Under the Tuscan Moon

This is our last day at the Tuscan villa, and we're very sad to be leaving. The atmosphere and ambience of Tuscany simply cannot be described. Movies, books, and photos can't do it justice. Today we visited San Gimignano, a Tuscan hill town that is best know for its 14 (out of an original 72) intact towers.

We enjoyed the relaxing, low key atmosphere and some really fun shopping. Tricia finally met the Italian man of her dreams.

After San Gimignano, we visited a Tuscan winery where we got to see some beautiful vineyards and tour the wine-making facilities. In Italy, the wine must be made in the location where the grapes are grown, and we learned a new word, "vinification," which means making of the wine. We quickly Americanized the word to mean the process of drinking the wine -- so, we really enjoyed the wine tasting portion of the tour during which we got "vinified." San Gimignano is actually best know for its white wine called Vernaccia, but it is also in the Chianti region, and we enjoyed tasing the red wine as well.

The whole Umbrian and Tuscan landscape is made up of Roman and medieval hill towns that can't really be described but have to be experienced. Our stay in the villa was very special and was, for Catherine and me, the highlight of the trip. We also thoroughly enjoyed our room at the villa, and we took turns with our airplane friend, Bill and Noreen, hosting little "cocktail parties" in our respective towers by purchasing local wines, cheese, and salami. Bill and Noreen have become very dear friends and have added a great deal to our enjoyment of the trip. It just goes to show how a dark cloud can have a silver lining.

Tomorrow we leave our villa for Venice, and it will be bittersweet. I think we dream of returning to Tuscany, but for now -- onward!