there are rows and rows of wine barrels and these wine barrels are full. It’s kind of spooky. You think you will get lost but you don’t. However, we did think that we lost Susie, but then she reappeared, she’d been searching around the tombs. After you are finished, the dark, damp path leads you up to a great shop where you can taste wines and cheese. They also have lots of olive oil. Have I mentioned the olive trees. There are rows and rows of them everywhere you look along with all the grape vines. Spectacular views everywhere you look!
Jean and Susie in the wine cellar
More from the wine cellar
More wine cellar
Winery
Back to Dick and Sue’s for a little rest before dinner. Walking, climbing, walking and more climbing. What a great 2 hour nap I had while Susie visited with her family. Great decision! We gave Dick and Sue their gifts. Since Sue admired a special piece of pottery we bought it for her. Tonight Susie was taking us all for dinner. Eight in the evening and time for dinner. Off we walk to a nice restaurant that sits up by the little orphanage. We decide to eat in because it’s a little rainy. The name of it is I Maledetti. It was a little funky and contemporary. I had my second favorite meal to eat, ravioli. It was with a butter sauce of some kind and very good. In Italy they cook their pasta very eldente .
OK, this is where I should tell you that the customer service in Italy is not very good, at all. Maura had warned us about this the first night we were in town. She said don’t expect much service anywhere. She said it’s not like the US. Anyway back to the dinner. We wanted dessert and the waiter brought us the dessert menu and then we waited and waited and did more waiting. The waiter was enjoying his conversation with the bartender. Any way we decided to eat ice cream at home and we got the check and walked back home.
Tomorrow we are off to Siena. One more time schlepin’ our luggage up the hill, through the switchback, and over the cobblestones. Dick and Sue are driving us to Siena.Did you know that those wheels on the suitcases don’t work with cobblestones very well. Well, I’m telling you now they don‘t.
Susie at Dick and Sues
Dick and Sues Place
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