On some very good advise, I was told that we should make our way down to the
Tuscany region of Italy. We took that advise and it was well worth it.
The area that we went to was called Val d'Orcia. The town that we stayed in was Montalcino.
Classic Tuscan Roadway
Always in Bed?
Just a few feet away from our B&B.
I liked this picture because of the very nice knockers!
We wanted to go see Montalcino's one and only fortress. We had to pay 8 euros to gain entry to the complete fortress walls. They had a very nice wine cellar that you could tour for free. The wines from Montalcino are famous world wide. I saw some bottles that cost 2500 euros!
I am not sure what to say???
She thinks it is funny now.
Queen for a day and maybe night!
I guess this was the fancy eating room?
Here is from the top the the fortress walls.
Great views from here.
All smiles.
It is getting later. The tour lasted till 8PM and
Graziella wanted to get her complete 8 euros worth.
I can't blame her because the view was fantastic.
Well around 7:50 I suggested we head back down and go for supper. We made our way down from the top battlement, towards the wine cellar shop near the fortress main entrance. Well this is the door that we found was now LOCKED!!! Well the smiles were gone from both our faces.
Was it possible that we were going to spend our 25th Wedding Anniversary night locked in a castle!
I then thought that someone was just playing a trick on us until I saw the huge brass lock fully secured. We quickly ran back up to the fortress wall hoping to catch somebody before the complete fortress was locked down for the night and with us in it.
When we made it up to the top again, we saw one last couple in the courtyard. I let our four or five very loud wolf whistles and Graziella shouted at the top of her lungs "LA PORTA É CHIUSA, LA PORTA É CHIUSA`` Well, the people just looked like we were crazy and just kept on walking. We whistled and screamed again. I shouted at Graziella, ``Ask them if they speak Italian`` but she was just kept on yelling.
I then told Graziella to stay on the roof and yell at anyone that comes by and I was going to check the door again. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard someone coming closer as they were unlocking a series of doors. Finally, they made their way to the last door that kept us prisoners. I called Graziella down from the top of the fortress. We were Free!
It seems that the man who usually locks up sent a new guy to complete the job but
he did not go fully to the top where we were enjoying the view.
I don't think that we will never forget how we could have spent out 25th Anniversary Night.
Here is the picture I took after our prison break! Freedom
(Turns out the couple that we called down to were Canadians from Ottawa and did not speak Italian)
Day Two in Tuscany
Graziella likes the three wheel trucks here in Italy.
Here is our prison ( I mean castle) from afar.
We took over 300 pictures today.
Look who popped out of the wheat fields.
We met Rosanna in San Quirico d'Oricia. Fantastic artist and really nice person.
It was quite bright out so I thought I would try some B&W.
Like I said, around every corner.
As we were driving, I saw this gate and I had to take some pictures.
Graziella spotted this small house out it a very large field.
Such beauty in just everyday work.
My neck got sore just from trying to turn around to see everything.
I like the Italian sense of humour. This was on a small coffee shop washroom door. I am not sure if it was instructions or warnings?
I thought it was a good time to have a crepe with Nutella and a cappuchino.
This would make my Mom happy.
I think they were used at one time to tie your horses up.
What a beauty!
We missed the lavender fields in France but here they are in Italy.
Bars are on all the windows here.
I won't make any more jugs joke.
Ifyou don't make any beer belly jokes.
This was on our tour of the underground wine cellars in Montepulciano.
A couple from Florida took this picture for us.
Just on our way back to Montalcino.
