Monday & Wednesday 3rd & 5th December 2012
We have pretty much worked our way through the lists and guide book recommendations of things to see that are within an easy day trip of our apartment. We headed southwest to look at a little town, Castiglione d’Orcia, that we eventually figured out we had seem ten years ago! The old fortress at the top sure did look familiar as we hiked up to it’s locked doors. Too bad the brain didn’t kick in a little earlier in the effort. Never the less the views were great and the place was pretty much empty. As we returned home Laura suggested that we take a different route instead of the main road which we have traveled so many times. This turned out to be a dirt farm lane that meandered among some very scenic country side. It would make a wonderful hike on a slightly warmer day, and if you could get someone to drop the car at the far end, 12 miles away. That would also motivate you to finish the hike!!
Wednesday, Laura and I had consecutive Italian classes in town so I got ‘volunteered’ for the early class. That left me with two hours to wander the town of Montepulciano with my camera, poking around for some photo ops. It was well worth it. The temp was a balmy 35F degrees and the place was all mine.
The old town well in Castiglione d’Orcia.
Forgotten, missed, or left for bird food? The last of the grapes.
The antiquity of the places we visit never ceases to amaze me. It shows in the sidewalks, stairs, and doorways. My Italian instructor’s house was built in 1100. She can trace her family back to 1600 in the town baptismal records!! That is amazing to me.
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On the drive home we came upon an olive grove with fresh grass coming up under the trees. Obviously the pheasants loved it for dinner because we easily saw over a dozen in this one small area.
Nice hiking real estate.
Wandering the streets of Montepulciano.
As I walked to class the snow, or neve (neh veh) was slowly coming down.
The town park and garden were deserted.
Downtown Montepulciano. On the north side of the Piazza Grande opposite the Duomo, is the Palozzo De’ Nobili-Tarugi.
Just to the left of the Palazzo is the Well of Griffins and Lions.
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The ‘in town’ side of one of the entry ways in the walls of the town
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I wandered into another open garage door and found this little chair with at least a years worth of dust on it.
I stood in the darkness and let my eyes adjust. I could barely make out items stacked against the back wall cut some 40 feet into the rock below town. It was so dark that the camera could not focus. I walked back toward the opening, adjusted the focus distance to 12 feet, returned into the dark, estimated 12 feet and took this image. The real treasure was discovered!! Wine stored in demijohn containers!! Anyone have a glass or some straws?
100% original, and old.
Happy Holidays everyone.
Umm Laura what do you do while Micheal is taking pix?