24th June 2009

What an absolutely, awesomely peaceful and relaxing day I have had. After I managed to drag myself out of bed – I haven't really gotten used to these hellishly hard beds yet and although I sleep okay I wake feeling pretty stiff and old and decrepid – I went up for breakfast. The morning was lovely, warm sun, a slightly cloudy sky, but warm enough to sit out under the trees enjoying the view, looking out towards Montepulciano. I had to have a warmer top and my cardigan on this morning, but I didn't feel too cold and I certainly didn't want to miss the experience of sitting out there.
And being waited on by the charming Luigi – I felt like royalty and wow what a breakfast. This one would have to be tops - I was first offered coffee – Americano or cappuccino so I order the cappuccino. I was also brought succa l'arancia (orange juice) and the traditional packets of crunchy bread and a tray of conserves (jams, local honey and the chocolate and hazelnut spread they seem to enjoy so much here) I was also offered eggs -scrambled, fried or boiled, and I chose scrambled. And out came the yellowest eggs I have ever seen. Not at all like our kiwi scrambled eggs, but very tasty all the same. To accompany that was bread, and slices of cheese. The butter and the cheese were very pale, almost white and the cheese was yummy. To follow this was fresh yoghurt with fresh fragelo (strawberries). Absolutely delicious. And then cake – more of that deliciously soft, but with a delightfully slightly crunchy crust, ever so slightly lemon cake, again of the brightest and most vivid yellow.

Breakfast was a real feast, and I made it last for nearly two hours. Just soaking up the sunshine and food and peace and the view.
And then I did a very Italian thing – today I just sat. There is a large grass area in front of the rooms, with chairs all around – and I just sat there – meditating, relaxing and soaking up more of the view. And then I read. There was a book in the room which appealed to me and so I read, and read and read. I will have to stay awake half the night to finish it before I leave in the morning, or else hope like heck that the library can get it for me at home so that I can finish it.

And then later this afternoon I walked up the hill (you know that last hill I had to come down to get to the hotel) to have a look around this wee village.
The brochure from the tourist office says “you don't just happen to find yourself in Montefollonico; you need to go there for a reason.” Well my reason is this was where my next bed was, but what a beautiful place to come to. As I said it is perched up on top of a hilll and is miles from the more travelled roads of the area. The brochure says that Montefollonico is not one of those little museum towns which have been frozen for posterity. It is alive and thriving, and it developed within the 11th century terracotta walls.
The interesting thing here is that the newer houses, that is those built outside those terracotta walls are just as quaint, and the gardens are all so different here. One property will be growing roses, while the next is full of hydrangeas and begonias, and the next had carnations and rosemary and lavender. But most of them are growing vegetables as well, and some of them have only tiny little yards, about the size of my courtyard, and yet they are just filled with terracotta pots of plants and a vegetable garden.
I don't see any of the beautiful ceramic furniture in the gardens that I have lusted over in the shops, but a lot of the houses have lovely ceramic name or number plates either on the house or on the letter boxes. I have been looking for one of those with either 120 or C so I can have one at home, but so far haven't managed to get one. Most of the numbers are only small, that is single numbers, although there is a lovely oval one outside my door here, No 103, but it is very securely concreted into the wall.
I bought some peaches and a drink (interesting that a bottle of coke in the minibar is E4 but at the supermarket I could have bought one for 89c. Isn't that an amazing mark up.
When I came

back from my walk I booked in for dinner here, and so have sat for the last couple of hours smelling some amazing aromas coming from the kitchen. But, I cannot for the life of me work out what I am smelling. It doesn't smell like anything I have ever come across before – it is not tomato, onion, garlic which I smell a lot as I am riding through the villages at mealtimes. It is not meat, it is not fish. I really have no idea what it is. But it smells kind of good, and I am starting to get hungry. I am looking forward to this hellishly expensive dinner, and I can't wait to tell you all about it, but, you are going to have to wait until tomorrow morning.
I will add some photos, and post this blog, and get back to my book. I have several chapters still to read before the morning.
Ciao