We were also under the Tuscan sun, which was up to 35C everyday. We stayed in the town of Lucignano, which is a medieval walled town, originally built in 1391. We were actually staying in a wall, with no view or backyard, but maybe because we were so close to the town people, we became familiar with them, which made for a truly unique experience.

For example, since there were no front porches or backyards and very little air-conditioning (not our place, anyway), people congregated on lawn chairs right on the narrow streets, or in the park/piazza. We spent quite a bit of time in the park, which was located just outside the main gate to the town. This park was always active, with the ubiquitous old men solving the world’s problems in one end, and teeny-bopper girls giggling at the other, and all the other small groups in between. We just tried to blend in.

And we did blend in, of sorts. People were nodding and saying “buongiorno”, more and more often, throughout our 6 day stay. My Italian is as good as my Klingon, but I was able to pickup fresh croissant’s and pastries every morning from the panetteria.

We did day trips around Tuscany in our fabulous, rented Audi 3 TDI. Between the crazy, curvy, hilly roads and the tailgater every-time I looked in the rear-view mirror, it was nice to spend more time just hanging around Lucignano… drinking Proseco and eating gelato. Seems like motorists are the opposite of here. In Italy, no matter where we were, the motorists always stopped for pedestrians and gave cyclists lots of room, probably because they’re also pedestrians and cyclists. But once there’s a car in front of them… well, the latent F1 seems to come out!

After our stay in Lucignano, it was back to Florence to return the car, train back to Rome for 2 more nights, then back to Toronto.

Whew!

[click on any photo for slideshow]

 

Lucignano – It’s a long way up.

Lucignano

The streets of Lucignano

Lucignano

Lucignano cats

Lucignano

Thursday is market day in Lucignao

Thursday is market day in Lucignao

Windows to our flat

Our kitchen

Lucignano

Lucignano

Lago Trasimeno

Leather craftsman in Cortona

Cortona

Country-side north of Siena

The Tuscan country-side

The Tuscan country-side