Academy Hotel Siena

... first night, the only necessity finding the grocery shop. We have cooked every night at the villa, and found the routine of sitting a round the table together to eat, delightfully homely. After a few times of getting to what Robyn thought was the front of a queue, she has now learned that one queues at the post office, deli or bakery by taking a numbered piece of paper from a dispensing machine and waiting for that number to be shown on a big digital ...

... out of the city in a timely manner. Found a pizza chef with a Master's degree and had built his own pizza shop. Yummy!

We were able to visit Pinnochio's town of Colidi. Very fun! Gelato keeps flowing and Ribbolite (sp?) the local peasant soup is new favorite! Rich found Ossobucco last night finally!
Lots of fun travels.

Love ,
Rich and Kara

Check out some pics. I've taken over an hour to post 20 pictures that is how incompetant that I am online!

I'll do more when I can, or when I get home they'll be all gettin on facebook. =)

Missing everyone today. It's my ONE MONTH DATE!

ACK

Much love!
Benita

... muck out in the morning but we have to just clean up in the afternoon. I wasn't looking forward to my turn to skip... remember poop and I don't get along. Then we're getting horses from the paddock, cleaning them off which is rather frustrating when the hourses like to roll around in the mud, walking or lunging horses that are not being ridden, and always brushing them, picking out their feet and walking, up and down. up and down the hill. Taking the guests to ...

... used today to hold Siena's most spectacular event, Il Palio (Pagent and horse race). On the upper part of Il Campo stands a 15th century Fontana Gaia (Happy Fountain) while at the other end is the elegant Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) with its graceful bell tower soaring above it.

A few more winds and turns and we were at the Duomo (Cathedral) one of Italy's greatest Gothic churches, with its magnificent façade of white, green and red polychrome marble (although the same colours as ...

... Florence, when I arrive there tomorrow. Hooray for traveling friends!

I also thought that I lost my credit card today. I was surprisingly not frantic, but did retrace my steps though I knew it was futile. At the point when I had given up -- and yes Mom, I said a prayer to St. Anthony, I looked once more in my purse (which I had done about 20 times prior) and it was right in sight. I don't think I will be cannonized anytime soon, but I do count that as a little ...

... so that's what we had to work with. We drove to just about every town around the winery before become slightly disheartened and mildly angry with one another. We pressed on, undeterred, through the drizzle and gray dampness of the day. Finally we found the town of Canali, where the elusive vineyard was supposed to reside. We drove through the town, it didn't take long, looking for but not seeing signs for the Custodi Cantina (Cantina loosely translated ...