My holidays in Toscana.

Hello world,

Being surrounded by trees and fields, breathing fresh air and smelling flowery honey perfumes is priceless. Far away from any kind of glamour -and WiFi signal- I am writing my next post. Good morning from Tuscany.

Yes, finally back to my home country and finally on vacation! Sounds unreal.

Cicadas singing, cows and horses walking around, rabbits escaping Giulio’s too warm affection and Giulio being played by too smart wild cats. This is the panorama of my new country life.

If you will ever have the chance to come to Maremma in the future, be sure you will take the time to enjoy a nice glass of white wine in Capalbio, visit the Tufo villages of Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana, explore the necropolis of Tarquinia, visit Manciano and Magliano, have an ice cream in Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole, enjoy the breathtaking atmosphere of Talamone, and find out the underground caves of Orvieto, in Umbria. You can’t miss St Patrick well, jewel of XVI century engineering.

Not all that shines is gold anyway. As I told you already, asking for a good wifi signal here is like asking for a miracle. In spite of the fact any bar or restaurant you go tells you they have free wifi access for clients, you realize -usually too late, already with a creamy cappuccino on the table- that internet is an illusion. One day for the weather, one for the mountains, one for a failure, and one because -are you ready?- “In Tuscany Internet works like this” and bye bye twitter, Instagram and social life.

In Italy in general I also note it is still little hard to pay by credit cards, even at museums, for trips, at bars, etc. Why is it so difficult for us Italians to evolve, accept changes and get used to new things? Honestly, it is something I cannot understand. A touristic destination, in 2015, should be equipped for cards payment EVERYWHERE, even on the beach for your umbrella. Are you with me? Or am I turning too much American? Lol.

I hope you all had time to relax and enjoy your families, on the mountains, in the city or at the seaside. It doesn’t matter where, as I always say, the important thing is the good company xxx

Love.

A privileged view of Pitigliano.
“A privileged view of Pitigliano.”
Lost in Capalbio.
“Lost in Capalbio.”
I met a new friend in Tuscany.
“I met a new friend in Tuscany.”
This is what I call style!! Lol.
“This is what I call style!! Lol.”
Archeological site in Roselle.
“Archeological site in Roselle.”
They told me Italians in August do NOT go to Thermal Springs. Shocked in Saturnia.
“They told me Italians in August do NOT go to Thermal Springs. Shocked in Saturnia.”

Essere circondata da alberi e campi, respirare aria fresca e pura che profuma di miele e fiori non ha prezzo. Lontano da ogni forma di glamour – e di segnale Wi-Fi- vi scrivo il mio prossimo post. Buongiorno dalla Toscana.

Sì, finalmente di ritorno al mio Paese e finalmente in vacanza! È uno scherzo?

Cicale che cantano 24/24, mucche e cavalli che gironzolano in giro, coniglietti che scappano terrorizzati dalle attenzioni troppo affettuose di Giulio e Giulio burlato da gatti selvatici troppo furbi. Questo il panorama della mia nuova vita di campagna.

Semmai abbiate l’opportunità di visitare la Maremma e zone circostanti in futuro, assicuratevi di avere il tempo per un buon bicchiere di bianco a Capalbio, visitare i villaggi di tufo di Pitigliano, Sorano e Sovana, scoprire le necropoli di Tarquinia, fare un giretto per Manciano e Magliano, gustarvi un buon gelato Italiano (finalmente!) a porto Santo Stefano e porto Ercole, godervi la vista mozzafiato di Talamone e visitare le grotte sotterranee di Orvieto, in Umbria. Non potete poi perdervi il pozzo di San Patrizio, gioiello dell’ingegneria del 16º secolo.

Non è oro tutto quel che luccica purtroppo. Come vi ho anticipato, chiedere per un Wi-Fi è come chiedere un miracolo. Nonostante il fatto che ad ogni bar o ristorante al quale andiate vi dicano di avere free Wi-Fi per i clienti realizzerete -generalmente troppo tardi, già con un bel cappuccino cremoso sul tavolo- che Internet è una pura illusione. Un giorno per il tempo, un giorno per le montagne, un giorno per un guasto, e uno perché -siete pronti?- “In Toscana internet funziona così” e bye bye Twitter, Instagram e social life.

Ho anche notato che in Italia in generale è ancora un po’ troppo difficile pagare con carta di credito/bancomat, spesso anche in musei, o per visite/gite, ai bar, etc. Perché è così difficile per noi Italiani accettare il cambio ed abituarci a cose nuove, spesso migliori e che possono renderci la vita più facile? È un qualcosa che onestamente non riesco a capire. Una destinazione turistica nel 2015 dovrebbe essere equipaggiata per il pagamento carta/bancomat OVUNQUE, pure per l’ombrellone in spiaggia. Siete d’accordo con me? Non sarà che mi sto facendo troppo americana? Lol.

