The morning started out cool but it didn't take long to start shedding the layers. Our group of 15 traveled by mini bus to the village of Monticchiello for a brief walking visit of this lovely hilltop town prior to our initial hike. Quaint, quiet and clean with lovely shops, restaurants and wine bars, we were able to meander unimpeded by tourists. Click, click, click, many photo opportunities to take advantage of and relish. We are able to look across the valley from a viewpoint to see the next village we will be hiking to
To see it, is to experience it. Magazine pictures and travel documentaries just don't cut it. To start to discover this region, one has to immerse oneself in order to fully appreciate.Our walk to the next hilltop town of Pienza was to cover a 5 1/2 Km trek along rolling dirt roads and paths through the countryside. It was partly cloudy which managed to shine a different kind of light on the panoramic vistas. As the sunshine bursts swept across the hills, it accentuated the vastness of the region. I would follow the sun and cloud shadows which would cascade a different light perspective as the sun bursts highlighted the fields, vinyards and cypress trees which continued to evolve as the continuing breezes swept the clouds and sun across the sky.
Lunch in Pienza at a sidewalk café consisted of a pork and local cheese panini with a chilled glass of local white. The wine is cheaper than the cost of sending post cards home so next time instead of buying stamps, I'll opt for another glass of the local white and deliver the postcards in person :) After our lunch respite we had a quick tour around the town with it's pomegranate trees full of fruit and the sun warming the sandstone colour brick and stone. A lemon tart and a hot cup of tea on a terrace and we were off again to meet up with the van and the return back to the hotel for dinner preceded by a nap :) Saluti!
To see it, is to experience it. Magazine pictures and travel documentaries just don't cut it. To start to discover this region, one has to immerse oneself in order to fully appreciate.Our walk to the next hilltop town of Pienza was to cover a 5 1/2 Km trek along rolling dirt roads and paths through the countryside. It was partly cloudy which managed to shine a different kind of light on the panoramic vistas. As the sunshine bursts swept across the hills, it accentuated the vastness of the region. I would follow the sun and cloud shadows which would cascade a different light perspective as the sun bursts highlighted the fields, vinyards and cypress trees which continued to evolve as the continuing breezes swept the clouds and sun across the sky.
Lunch in Pienza at a sidewalk café consisted of a pork and local cheese panini with a chilled glass of local white. The wine is cheaper than the cost of sending post cards home so next time instead of buying stamps, I'll opt for another glass of the local white and deliver the postcards in person :) After our lunch respite we had a quick tour around the town with it's pomegranate trees full of fruit and the sun warming the sandstone colour brick and stone. A lemon tart and a hot cup of tea on a terrace and we were off again to meet up with the van and the return back to the hotel for dinner preceded by a nap :) Saluti!
No comments:
Post a Comment