Usual sunny start to the day and decide to take it easy after the previous day's drive to Siena.
Walk up to the small nearby town of Barberino for coffee at the Sport bar which will become our regular coffee stop over the coming days. Very friendly, welcoming staff and it's always a good sign to see the the locals frequenting a cafe.
Next few hours spent enjoying the facilities of the Podere Barberino but by afternoon we decide to take a drive with Cath and Ian to the famous town of San Gimigniano, often referred to as the ' Medieval Manhattan', with its large number of medieval towers, the highest of which is the Torre Grossa ( climbed by Ian while the rest of us enjoy drinks in the Piazza della Cisterna below.
San Gim as always packed out with hordes of tourists but there is no denying its 'wow'factor. Although fairly late in the day we continue on round the loop to Volterra, an Etruscan hill-top fortified town which all too often is over-shadowed by its neighbour San Gim but deserves closer inspection than it sometimes receives, if only for its breathtaking position overlooking the surrounding Tuscan hills.
The drive to these twin towns provides us with a reminder, if such were required, of why Tuscany has become such a tourist magnet.
Back at the villa by 7.00 pm to enjoy another lovely meal with the Fuller team preparing the starters and desserts and great pizzas coming from a pizzeria in nearby Tavarnelle. The first pizzeria owner nearly had a heart attack when he was asked for pizzas for 20 people ( his max was 3 ) so it took some time to find one capable of feeding the group, memorably described on one occasion by Gail's brother , Chip as 'good on the fang!' when attending Gail's 60th at Berwick.
A very late night sitting up with George, Ernie and others discussing the relative merits of France and Italy. ( Gail had gone to bed earlier ). Only realised when the night air hit me that I had drunk far too much and was in the giggly, slightly amorous, pre-depression state by the time I reached our room.
Gail engrossed in her book while I somehow managed to lock myself out of the bathroom and toilet when the handle came off in my hand. Go to sleep safe in the knowledge that I have destroyed the bathroom door handle, guaranteed my wife a restless night as she stresses over what will happen if she wakes up and needs to go to the loo, and reminded her what a silly old fart looks like when he arrives back home the worse-for wear!
Il Furetto Obeso e Ubriaco!
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