Skies are magical blue and there is a light crisp breeze in the air, mid 20's, one of those perfect, mild Spring days ahead for us! At breakfast it was surreal to have meal where the Monks would have in 12AD! It's so serene and the energy is alive but peaceful. Again, another huge breakfast spread which has complimented every stay in Italy: local cheeses, fresh tomatoes from the actual vines here in the Monastery, crisp pastries, hams and prosciutto as well as fresh juices, coffees, teas and sparkling Tuscan waters!

One of my life dreams came true today by actually seeing, touching and feeling the typical Tuscan Countryside. You know the one I speak of: those rolling hills, the winding roads, pencil pines and terracotta. It's real! It exists! Not just in our minds or in Hollywood movies! Travel brings this stuff alive, it makes it sing, breathe and be! It becomes one with you and you have it in your heart, minds eye and deep in your soul forever! It becomes even more idealised, if possible, when you get home because you remember you were there, you can feel the sun and breeze in your skin, you are transported back time and time again! It can only be a wonderful life enhancing experience that, after your bank account has been depleted you actually cannot ever really add a real 'value' to! Travel is the only thing you pay for that actually makes you richer!

Setting off I could not have hoped for a better day! We started winding up into the True and actual Tuscany; the one in the movies, books, paintings and cards: rolling hills and pines and laneways, tiny villages perched high on mountains and delicious wine, cheese and breads! Take a look at the Dream Day in Tuscany photos to really appreciate what I'm saying! I stood in awe of my surroundings and environment. At one stage u got out of the car and strolled up the road past the pines to feel and know I was really there, as I had dreamed so many times!

It just kept getting better and better. No matter where you pulled over it was a picture perfect moment!

We stopped at a beautiful little Village called Pienza. It doesn't make any of the Tuscany Top 10 must see's but is definitely on mine now! The receptionist at our hotel googled the term typical Tuscany and brought up the images we were faced with all day! Just spectacular and overwhelming. It has rounded off my Tuscany trip to the maximum fulfilment. I just loved every minute!

But, to top it off we arrived at the Sulpher Springs (natural and constantly flowing) just out of Saturnia (1.5 hours from Siena). You have to see them to believe it! (See blog pics). The water just cascades over natural formations of rock pools covered in moss and lichen! It is magical, to say the very least! We luxuriated in them a couple of hours and left feeling rejuvenated and revived!

(Hint: be sure and pack shoes or thongs as it is slippery and lots of sharp and awkward rocks). It was just heaven on earth: set temperature of 37 degrees. As I'm typing I can still smell the waft of Sulphur on my skin: revitalising me, ready to face my final days on the immaculate and wonderful journey of my lifetime!