Tuscany

On the way to Tuscany we spent the day and night in Florence. Wandering the streets, looking at the Duomo and sights and sounds of the market. Coffee and pastries in a cute little cafe outside the markets, people watching. Italians love their dogs, they take them everywhere, even on the trains.

After a delicious dinner in our hotel we spent the night in our suite, rose early the next morning, met Amanda and Theo at Florence train station, had a stroll and a bite to eat, picked up our BMW at the airport and headed for our villa in Tuscany about half an hours drive away. But it seemed to be in another part of the world, out of the bustling city and into the beautiful rolling hills of the countryside.

The four of us had a villa on the hillside all to ourselves. Up a long driveway lined with pencil pines, just like a postcard.........

Everything was green and lush, flowers blooming, all set amongst grapevines and olive groves with the most breathtaking views all around the villa.

What a setting for our wedding!!!!!!

All the preparations were perfect, flowers, food, ceremony, music, all organised by the women running the villa. We had nothing to do except enjoy the day.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, clear blues skies and a cool breeze.
The ceremony was on the lawn in front of the villa with a backdrop of the vineyard and rolling hills.
Lunch was a six course banquet cooked on site by our own personal chef "Anna" and served by our waiter,"Tommy". They even made us a wedding cake, Italian style.

The ceremony was at 11, lunch at 12 and we all enjoyed the day so much nobody wanted it to end. Finally about midnight we decided to reluctantly end the day with one more toast to the bride and groom................

After a couple of days rest we all decided to venture into the little villages around the area, much to our surprise we came upon a local market where we bought our supplies for the rest of the week, had lunch and did a bit of shopping other than food and wine LOL.

We spent a day in Siena, a walled medieval city. Very hilly with amazing buildings.

Next we went to Todi, to meet the people we are house sitting for in September. They made us a lovely lunch, which we weren't expecting. We thought we would be there for about an hour.....Four hours later we left......It was a lovely day, they have two miniature Sardinian donkeys, seven cashmere goats, three cute dogs and five cats that you don't really see much.

They live on 35 acres of olive groves, on a hillside with amazing views into the valley and woods. Apparently around 11.30 at night, porcupines come into the yard and eat up their garden............

Part of their stone home was built in the 16th century and the other part was built in the 1800's. Can't wait to come back for the house sit.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Amanda has more and when we get a copies I will post some more.