Day 2-3

Fantasticimmo (if there such a word)!! Sunday was highlighted by a leisurely lunch at Da Roberto in Montisi. Roberto walked us through the menu, bringing crostini with foie gras (or organs as he called them), lasagna and ribolitta (bread soup), meatloaf and leg of pork (called stinco, but it wasn’t), and finishing with tiramisu and panna cotta. All on a balcony where the sun gave way to clouds and rain, but the conversation and wine kept everyone warm.

A quick trip late in the afternoon to Montecino (known for wine (brunello) and its mountaintop fortress) led us to an open air market and enchanting streets. We plan to go back when we have a little more time, as we needed to head back to the villa to cook dinner and meet the new group of crazies coming in for the balance of the week.

Monday morning starts with a stroll through the streets of Montisi (see the pic) which is just 6 miles down the road. The expectation of a Monday market was dashed, but a bakery and a small grocery fit the bill for breakfast. Then we were off to Siena, a mountaintop town that once rivaled Florence, with a huge duomo and a central plaza large enough to race horses (which they do twice a year). Our tour of the duomo and surrounding museums left us thinking how young Williamsburg really is. The walled city has lots of shops, restaurants and, of course, GELATO (see pic). A leisurely drive home led us to a lonely restaurant with very good food, where Lynne broke the code and had red wine with her meal.

Tomorrow it is off to Civita and Orvieto, then Multipulciano and Montecino (again) later in the week, before we head to Florence and Venice. Miss all of you stateside!!!