S and J's Big Adventure(s): Week 4 in Europe

Week 4 in Europe: Week 3 in Florence...

Sunday, Sept. 19

I do the wash and set up and post the Blog for the week.

Monday, Sept. 20 - The Day John has been waiting for...

THE VESPA WINE COUNTRY TOUR!!!

Waiting in line to check documents.

Dejan and Angelo are out guides

Dejan drives us to the countryside
where we get the Vespas and wine.

It's about a 30 minute ride to the winery

Ugo Bing Winery
& Trattoria Fiano

Francisco Bing is our host and guide through
the winery.

In restoring the villa, cellars were found...
down, down, down below

Beautiful barrels are tasted, tested
and cataloged for aging.

Now we are tested as to our driving abilities on the Vespas (I didn't pass, so I had to ride with John). Then we are assigned a cycle.

After testing, we walk to the cycles.

We are assigned a cycle.

Vineyards and Villas all around.

Riding together

It's almost time for harvesting

Now it's time for wine and lunch!

We start with a rosé

Salad and antipasto followed by penne pasta
Deliziosa!

The "Reserve" was delicious!

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After a beautiful day in the countryside on our way home it rains.

A perfect day in Paradise.

Tuesday, Sept. 21 - take a day off

Silvia and Giancarlo are coming for the yearly electrical check, hang newly painted shutters and to check in with us. They are perfect hosts and landlords.

Wednesday, Sept. 22 - Sheets and groceries

We wait for the bus
in the Parco Giochi

The Laundromat
for sheets
Clean, new and works!

Groceries from Carrefour

Clean sheets for the bed

Resting after a hard day of errands.

Thursday, Sept. 23 - A day of exploration?

We want to see the train station, how to get there, buy seats for the trip next week, bus schedule, etc.

Walk to Porta Romana.
Catch the #11 bus (Salviatore) to train station, Santa Maria Novella.
At the station we try to navigate our way around the station to see where to buy tickets, etc.
Now where and which bus back to Pora Romana or to the Tigota drug store.

Walking down to Porta Romana

Get lost on the way to Tigota but find a Flea Market in the Piazza de Ciompi - hope we can find it again.

We do our shopping and then wander our way to Porta Romana and bus back up the hill.

Santa Maria Novella Train Station

We wander around and see these fabulous buildings.

Guess we aren't lost
we're on the south side of
the Duomo.

Friday, Sept. 24 - A day of rest?

A rest day - need to get some supplies - a quick bus ride down the hill to Carrefour Express to get some

COFFEE! (there are a couple of other things, too.)

As we wait for the bus, I look up at the gate of Porta Romana, I try to imagine Lorenzo the Magnificent coming through these gates home from a battle with his soldiers behind. I then look up and realize there's a beautiful fresco guarding the gate. I guess we need to look up - never know what art you might see.