Relaxing Monday then on to Siena

Good friends, we have had a couple glorious days here in Tuscany.  Mondays in Tuscany are slow days.  Most of the museums are closed and many of the restaurants and some stores use it as their down day.  So Chris and I did the same.  We never left our hill atop Greve-in-Chianti.  It was a day for sleeping late, reading in spurts, taking a nap, sitting by the pool, and drinking good Chianti wine.  We fixed a light meal of pasta with pesto and mushrooms with some excellent gorgonza and pecorino cheeses to complement.  The temperature was in the high 70's and the pool is now open, though the water is still too cold for me.  Chris and I both finished books and started new ones.  

Today we got back in the car and explored.  Our home base is in the very center of the Chianti region so there are vineyards and olive trees everywhere.  As we drove south toward Siena we stopped to explore one of the vineyards and a smaller town called Castellina-in-Chianti.  Castellina seemed like a higher-end wine town.  Lots of cute shops and a wine store that featured some of the very best Chianti wines, including bottles more than 50 years old and costing in the thousands rather than my normal 4 buck chuck from Trader Joes.  

Siena was our next stop. It is a larger city, and has long rivaled (like since at least the 11th century) Florence.  Chris and I generally prefer spending time in the smaller villages, so we were going, but doubting whether this would be a top day.  We were both VERY IMPRESSED with Siena and thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  The main piazza (or square), IL Campo, is described as the best in Italy due to its design and size.  We agree.  It was beautiful and there truly is a lively and communal spirit there as people gather, sit, and drink at the cafe's (or eat gelato).  The cathedral church, (the Duomo), is maybe the most beautiful of all, rivaling Florence's and any we've seen.  Another church in the city honors Saint Domenico - the founder of the Order of Preachers (Domincans) and is the church of Saint Catherine of Siena.  It was a great visit.  (And with good gelato and pastries too!)

We'll have to see what Wednesday brings.

Ciao!

Bob and Chris