Two days of lovely walking in Tuscan countryside and villages where you expect Tony and Cherie Blair to appear round the corner in linen, praising this year's truffle harvest. Yesterday was so hot and we were v grateful of the drinking fountains. Today it drizzled and the views were limited. San Gimignano where we are tonight is a major tourist spot, but like York, deservedly so. Arthitecture stunning and still run by local people selling local produce. Not a su...

This is our new best friend the taxi driver. The walk today was going to be far too long so we missed the boring first 6 km. this still left us 14 miles to walk but we were now into proper Tuscan countryside. Cyprus trees, hill top villages and the biggest focaccia sandwiches you've ever seen. A big final hill brought us to San Miniato. It feels like a film set because it's so atmospheric . I really wish we had a day to spend here. But we made the most of th...

Our first days walking with friends should have been lovely Tuscan countryside but in fact a bit dreary. And hot sunshine , but we gossiped away so much and spent more time in the bar and restaurant than we did walking. Some showing off by our horticulturist Phil in naming of wildflowers. Who would guess you would find toad flax in Italy? But a long and harder day tomorrow so you will be spared another picture of Roger trying yet another Italian drink .

So here we are loading up with carbs before the next stretch of the walk. Dear friends, not old as they've asked me to mention, are with for the next five day walking to Siena. They are Jane,Alice Rosie and Phil and what goes on tour ..... it's been a lovely rest day in Lucca, going to the laundrette and then 3 cathedrals or basilicas, not sure what the difference is. As pilgrims we get free admission when we show our credentiales. I enjoy the churches as histo...

You know the Italians are famous for their cars. Ferrari, Lamborghini and Alfa Romero. So what's the most popular car we have seen? It's the Ape 50 cc pick up. Well I have seen some 100 cc versions with the twin overhead cam and fuel injection. But this is what the modern farmer is using. I've got handbags bigger than the drivers compartment, but what a motor. Why haven't we got these in England? We are now definitely in what you would think of tradional Tuscan...