We spent the day enjoying the pool, the sun, the apartment and the beauty of slow travel!

We slept in until 9:00 am this morning! For Barry and Margaret, this was a rare occurrence. When travelling, we are light sleepers, due to new beds and new noises each night, but already this place, with its silent evenings, cool night breezes, comfortable beds and private bathroom had worked its magic. It wouldn't be right not to tell the total truth about this place though, so that we remember it accurately. Here is life in our villa: We awake to beautiful su...

It rained last night, so we awoke to a view that was exactly the same but with a little less heat going on. Barry went out to take pictures and was surprised when he stepped off the road and sank into mud in an area that looked just as dry as the day before. The rain soaks into the clay soil here, which amazingly yields fantastic crops. We decided we would go explore Siena today. However, we had promised the kids that they could "sleep in", so they ...

The landscape changed quickly and, before long, we were driving through rolling hills, every view - pure art. When we got to Mucigliani, our hamlet, we couldn't believe this was our home for the next week. The apartment has a brand new, modern interior but is part of a house that was originally built in the 1600s. It has a breathtaking view and a swimming pool. The hamlet itself is tiny. There are no stores and probably less than 30 inhabitants. We were thrilled ...

We enjoyed packing up this morning. In as much as the hostel was cheap and perfectly situated, it was just too busy for us and we were happy to say goodbye to our 'roommates'. Back in the car, we headed for Pisa and got there in great time. As Rick Steves says, Pisa is a cliche that needs to be seen - quickly - and that's what we did. The crowds were minimal when we arrived and after taking the obligatory photos and breakfasting on cappuccinos, succo, and b...