Sep 3 - Chianti

Now that we're out of the big city (Bolsena ... NOT), of course we have internet service. I'm sitting outside of a little farmhouse in the town of Radda in Chianti (yes, that's the complete name). The farmhouse is in the middle of a vineyard. Olive trees are all around and there's even a fig tree with ripe figs -- we sampled !

It was a fascinating drive yesterday, following the bike route from last year. The version of the routing that I loaded is not quite what we followed, at least from my memory, because we hit some rough patches of road that I'm sure were not on the route. There had been a few versions of the routing with minor corrections and I think that I grabbed the wrong one. No matter, it was a short section.

Through rolling farmland, turned-up earth in the lower sections, olive trees and vineyards in the higher areas and only a few sections of ready-to-harvest sunflowers, this is a different Italy than Firenze. The towns, when we hit them, tend to be built on the hilltops with a castle/walled city/church at the top. It hasn't changed from last year and I expect that it wouldn't have changed if my great-great-grandchildren visit this area some time in the future.

We found the farmhouse without any difficulty since it was well marked from the road. We also ate at the restaurant, tables placed on round-stone gravel outside on a flat area. I've got pictures that I'll post at some point. Here in the middle of nowhere the cars kept arriving to eat at the restaurant; obviously it has a great reputation. It's well deserved - my Osso Bucco and appetizer were wonderful. Sandy was equally pleased with her meal.

Before dinner I found the Church in the town and did my duty. It was a good sized church, well attended as well, but mostly women. I'd counted 4 men -- no make that 5 including the priest -- other than myself. On the way out two couples were talking and it was in English ... so make that 2 local (I'm guessing) male attendees.

For lunch we stopped in another Tuscan town, wandered around, found a restaurant and ate well. Normally on this trip I'd have a small beer at lunch but that seemed dumb in a town with as many wine shops and wine bars as people, or so it seemed, so I had a glass of wine. At dinner the wine list was extensive, page after page of Chianti's. I picked one from this area, a delightful blend of Sangiovese and Merlot 90/10. Ahhh ....

Today we head onward, hoping to reach Corvara. We could stop short of that though. We don't have a reservation for the night (actually three nights) because the hotel that I'm shooting for isn't on any list, nor is the town if you search for Corvara. You would have to look for 19020 Corvara di Beverino SP, Italia ...

Onward !