April 7 Siena

Woke up at 7:30 to rain. Drag, but it’s mostly a travel day anyway. We head to the train station around 8:30, but of course we stop for a chocolate croissant along the way. This is breakfast once again today. We are in a 1st class coach today. I don’t remember booking in that section but it is nice. Most people here are tourists.
We arrive in Pisa around 10:30 and we take the Pisamover to the airport. This is where we are picking up our car rental. It is a Panda Fiat. Honestly, I thought Ron would have to sit in the back seat to drive, but it’s actually a nice size inside. I will take picture of the vehicle tomorrow when the sun is out. I get my phone going to use the gps. About 8-9 minutes in I get a message saying that I have 2 viruses and to click on to links and follow instructions. I ignore all of it. Thankfully our gps voice continues giving instructions even though we can only see the warning posts. We are headed to SAN Gimignano. It was recommended by Lucie and Yvon. Here are some views along the way.

We stop at a lookout for these pictures. There is a young couple there and they ask if we can take their picture. They have come on a small motorbike from Pisa. They are cold and have driven through rain as well. Ah to be young again, not...

We then pass a sigh that says “Home cooked meals”. We do a turn and make our way to the farm. It opens for lunch in 10 min. We walk around and I take a few pictures. 

The building that houses the restaurant and rooms to let

This was near the parking lot. Somcute

A young women, who spoke English, greeted us and invited us into the restaurant. She gave us a food menu and a wine menu. I had to take photos. I had the ravioli stuffed with spinach, risotto, sage, and butter. Ron had the taglietti with a sausage, mushroom sauce. Both meals were amazing. We both ordered a “mixte salata verde” to start. That was a great description. Just a bunch a different greens with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Yummy. They had home made wine, so of course we had to have a 1/2 liter which ended up being 3 small glasses each. We chased it down with water. Dessert was chocolate cake. No time for a picture as it was devoured before I could get the camera ready.

The pasta looked like fettucini

My ravioli

Look at those prices. How could we resist?

We had to buy a bottle to go. 3.50 Euros

Back in the car to get to our destination. It is now 1:30 and we told our host that we would meet her at the Airbnb at 4:00. We find free parking in order to visit SAN Gimignano. It’ a walled city and everything seems to built in stone. It does rain on and off during our visit. 

Many of these gates in the town 

This was driving in 

Love these streets

Thought these two doors were king of cool.

Many towers here as well.

We didn’t have time to visit the interior of any of these buildings as we still had a 45 min drive to Siena. The virus continues to plague my phone but luckily the gps continues. We find our way driving mainly on back roads and a secondary highway. Max speed was 90. The condo is on a Main Street so not many parking spaces. We park where we believe is not going to work but we are late so we will go quickly to meet our hostess. She is Nicolette and I like her immediately. She is soft spoken  has a good handle of her English, but mostly we love her place. It is a converted convent. Not sure how many condos there are but she lives here as well. She tells  us that her neighbour is a snobby professor and not to worry if he doesn’t attempt to say hello. She says everyone else knows that we are coming and that they will be welcoming. I ask her if she was a professor and she says yes and thanks me as I have given her a compliment. She is also a guide in town. 

Nice roads here 

How well Ron sits in the car

View along the way. Shot taken while driving. 

Kitchen in Airbnb 

Bathroom 

Bedroom. Bad lightning with Ron in his favourite position.

Rain is almost stopped so we will go check out Siena at night. Lesson learned. Always bring your camera with you even if you think it might rain. Of course it did not rain. The lighting was beautiful and so is this town. Can’t wait to go in daylight as well. We just walked around. Lots of people out and about but looked like mostly locals. Ron bought a sandwich and I’m still full from that wonderful lunch. We are organizing our outing for tomorrow. It will be a surprise even for us. Good night.