(L) Once again we woke just before 7 and got down to breakfast by 7.30. We had packed up all our stuff last night so it wasn't too much of a hassle getting ready to leave.... we waved our gorgeous terrace goodbye and left our room around 8.30. When checking out they were ok with credit card payment for the original room booking + city taxes but the upgrade and parking had to be paid in cash??!!

At the car we got organised and Deb gave Jane instructions to get us safely to San Quirico d'Orca. Originally I had google driven through here and it looked really easy to park the car to go for a look around however Jane told us to take an exit just after the underpass (when I wanted to stay on the road for a little bit longer) so we missed the town altogether. Oh well, we're definitely stopping in Montepulciano as I've also google driven through there and there appears to be an abundance of parking. Smooth sailing as Jane confidently gave us directions... I must say the roads here aren't too bad but for such gorgeous scenery they certainly don't think about the tourists wanting to stop for photo ops!! The speed limit is 60 kms a lot of the way which seems quite slow but other drivers were constantly sitting right on my tailgate and I did pull over at every opportunity to let them by. 

After San Quirico we stopped briefly in Pienza and seeing the signs we realised the car rental place hadn't given us a clock timer to display when parking, we did frantically search the entire car whilst muttering "they should have given us one, everyone says they would have given us one"!! We worried a little and debated a lot over whether we should actually park and leave the car given all the horror stories you hear of tourists being fined for minor traffic infractions but I really wanted to have a quick wander in Pienza so just braved the consequences and set off. 

It is a gorgeous little town, as are all the hill villages, but it was freezing so we only had a really quick wander and headed back to the car. It would have been around 10am when we were there and the streets were for the most part deserted with most of the shops still shut.

Next stop, Montepulciano...... OMG gorgeous! We found a park without any problems as there are many parking signs. We did park in a street though so maybe not in one of the designated pay and display parking lots but we didn't get a ticket or anything so I guess all good. We strolled around and found a good number of places open. We did stop for a coffee and loo break at probably the most upmarket place in town, it was gorgeous inside but the 2 coffees were only €7 so quite reasonable. Getting out of town wasn't too hard with Jane directing us however there was one turn that I found a tad confusing as it was a roundabout but just looked like a 4 way intersection.... we managed ok though and before we knew it were out on the autostrada - a straight and fast run down to Orvieto. 

Driving in to Orvieto was another thing I have done many many times over the last few years whilst this trip was in the planning. From very close to the city walls I knew every street and turn and even though the streets are oh so narrow I had no hesitation or worries about getting in to Piazza Ippolita which is just around the corner from our accommodation at Casa Vera. There was however a moment on a busy suburban road where I was in the wrong lane wanting to go around the roundabout and just stopped with my indicator on but no-one would let me in .... oh well .... they just blared their horns at me and I just stood my ground and after what seemed like ages but was probably not even a minute I managed to continue around the roundabout and take the correct exit. 

When we arrived we were a little too early for Cesare to show us to the proper parking place so we went into their shop on Via Duomo and were told that Sabrina's mother is at Casa Vera. Back to Casa Vera and Adrianna (our hostesses mother) let us in, gave us the key, showed us lights, heaters etc. The whole thing was rather an experience as she seemed to speak no English and our Italian is woeful! We did manage to have a conversation and work things out however.

So.... bags unloaded from car we found we were hungry as it's after 2 and we ate breakfast hours and hours ago. Around the corner on the Piazza where we parked the car was a restaurant and looking at their menu saw insalate so ordered a plate to share.... oh my goodness a plate of fresh salad was never so good!! Our waitress was of the same ilk as the bar owner in Venice - not so friendly as to even warrant a smile and food was summarily plonked down in front of us.

From here we went back to Sabrina and Cesare's shop in Via Duomo as we were told he would be available to show us to parking at 3. Once again we had a grand old time trying to explain to the woman working that we were looking for Cesare..... she rang him and handed the phone to me and over a terrible connection we managed to agree that we would meet at the shop in 5 minutes ... yes well 5 continental minutes but you know a la George "we wait together"!! 

When he turned up he was totally charming and spoke rather good, but far from perfect, English but we still had a fun time trying to converse. I tried to give him the car keys to drive us to the parking but he apparently can only drive manual so I ended up driving with him directing (rather a fun ordeal after a litre of wine with lunch!!). I think I drove way to slow for him as we got to an intersection ( of skinny tiny little laneways ) and there was cars flying around the corner and he was saying "just go, go fast"!!!!! Anyway I don't think we'd ever be able to find our way out of here again but the car is now safely parked outside the city walls. We walked back with Cesare but goodness knows how we'll ever find the car again!! 

A quick walk around town where we stumbled on the Duomo.... again OMG ahhh mazing! Then a stop at the supermarket, which is always interesting!

(D) I was sorry to leave Siena as it was just so beautiful but we have more beauty to come so that's OK. I was a little anxious about the driving in the beginning but soon settled into it, hence there actually being some road shots today. Though as we have commented to each other a few times now - it seems to always be low tide, garbage day or sun on the wrong side of the the view every time! Liane was her usual fabulous self so the driving part of the trip was actually quite easy over all. Yes we did have a momentary second of a potential "being on the wrong side of the road" scenario but it happened so quickly and was rectified so fast that I don't think it really counts! The incident at the "roundabout" (they are everywhere and don't necessarily look like roundabouts) where we'd taken the wrong exit but Liane pushed her way across traffic to change lanes, though horns were blaring, was awe inspiring.

We stopped in Pienza as Liane had heard it was pretty and wanted to have a quick wander around but when we found a park we were confounded by the parking signs that indicated that we needed some sort of parking time clock to put in on our windscreen. Liane said she had heard about this and apparently there was supposed to be one in the car but we searched the car everywhere to Sunday and couldn't find anything..... so we wrote a note saying "10.00" - the time we arrived, in the window and went off for half an hour (the allotted time on the sign). Who knows what would have happened if a parking inspector had come but at least we tried!!!

Driving into Orvieto itself was truly amazing as we have walked so many tiny little
lanes in different hill towns where the lanes actually look like walkways and we've had cars drive past us in these incredibly narrow spaces....and been gobstruck by it..... and here we were actually doing it ourselves! Again - Liane is totally amazing!!!!

Orvieto looks just so absolutely stunningly beautiful and I imagine we are going to have a wonderful time here - and no doubt take zillions of photos, can't wait for tmw......