May 21 - Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Luggage was rolling out early this morning as the travelers were taxied away to the airport at 7:30.  I noticed a couple of newly purchased bags to hold the treasures bought here in Italy.  Shopping has definitely been a priority on this tour!  I stayed an extra day to pack and say goodbyes to my "Italian people" here at La Contessina and folks I've come to know here on Via Faenza.  After 33 days here it will be nice to go back to the best place in the USA to live - Southport.  However, it's nice to say to my friends here, "See you in September".  Thanks to all who have traveled with me this spring and made this another excellent Tuscan experience.  And thanks to all of you who have read our blog and enjoyed our photos.  Maybe you can join me here someday - that would be "molto bene" (very fine)!

 

Thanks to these travelers who made May, 2015 in Tuscany

a good time and the beginning of new friendships.

 

 

 

And it was especially nice to have my granddaughter and son

join us too!

 

 

ARRIVEDERCI !

 

 

May 20 - Last Day in Florence

It's been a great two-week Tuscany tour, but everything has to end sooner or later.  Today was our last day for taking care of loose ends and packing for the flights back to the USA tomorrow.  We did take time to visit the Davanzati house museum this morning.  Built in the mid-1300's this house is a wonderful example of how a noble merchant's family would have lived back then.  There was also a lovely lace exhibit with fine examples from all over Europe.  Rain caught us in the afternoon, but everyone dried out for our last "wine down" in the courtyard and one last Italian meal for dinner.  Clocks were set for early rising tomorrow morning and we'll be off to the airport at 7:30 am.  There will be one last "arrivederci" post tomorrow. . .

 

 

 

May 19 - Out in the Countryside

What a great day we had just outside Florence in the Chianti countryside!  We traveled in a minibus with our own driver and stopped first at the American Cemetery.  This beautiful burial ground is the resting place for 4,398 soldiers from WWII owned and maintained by the United Sates.  The Allies liberated Italy from Nazi occupation in April, 1945 and this memorial place honors those who gave their lives for that cause.  It was a very inspirational and peaceful experience.  From there we drove about 30 minutes to reach the Verrazzano estate and winery.  We enjoyed the lovely grounds where wine has been produced for 800 years.  There is a special connection for those of us from Southport as Giovanni Verrazzano sailed into the Cape Fear River in 1524 and went on to discover other places along the East Coast including New York.  We had a delicious lunch and tasted five of the wines from the estate.  Our last stop was in the charming little town of Greve which is the capital of the Chianti area here in Tuscany.  Our next to last day has been one of beauty and "taste"!