Jo Herrings Adventures

Charlotte's birthday day was something else. I have been to day long parties before but waking to a hot Tuscan sun and heading out for a 20km cycle tour around the Medieval town of San Gimignana was something else. We took the winding back roads up to the township and took in a food break before heading down to continue the ride With 2km down hill many of the crew let rip and Mali came a cropper. Brave soldier, she she sat quietly and kept apologising as we chatted and Rodders and I did a crash investigation whilst the other cycled back up the same 2km hill and back to the cars. (I was relieved for the rest with my dicky heart on the verge of a spaz) Magnum PI and Madonna - Getting the party started We headed back to the Villa in the Tuscan hills after the cycle and after a quick dip I went in and baked a chocolate cake (with no raising agent it transpired despite buying levitating flour. My Italian obviously needs work!). As the cake cooked the chef Mike and Charlotte ...

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 – loo...