Under the Tuscan Sun
This is to be a quiet last day at San Giovanni D'Asso - we rise late - we breakfast long - are you ready - lets go - we leave in bright- bright- bright sunshine towards Montalcino - this cannot last - surely the clouds will return to assert their dominance over the landscape.
The already beautiful country side is more optimistic - she has applied her makeup - the Sun has contributed a foundation that has brightened the her natural green complexion and the wild broom and Italian poppies have contributed blushes of yellow and red. The honeysuckle that line the roads have brightened to a vivid cerise.
On-wards the short distance to Montalcino - the clouds must understand that this is Sunday - they are clearly still attending church leaving the Sun to warm and cheer.
Montalcino was a ghost in the Tuscan mist when we last visited - today its screams out across the landscape - "I control the high ground" conquer me if you can" - we engage gears that sit low in the drive train of our hire car and climb to the fortress that guards the old town - we wander the fortress - the Saliba's patrol the ground level - the Royals patrol the ramparts.
I patrol the square camera in hand - i watch the Italian faithful emerge from Sunday mass into the bright and increasingly intense sun - they pause for a brief chat before the sun urges them home to change out of their most stylishly dress.
50 metres on the other side of the square the bells ring to signal the start of another mass - a local sets his dogs up with water and shade to await his return from the exercise of his Sunday obligations - the heathen tourists sense a photo opportunity.
Montalcino - a wine town - the square and the old town streets have a concentration of wine shops and restaurants that rival St. Emillion - Clearly the role of the fortress has changed - once it served to discourage invaders - now it serves to attract the tourists to the products of its oenological industries.
A last relaxed Tuscan lunch in a medieval square - the Italian waiter greets us - where are you from? - Australi - a big smile - me from Sydney! - for less than a millisecond he has us hooked - he smiles some more - Italian from Morocco - delightful wine - delightful Picchi and raggu - Sam admires the wine glasses - Gary admires the wine glasses - the waiter discretely slips two into Gary's bag.
Tell Don Tom - take us home Tom - Gary and I head the convoy - Tom is relaxed - he is enjoying the sunshine - he loves this countryside - he decides to take us on a back road -alas- he is not concentrating -into private property- we lose confidence on him - back- toward- cut -back- turn - that is better - back to the main road - Don Tom tells us to turn right - he has lost our trust - we turn left - Gee Gary this is beautiful - look at that - look at that - Don Tom is not happy - he screams - turn around when possible - Gary and I ignore him - we are content - we lead the little convoy on-wards - the others sit back on their car - they laugh at us - the professor and the academic - which is which - it doesn't matter - they don't realise we were here on Monday! - eventually we stop - they laugh some more.
I am suitably chastened - OK Don Tom I believe you! - take us home!
Our Tuscan appetites sated we return to L' Uliviera - we sit - we read - we write - we nap - we await Alexandra to prepare our Tuscan dinner - we still cannot determine what it is that we may have done to deserve all of this!
