Tour of Tuscany Spring 2013 - BIT1301

7th Day - last riding day - San Marino to Florence Incredible:  Snow in the Toscana by end of may - a very special adventure!!! The warriors survived! Rain, wind, thunderstorms, cold and finally even snow and hale - whatever - nothing can kill our good mood :-) A great tour with a great group!! Thanks to all of you! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6th Day - Restday in San Marino Ferrari F 40 - for a decade the fastest car you could buy - yeah Albert, if you dream, dream big!!! the warriors go into the Adriatic Sea - it was tiny cold (Warming up from the cold wind outside the water) The beach is called "Teutonen Grill" or in English "German Barbecue", the sunchairs are all arrange in a row, numbers on them, some are even surrounded by a fence. You just have to bring your flower beds and your dwarfs by yourself - very German!!! Yeaahh they made it Heather is taking off Tourguides have to stay on the ground Restaurant Bel Sit - high above the Adriatic Sea with the nicest and best looking waiter ever Hi Alan - promise, I told the guys that there is no parmesan with the fish, only for me a little bit, hahaha mmhh! Rossi Cafe in Tavullia Francois is having a good time. Whatever question you have - ask him! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5th Day - Assisi to San Marino Marie-Laure is looking for her umbrella - somewhere hidden inbetween all the luggage Urbino -  Palazzo Ducale! Birthtown of Valentino Rossi Unbelievable - this was the fastest road to San Marino!!! (stunning views!!) Wow! we can see San Marino ! I would laugh as well beeing with 2 lovely women in the dry van the whole day San Marino! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4th Day - Restday in Assisi Some stayed in the medieval town and some came riding with us along the Trasimeno Lake to Orvieto Cathedral of  Orvieto Pozzo San Patrizio - a 70 m deep well, kept Orvieto alive during long sieges Stairs70 m down and up again makes a bit thirsty There are always some issues..... These Tourguides are always busy, they probably earn a fortune.... On the way to dinner "La Stalla" outside Assisi - a ten minutes walk but the guys started to complain - when we are there??? Is it on this side of Monte Subasio or on the other?? Are you sure we are on the right way??? We have to keep everyone in a good mood But all the efforts where worth it After the "official" part - the Cohiba session started :-)) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd Day - Siena to Assisi Fotostop at Montalcino -  Origin of the famous "Brunello di Montalcino" On the way we visited the 1200 years old Abbey of San Antimo Albert tought us - in South Africa you are blessed if its raining. We got a lot of blessings today Impression of the Lago Trasimeno They are looking like a real Italian Mafia gang. (shelter from the "blessing" in a small village Cafe - we were the attraction of the month) Arrival to Assisi - wonderful view to the city Mike - our Sommeiller in action during the dinner in Hotel Giotto - the oldest cellar in Assisi. Look at Charnre - she is looking 10 years younger after spending the afternoon in the hotel`s spa. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd  Day - Restday in Siena The abbey of San Galgano We had the first brandnew watercooled R 1200 GS with us. Guess who was riding it?? "La Crete" - typical Tuscan landscape In the afternoon we explored the city of Siena Piazza Il Campo Fonte di Gaia - the fountain of joy Kim and Mike in front of the famous cathedral Santa Maria Assunta Tourstart - Tour of  Tuscany The bikes arrived, maintained and clean our start hotel the beautiful "Villa Pitiana" The new Honda NC 700 S - automatic transmission - a good looking bike Rooms like in a king castle Robert and Mike After briefing we enjoyed our welcome dinner All our guest are here, except the South Africans!! Where are they??? missed a connecting flight in Paris - too many airports there :-) - took the next flight to Bologna, than the train to Florence and last not least they ended up with a taxi driver who had no clue whether the Pitiana is something to eat or the name of Berlusconi s latest girl friend. But here they are!! Charnre and Albert from Pretoria - welcome to the group --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 st  riding day - Florence to Siena Giovanni Verrazzano discoverd New York harbour Heather and Bob having their first Italian Cappucchio Andreas gets the latest news from Robert about Goldman Sachs The area where Mona Lisa is supposed to come from-Heathers Mohawk was a more impressive sight!! Il Pestello in Chianti - yummy noodels, but no one could find the bathroom Manhattan of Tuscany - San Gimignano - just before the rainclouds came in Best ride there is and best icecream there is...... the army girl has to do her cross fit inbetween Marie-Laure and Francois - our French couple from Valais Kim and Mike from Canada a long riding day ended with hale and heavy thunderstorms, we lost the French couple and had quite some other issues - but finally we all made it to the Garden Hotel in Siena Atla - the barman at the Garden Hotel - a legend in his own time - made our evening. We ended up with big Cohibas and good laughs :-)