Tuscany

A continuation of the post I wrote the other day…

Saturday momma arrived in Paris!!
Sunday we were off to Florence (Firenze in Italian)
Monday we explored Florence a bit and then headed off to the Tuscan countryside
^^^ and I believe that is where I left the last post at

Monday late afternoon we were visited by Isabella (the owner of the apartments) and she gave us the guide for the week. We sure were not expecting all of what was included but in this guide she had put together events for each day we could take part in. Some for an additional cost and some included in our stay. And here mom and I were thinking this trip would be figuring out stuff to do on our own, this was so much more than that! Big thank you to Isabella and her husband Carlo for the wonderful week. Now on to a recap 🙂

Monday evening we decided to lay low and rest some, mom was a little tired and jet lagged from the time difference. We took a little trip to Pienza which was about 15 minutes from the little town Castelmuzio where we were staying. Isabella suggested a lovely little place to eat so mom and I worked up our appetites and explored the town after! Such a beautiful little town nested on top a hill, as most Tuscan villages are. These villages make for a wonderful means of some of the best views I have ever seen when peering out upon the Tuscan hills. Born and raised in Kansas I love the beauty of mother nature when it comes to the country and even hills, we do not have many of those in Kansas 😉
I posted some pictures of Pienza in my last blog, feel free to check them out!

Tuesday we decided to partake in a daytrip to Siena led by a wonderful guide, Antonella who happened to be living in Siena for the past 7 years if I remember correctly. She took us on a walking tour which was amazing because how could one possibly walk through these cities and know so much history about them if it was not or had not been apart of them!? More historical facts were told then I could even be able to reinterpret so I hope some of the pictures will do the talking.

Antonella, our guide, telling us about how each person (particularly children) is baptized under their specific district. In Siena there are 17 districts, each representing an animal. The districts compete against one another specifically when the village holds a horse race each year, this is said to be the longest living tradition, 800 years and continuing.

One of the few remaining towers built hundreds of years ago. As earlier stated most Tuscan towns and villages were built on a hill so they could keep enemies out. Back in the day these towers were designed for that but being that it has a lack of windows and features as we have in housing nowadays this implies the change throughout the years.

One of the most beautiful Cathedrals I have seen over here and believe me, that means a lot they are EVERYWHERE

and again

Inside, beautiful

Pure marble floors that have been preserved for centuries

Replicas of the popes, 170 some (did not have room for more)

Ceiling, ahhh 🙂

All done by hand, beautiful story behind this but I do not remember specifics and do not want to relay false information

Another ceiling in the Cathedral, has not been touched since finished centuries ago

Architecture

The town center where the horse racing is held

After Siena we headed back to Castelmuzio to rest before dinner, got lost along the way. I would have to say for getting lost in Italy we did pretty darn good being without the use of our phones having reception and no GPS. My map skills and sense of direction are quite awesome I must say 🙂 ha and my mom’s awesome Italian driving skill ROCK!

Tuesday night we had dinner and wine tasting in Monticchiello which was a tiny town not far from Pienza. We ate a wonderful restaurant named La Porta. Hands down some of the best food I have ever had, along with the wine of course. One of my favorite things about being in Tuscany is EVERYTHING is fresh, from homemade pasta to vegetables to wine and cheese, it’s just amazing! That makes the experience worth more than imaginable, it’s real ❤

view from Montichhiello ❤

the owner, Daria is amazing! If you ever get the chance, go visit her

List of dinner and pairings

1st course 🙂

so good! Daria’s brother produces

best meal I have ever had

another goody

who knew beef cheeks tasted so good

wow I am full

and a little glimpse of the aftermath

That is pretty much how Italians eat, I could barely keep up! Sheeeesh. But some of the best food I have ever had was in Tuscany 🙂

Wednesday we decided to sleep in and then woke up, got around and headed to Montepulciano. No idea how I do not get all of these names mixed up. This was a cute village that had shopping, awesome architecture and some amazing views. Take a look

Another amazing view

Of course this makes for a good view too 😉 love you mom!

so cute ❤

We enjoyed the afternoon shopping and then headed back to our apartment to rest and have a relaxing evening.

Thursday we relaxed most of the morning and had a lady come to our apartment to do Ayurveda massages. That was quite the experience I must say! I definitely feel a lot less tense and relieved but it was a more painful massage as she worked on tendons and bones so the pressure was intense in certain areas. All in all felt very good afterwards! I actually have a half day spa treatment tomorrow in Paris as well so I am just loving getting pampered 🙂

Later on during the day we were supposed to have a vineyard tour at one of the places Isabella and Carlo owned but it got rained out so we enjoyed spending time with Carlo’s father and talking about Tuscan traditions, the way of the land, working and so forth. Thursday evening we met all of the groups who stayed at one of the apartments Isabella and Carlo owned and got together to have a “pici” pasta making lesson! This noodle resembles what we know as spaghetti but much thicker, it’s the Tuscan way 😉 Mom and I quite enjoyed this experience AND learned how to make pasta, how cool!

Isabella in the beginning steps to make “pici” LOTS of flour

Incorporating the eggs, water and flour together. The Tuscan way of course

Mom and I’s noodles, after we kneaded the dough so long my hands hurt lol PROUD 🙂

Freaking delish! Aftermath

a Tuscan family meal 🙂

What a lovely evening that was, meeting new people, sharing a wonderful meal together and an amazing family sharing their home with us ❤ Definitely topped off the trip!

Friday we woke up early to make the hour and a half drive back to Florence to catch our flight back to Paris. We arrived back in Paris late afternoon, packed some of my things for my mom to take back with her and then went to dinner and a movie! I am pretty sure my mom and I don’t travel places without seeing a movie, just a tradition now 🙂 Took her to see Divergent, I had already seen it but it was one of my favorites in awhile! She absolutely loved it too.

Saturday morning she left early to catch her flight back home, it was a struggle because I wanted to go back with her. I love it here in Paris but I am also over school, which tends to happen so close to the end and it didn’t help having break so close to the end either lol. Only 25 days left… Where did time go? Going to enjoy every last bit! See you all soon though 🙂

Hope you enjoyed the read
All my love
Kels