Today was an unkown that turned our to be terrific. I had booked a day tour through the hotel and with _________ .I asked the front desk of the hotel for directions to start the tour. I was told, "Just follow the main street". Well that would be fine if the streets didn't zigzag or all look alike. Anyway, I made my way to the correct Piazza. I must have looked lost because Ellio, my tour guide, found me. I learned that I was the only tourist that day. Plus another tour guide would be shadowing Elilo. That would be Andreea. We had soooo much fun. They were great kids and treated me like a princess. I loved it. We boarded a minivan and headed out to the winery_______. One little drawback, I don't drink wine. Why did I sign up for a tour with a winery.....well I wanted to go to the other places on the tour. So there I sat in the wine cellar being served oils and vinegars with delicious cheeses and perscutto. Had I been thinking I could have said that I gave wine up for Lent. Instead I left the lady at the winery totally befuddled...silly Americano!
Now for the real tour. Off we went, driving through the Tuscan Valley. It was everything I imagined. Unlike many folks, I did not get caught up in craze regarding the book and movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun". So I did not really have any expectations. That being said, I fell in love with the area. I know that Ellio took me on an very scenic route of the valley. They both shared multiple stories about Siena, The Tuscan Valley, and their homes.
Next stop was San Gimignano, village of towers. These towers were symbols of status and power. Unfortunately the Plague reduced the city's the population to 4,000 from 12,000. It never really recovered. More than likely the plague was caused from sanitation practices. (Persons would sit on special window sills and ...... well you know.) So if you were walking under the window at the wrong time.....oh, well.
Today there are approximately 12,000 persons residing within San Gimignano. Hard to believe. Most of the residents work in Florence and Siena. This was my first look at the Wild Boar (it was stuffed). I found a handmade silver and copper ring, which I was looking for.
On to Monteriggioni. This is another little village close to Siena. I love this because yet again, I believ I get a real sense of what it was like in this area hundreds of years ago.
Thank heaven, Elio offered to drop me off at my hotel. Thank heavens because it was dark, I was tired and it would have taken a long time to find my way back to my hotel. A perfect day with Elio and Andreea. I highly recommend this tour group.
I hope I sleep tonight. I am so anxious about making connections tomorrow and arriving on time to my tour in Venizia.
