La Siesta Montepulciano

... could use for our research papers on Italian culture. All in all, it made me think how that was exactly how I would like my apartment to be when I get my own one. Tea set and all. I've become surprisingly addicted to tea since I came here. The English variety, of course, with milk and sugar, but I'm still rather surprised that I've come to enjoy tea so much in Italy. Rather than, say, coffee.

... villes de la region, orvieto est construite sur une coline et Emilie la gentillement rebatise orvieto "la vile sur une bosse". C'est une petite ville encore fortifier, construite sur une tres ancienne ville creuse a meme la coline. il y a une grosse cathedrale (duomo) comme toutes les villes que nous avons vue, puis il y a plusieur point de vue sur la region.

en fin de journee, nous avons visiter quelques unes ...

... s famous panforte (hard cake with nuts and candied fruit) – and they were light and flavorful and delicious.

After such a beautiful meal, I think Murray and I both fought the urge to find a quiet spot in the sun and take a long nap (an urge we have fought several times in Italy, after these big meals!). Yet – onward we walked to our next stop, Piazza del Duomo. Once again, this Duomo (cathedral) was incredible to see. It is ...

... paysage est tres beau, comme dans toute la toscane!!

dans les attraction principale , il y avais le duomo, quelque eglies plus modestes, mais chacune avais un petit quelque chose a voir. puis il y a les ruines d'une anciene arena romaine.

un autre jour, une autre destination! Aujourd'hui, nous somme parties pour Siene. Arrive a siene, nous avons traverse la ville pour y trouver un bureau d'information touristique. une fois la carte de la vile en main, nous somme aller dinner dans un resto, un peu a l'ecart des sites touristiques. Comme dans tout les restorant italien, il y ...

... life time on this trip already!
Climbed the tower in the main piazza, saw an enormously large pizza and had wild boar sausages for lunch which were a bit gamey but nice.
Went for drinks at Lochness bar and ended up drinking long islands as there wasn't much in the way of wine or beer there.

... place where I had wanted to dine the night before -- Ai Quattro Venti -- with a patio on Piazza Grande, owned by two brothers who were easy to identify by their matching appearances, and guidebook recommended. Excellent crostini funghi, minestrone soup, and a ½ litre of the vino rosso della casa. Italians serve food VERY hot (heat not spice), we have experienced this everywhere, and that is only possible because it is fresh from the oven or pot (not microwave).

... find them, not knowing who I was looking for, then Kathie came out to help. We caught up with them and I then figured out that Kathie was talking about Dave and Loraine Huner. Their son played baseball with Michael and that son and his twin sister graduated with Michael.

After quickly saying hello we went back to dinner then after dinner went to the bus stop for our ride to the hotel. At the hotel Kathie and I relaxed then started getting ready for our last day of riding.

... and olive oil preserve their contents. There were all different sized barrels where the wine and oil aged accordingly before being bottled as left to age more. The cellar was about 100 meters below the road so it was very cold and damp. At the end of the tour we were offered an array of tastings: wine, olive oil, assorted typical pecorino cheese, homemade honey and mustard tastings. I didn't try the mustard but ...

... found a way to stroll, park and force two-way traffic on one-way wide roads. It is cliche and predictable and the sign, perhaps, of a weak writer to fall back on the hoary old "I felt as if I was transported back in time" chestnut, but seriously. That's exactly what it feels like. Our hotel was the Albergo Il Marzocco, and luckily, it sits scant yards from the town gates and boasts a parking lot. And by parking lot, they mean a ...