Spero abbiate avuto la possibilità di rilassarvi e di stare con le vostre famiglie. In montagna, al mare o in città, non importa dove…come dico sempre la cosa più importante è la buona compagnia xxx

Scary...but wow!! St. Patrick Well -Orvieto- was commissioned by Pope Clemente VII in 1527. 53,13t deep, 13t wide, it has 2 spiral staircases, one for descending and one for ascending, each totally independent of the other, and each with 248 steps, large enough to accommodate the donkeys once used to carry water to the surface. 70 windows cut into the wall light the stairs from the central shaft. Quite impressive, eh?
“Scary…but wow!! St. Patrick Well -Orvieto- was commissioned by Pope Clemente VII in 1527. 53,13t deep, 13t wide, it has 2 spiral staircases, one for descending and one for ascending, each totally independent of the other, and each with 248 steps, large enough to accommodate the donkeys once used to carry water to the surface. 70 windows cut into the wall light the stairs from the central shaft. Quite impressive, eh?”
Porto Santo Stefano.
“Porto Santo Stefano.”
My office in Tuscany. Cows keeping me company while writing my post.
“My office in Tuscany. Cows keeping me company while writing my post.”
Terme di Saturnia, yes please!
“Terme di Saturnia, yes please!”
Walking around Orvieto.
“Walking around Orvieto.”
And in that moment you realize that, in the end, we haven't improved that much. The Necropolis of Tarquinia has been dubbed "the first chapter in the history of Italian painting". The painted tombs illustrate the wealth and power of the deceased to whom they were dedicated, so stand as symbols of their high social rank.
“And in that moment you realize that, in the end, we haven’t improved that much. The Necropolis of Tarquinia has been dubbed “the first chapter in the history of Italian painting”. The painted tombs illustrate the wealth and power of the deceased to whom they were dedicated, so stand as symbols of their high social rank.”

Ser rodeada por arboles y campos, respirando aire fresco y puro que perfuma de miel y flores no tiene precio. Lejanas de cualquier forma de glamour -y de señal Wi-Fi- os escribo mi próximo post. Buenos días desde la Toscana.

Si, por fin de vuelta a mi Pais y por fin de vacaciones! Parece mentira.

Cigarras que cantan 24 horas al día, vacas y caballos de vuelta por el campo, conejitos que se escapan aterrorizados por las atenciones demasiados afectuosas de Giulio. Y Giulio burlado por gatos selváticos demasiados listos. Este es el panorama de mi nueva vida de campo.

En caso tengáis la oportunidad de visitar la Toscana y las zonas cercanas en un futuro, aseguraros el tiempo por un buen vino blanco en Capalbio, visitar los pequeños pueblos de tufo de Pitigliano, Sorano y Sovana, descubrir las necrópolis de Tarquinia, dar una vuelta por Magliano y Manciano, disfrutar de un buen helado italiano (por fin!) en Porto Santo Stefabo y Porto Ercole. Disfrutar de la vista increíble de Talamone, y de visitar las cuevas sotteraneas de Orvieto, en la Umbria. También no os podéis perder el pozo de San Patricio, joya de la ingeniería de el XVI siglo.

No es todo oro lo que deslumbra desafortunadamente. Como os adelanté, preguntar por Wi-Fi aquí es como pedir un milagro. A pesar de que en cada bar o restaurante os digan que tienen free Wi-Fi para los clientes, descubriréis-generalmente demasiado tarde y ya con un buen capuchino cremoso en la mesa- que Internet es una pura ilusión. Un día por el tiempo, uno por las montañas, uno por un fallo o uno porque… -listos?- “En la Toscana internet funciona así” y bye-bye Twitter, Instagram y social life.

También he notado que en Italia es todavía un poco demasiado difícil poder pagar con tarjeta de crédito, muchas veces por igual en museos, para reservar visitas, excursiones, en bares, etc. Porque es tan difícil para nosotros italianos aceptar el cambio y acostumbrarnos a cosas nuevas, mejores, que pueden hacernos la vida más fácil? Es algo que honestamente no puedo entender. Una destinación turística en 2015 tendría que ser equipada para el pago con tarjeta en cualquier lugar, incluso para la sombrilla en la playa. Estáis de acuerdo conmigo? No será que me estoy haciendo demasiado americana? Lol.

Espero que hagáis tenido el tiempo para descansar y disfrutar de vuestras familias. En montaña, al mar a en ciudad, poco importa donde…como siempre digo la cosa más importante es la buena compañía xxx

The famous "Bagno delle Donne" (The Bath of  Women) in Talamone behind us. Giulio take break and close your eyes for a while! You have seen too many bikinis already.
“The famous “Bagno delle Donne” (The Bath of Women) in Talamone behind us. Giulio take break and close your eyes for a while! You have seen too many bikinis already.”
Wine tasting. Thank you Fabrizio and @villaacquaviva for the amazing tour inside the world of wine, traditions and flavors of Tuscany.
“Wine tasting. Thank you Fabrizio and @villaacquaviva for the amazing tour inside the world of wine, traditions and flavors of Tuscany.”
Finding balance...trying not to kill myself in the attempt.
“Finding balance…trying not to kill myself in the attempt.”
Can you guess what I had in the little paper bag for lunch in Montemerano?
“Can you guess what I had in the little paper bag for lunch in Montemerano?”
Giulio couldn't miss a nice trip to Isola del Giglio.
“Giulio couldn’t miss a nice trip to Isola del Giglio.”
Malocchio-proof in Sorano lol. Evil-Eye proof lol.
“Malocchio-proof in Sorano lol. Evil-Eye proof lol.”

Lots of Love xxx

Bye Bye home in Tuscany!
“Bye Bye Home in Tuscany!”
Italia, ti ho ed avrò sempre nel cuore. Italy, I have and will always have you in my heart. #Talamone
“Italia, ti ho ed avrò sempre nel cuore. Italy, I have and will always have you in my heart. #Talamone”

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