Today we left Italy headed to Paris. We were driven by a Mercedes bus into Florence and tried to walk to David, but soon jumped into a taxi that dropped us right in front. We had lunch in the square, got our last gelato and headed to an airport that compares nicely to Burbank. We then road a shuttle from the terminal to board either end of the plane - love that and then flew into Charles de Gaule airport. After an hour cab ride to our hotel, on the doorsteps o...

Today we biked to Panzano to see Dario, a rock star butcher in town whose wife and translator is from Walnut Creek. He came in with Led Zeppelin music playing in the background. He told a story about butchering a cow and we all ate vegetarian for lunch... Which was 1.7 km down the road where we made our own pizzas (seen in the photo). After that we biked back up the hill, finally a portion was a flat road where our tired legs moved us along the finally flat s...

We biked from just outside Sienna to Radda - another "gorgeous views" HILLTOP town. If you wonder about the emphasis on hilltop, it means we bike uphill at the end of the day. This one was the toughest ride yet which included a 25% grade hill (photo attached). Mid ride we found a spot to have a cappuccino, then an olive oil tasting and lunch. We drove through a traffic circle and up a hill to arrive! We had to shower and get ready go to a cooking class which...

A storm is a coming - today we biked 30 miles to the next place we are staying - just outside Sienna. The view from the room is the photo and you may see a rainstorm in the distance. It has just arrived. We are supposed to go to Sienna tonight to walk and eat - packing the umbrella! The ride today was beautiful and somewhat exhausting - we stopped at a bike/plumbing store, then cappuccino and lunch with some wine... We move again tomorrow - as we bike to cat...

It poured!!! We walked from where the bus dropped us off and into the square - a pack of drowned rats! And then the rain stopped and the sun cracked through as you can hopefully see in the photo. It was quite majestic... We sat looking out in the square and then it poured again and you could watch the next group of wet folks flee the plaza. Fabulous pasta dinner, super simple and tasty caprese salad - I am taking notes to replicate when home!