9 days in the Tuscany region of Italy and it was bellissimo. We stayed at a farm house in the Le Catese area in the city of Sesto Fiorentino, which is just outside of Florence. The farmhouse was great. Originally built in the 1400’s, some of the granite stone and wood beams are original. The host family ( mother, father[in 60s] 2 adult children[in 20s]and one of their spouses-the son was a mechanical engineer and the daughter was a pharmacist.) were in 2 other parts of the structure and it had been in their family for many generations. They had many olive trees and grape vines and made their own olive oil and “farmer wine” for personal consumption. Chickens, geese, ducks and a donkey. A huge garden of too many vegetables to name along with a half dozen different fruit trees and lavender. They rarely ate out as they had so much food they produced. Their biggest issues with being farmers were the government regulations, wolves(protected) eating their livestock and wild feral pigs tearing up the produce. We had what was in season- fresh eggs, edamame, peas, onion, lemons, olive oil, wine, vinegar, home made pasta sauce, ( I may not have remembered all). We were their first American guests as you had to have a car to get to them. Florence altitude is 164 ft. We were at 1122 feet. The road up here was 2 lanes but was only wide enough for 1 car in many places, like all the switchbacks. One spot had no more than 2 inches clearance between 2 granite structures ( a country church and stone wall) on each side of my Hertz rental car. A short train ride from the town below and we were in Florence. Day Trips to Cinque Terra and other old Tuscan villages were great. Beautiful weather all week. Windows open at night and you got cool. No humidity and no bugs. Out in the sun was warm. In the shade with the breeze and you’re cool. The 4 K hike we made at Cinque Terra ( 5 villages on the coast) was a hump. The two easy 1 K hikes with limited elavation change were closed due to mud slides in 2016. Straight up (~550 feet) and then across with some switchbacks and then straight down between 2 villages on the coast (VERNAZZA – CORNIGLIA) . What beautiful picturesque views but Beth’s 2 artificial hips were screaming at her when we finished. Food was great when we ate out but we ate in a lot. Lots of pasta, olive oil, cheese, and bread. We even cooked out on the grill one night ( steak, pork, lamb and sausage). On to Bucharest Romania for a week or so.
another beautiful view from our patio
The geese at the house
Our hostess, Elisabetta- one tough farm girl
our hostess’ daughter- the pharmacist
our hostess’ son with a fresh bowl of cherries- right off the tree
the grill master- note the charcoal is hunks of twigs (strange)
cool patterned anole with part of a tail
grilling some meat
narrow gap in road to farm
view of town (Sesto) from the farm
one vegetable garden
initial gift from hostess
view of our living room
another garden view
the farm donkey
note grape vines all around one of the gardens
chickens
front of farm house
wandering geese and lots of olive trees
olive oil presses
another garden pic
farm ducks
morning shot from path on the property
Church of Santa Croce
overlooking Florence
The Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”, is a medieval stone bridge over the Arno River, in Florence,
Michelangelo plaza
typical Tuscan countryside
The “Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower”) is the main church of Florence, Italy. It was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style
one of several food markets in Florence
restaurant right down the street from the farm- always very crowded- except when we show up at opening time- 7:30- we are such blue hairs
feast from the restaurant down the street
dessert for 2 before we devoured it
hike along coast between villages
the closed 1K easy walk!!!
the start of the hike
view along the hike
and another
and another- with another village in background
wow
half way point
some of the steep steps
village at end of hike- Vernazza
Vernazza
wine tasting in the Chianti region- we didn’t drink all those glasses- just most
statue of Michelangelo “David” in Florence- He was going to do a Goliath one too but they couldn’t find a block of marble that big