Escape to myself

I’m sitting outside the hostel listening to church bells as I write this. the drive to San Gimignano took us through some beautiful scenery. Vineyards of Chianti country, grey green olive groves. Forested hills and valleys until we finally climbed the steep hill to the town. The Italians take their history and culture very seriously. This is a beautiful place … so clean and well tended. We were lucky enough to get here early and there were few people around. Coaches started arriving as we left. A two hour visit; enough time to take in the beauty of the town, visit the Torture Museum and have a delicious gelato. It was peaceful wandering the backstreets and looking in some very good shops. It’s a shame the museum was closed but nonetheless it’s a visit I wouldn’t have missed. It was a stopping point on the road from Paris to Rome … I feel I’ve walked in some ancient footsteps.

This is a day I’ll remember for a long time. Sunshine, the towers and quiet streets, frescos and courtyards. It was all very Tea with Mussolini… I understand how people fall in love with Tuscany. I’m half in love with it myself.