Travel Tales

Left the Lakes today, woke up to more rain, happy to leave..... ....finally saw what we have been waiting to see all week, a bus and a truck meeting head on, on that ridiculous one way road pretending to be a dual carriageway. They met on a blind corner, and there was a bit of backing up to be done by both parties, how they didn't sideswipe each other is a mystery only known to the Italians!! Off to Tuscany today, but did a little side trip through Modena. Edna's 70th, so was determined to have a nice meal at some stage. Went on a Balsamic Vinegar quest, had an address of the Malpighi estate, but being a Saturday of course it was closed. Found a lovely Trattoria in Modena for our birthday lunch, had a nice meal, Edna had Panna Cotta for the first time, we got a bit of a smack on the wrist off the waitress for ordering our coffee with our dessert, we think she must have done her customer service training course in Switzerland!!! We all really liked Modena and wish we had more time there, a stop over would have been perfect. Back on the road again, only one last challenge for the day, finding our needle in a haystack that is our villa in Tuscany! Found it relatively easy, we love you Navman... oh yes we do, we love you Navman... Our villa is situated in a vineyard in San Donato in Perano Gaiole in Chianti, Sienna 53013 Italia....I know, I don't know how the postie finds it!! Turns out it is the sweetest little place ever. It's on top of the hill and overlooks the vineyard, and olive grove. Anyone wanting to come and stay in Tuscany, highly recommend this place, it's only 35km south of Florence....don't forget your Navman!! There is a restaurant on the property, as well as a shop selling wine and olive oil produced on the estate, even have wine tasting which I'm sure we will participate in at some stage. After we settled in, we headed back to Radda to get some food supplies, we're so sad, this always excites us, and is always a bit of an adventure, we always find the best stuff, if only it was as good at home. Went to a little Alimentari in Radda and guess what Jo found??? A fine bottle of Acetaia Malpighi (balsamic vinegar) fancy that!! Was gift boxed and everything, took all the pain away. Cracked a bottle of Chianti Salteano 2006, the Lowe's splashed out it set them back a whole 5.90 euro. Went down well with the Parma Proscuitto, and pickled anchovies. Edna nearly got to blow out the shrine candle, but it was catching on fire so we had to put it out. (we were sorry but we couldn't find any in il supermercato) Celebrated with some affogato al Croccantino cake. Settled in for the night, after a jacuzzi....la dolce vita.