Decided today to take it easy ... Hang out at the villa, read a little, swim - go on one of the few walking tours that go through the extensive property and the vineyards. Likely have a few cappuccinos ... Likely a glass or two of vino ... No plans but to chill out.
We may take the car ... OH - an aside. We drove to another town yesterday, about a 2 hour drive. The roads are incredibly fun ... So narrow so windey - honestly, the wheel is never just pointed straight ahead, it's always either going left or right. Heather drove there and started the drive on the way back but then I took over. In an automatic, of course, I would have no issue. But this is no auto automatic. This is a standard. A standard peugot with about 47 horsepower. I was basically driving a golf cart about 70km/H going up (what feels like) sheer cliffs and mountainous curvy terrain ... Amazing. Did I stall? Did I grind gears? Did I ride the clutch? No. No. No. Was I Mario andretti? Yes. I was awesome. (heather also did awesome, but come on, she's been driving standard her whole life.
So ... Again ... We may take the car out and discover some more vineyards - there is literally one every few kilometers down the road. They usually all have a wine store where you can sample the wines and then buy them. Yesterday at Melini we were given about 8 different types. We loved loved loved three of them and were expecting them to be around 20-30 euros per bottle. Ended up with 2 bottles - total price: 11 euros!!! For an '06 riserva and an '05 Classico. Amazing. Need to find more like Melini!!
Of course, we are in the chianti region so the wines are typically cianti classico or reserva - our vineyard (vignamaggio) has a few other types, but it's a very large property compared to most.
But, tonight is our last in the chianti area as tomorrow we are off to Montalcino - still in Tuscany, about an hour or so south if here. Montalcino is the home to the world famous Brunello wine. In Canada, you'd be hard-pressed to find even a mediocre Brunello for less than $40-$50. In Montalcino, I'm assuming it's all good and it's all cheap!! :)
After a couple days in Montalcino (at our hotel aptly named Olivieri) it's back to city life in Florence for a few nights, then off to the seaside, then Parma then Venice then - back to real life. Maybe. Unless we just decide to stay here. Which, why wouldn't we?! Oh right - work .... Right.
Sun is shining, weather is sweet. I'm on our terrazzo panoramica overlooking a beautiful Tuscan morning.
Scusi signira, un altra cappuccino per favore ... grazie!
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