Under the Tuscan Sun

It’s the story movies are made of a year travelling the world with a one week holiday in a Tuscan villa with old friends.

I arrived in Bologna in the northern Tuscan city at 5.30am. Finding the heat of the day starting to swelter from the early hours I made for the central Piazza Miaggore to crew at lunch time. On my way I took the side streets to see the markets opening for the day and locals looking bemused at the travel weary backpacker. Once in the Piazza Miaggore I took refuge on the steps of the San Petronio Basilica to watch the crew of workers erecting the temporary city cinema. When I woke from my slumber in the heat around 9am they had completed their task and I was off for a morning refreshment. Police and the Army had been keeping an eye on me over the morning as local drunks came for a chat and people started to rouse for their Saturday routine.

Whilst I waited I watched the AB’s take on South Africa and win the first of the Tri Nations challenge convincingly – looking encouraging for the World Cup in a mere 6 weeks time! Charlotte, Mike, Di, Nick, Coops, Nic and Maartje packed me off for a lunch and gelato before we took the windy and confusing route to the villa we had rented for the week.

From Piazza slumming to Tuscan Villa in a matter of hours, life couldn’t get better. All in aid of celebrating Charlottes 30^th birthday. And what a treat for us all the week was.

I had been to Tuscany in March 2006 when I had a miserable cold and the weather was grim. My memories were dire and I wanted to give it another chance and this week has been a brilliant contrast to the original experience.

Highlights included

• A day in Sienna seeing the sights. More Gelato and rendevouzing with Dot and Mali to make our party 10 
• A day in Florence attempting and failing to see David and the Ufizzi but ensuring we saw the Duomo and the wonderful views of the city including the Ponte Vecchio (bridge with silver shops on it the last remaining bridge of its kind since the others were destroyed in WWII) and collecting the last our crew Rodders from the train station completing the party of 11. It had finally occurred to me I was on a couples holiday. To my delight I wasn’t on the couch but had a rather nice “kids” room with ensuite – a luxury after the snoring I have and will endure over the coming year of hostels and communal living.
• Lying by the pool overlooking the lush valley with the sun beaming, book in hand and wine in the other. Life really is hard.
• Ultimately the week had a celebration for Charlotte’s Birthday on the Thursday and this deserves a mention of its own.

We closed the week by heading back to Florence where I finally got inot the Ufizzi 3^rd times a charm afterall! It took 1.5 hours to get in and I walked around for nearly 2 hours It was incredible – if you can appreciate a lot of religious art. I would highly recommend it but do book in advance if you are heading to Florence.

The final night was in Bologna where we started. The party had shrunk to a mere 6 for the last night with some going home others to Venice or Rome. We dined on plenty of delicious food (more meat eating for me) and wine drinking local style. What a week. I’m not sure I will top this one....but I sure will try!