In our first trip to Europe in 2012 our trip was split up in three different segments. This trip is also segmented. The first part was the French Riveria. Oh La La …. It was more about beauty and the french language and people. Today ended the second part of this trip which was Florence and the hill towns. More about history and ancient buildings, churches and art. I am always amazed that we come all this way to see a gate structure built in 40 BC. These people pass stuff like this every day on their way to work. Our house on Hancock in Portland turns one hundred years old this year. That’s nothing over here.
The hill town structure was primarily for defense from other hill town communities. With their high towers to see on coming mauraders and walls around each town. There are many stories of different hill town communities attacking and conquering each other. As you drive along you can see hill towns all over the place. Each one with there own fascinating structures and history. Here is one you probably can’t see from my driver side window.
Today these hill towns are thriving on the tourism … The streets are lined with souvenir shops and leather goods (oh and a lot of gelato shops). Yet the history art and stories are still there to see and imagine what those days were like.
Today we were in Siena. I think it has been my favorite hill town so far. It was the biggest we have seen. The streets were alive with shops and tourist yet the center square and duomo (church) were spectacular. We ate at a resturant recommended by Rick Steve’s (of course). Bunny walked in with the book in hand. The waitor saw this and immediately began to tell us about how he met Rick and he was mentioned in the book. Yes we had met the famous Amadao. He asked where we were from. When we told him Portland oregon and he got really excited and said he had been to Portland and loved it. Of course first thing he !mentioned was Voo Doo donuts. (I have to go there some day). He went on and on about how he had been to NY, wash DC, Philly, Boston … Yet his favorite town was Portland. I found it a little ironic. Here we were visiting his spectacular town while he is going on about our home town. I have to get out and about more when we get back to Portland and see that wonderful town. Amadao was wonderful … Very gragagrious (not sure what that means) …
(Ben made it into the picture … Scott didn’t)
We finished a bottle of chianti and some good food and were off to see Siena. We walked around and then sat in the square and had coffee and decided to get gelato and head back to the car. Well we walked for 2 hours looking for the car. “No its this way”. “No I think its this way” … Well we finally found our way and got back to the apartment. The hill town portion of the trip is over. Off to Rome….
We will be dropping off the car tomorrow in Rome as soon as we get there. I walked around the car when we got back and it looks like we have made it so far without putting a scratch on the rental car. It only had 900 miles or kilometers on it when we got it. Its a Dacia … Not sure who makes it. It drives really nice but we have had some close calls. The closest was yesterday. We were on the A1 coming back from San gingmanmo. A car was merging … I couldnt get over so I slowed down to let them in. They decided there wasn’t enough room so they stopped. I had slowed down to almost a stop to allow them to get on. So cars are wizzing by in the left lane luckily the large bus behind me was able to get over. I hit the gas and left that merging car stopped on the on ramp. I am not sure what the rules are in Italy for how to treat merging vehicles into a freeway. I did what I think I was suppose to do .. Slow down to let them in…
Bunny wants to get a cat now. Not sure how were gonna get it on the plane …