Tuscany By Scooter - Welcome To Small-Wheel-Paradise 2TU240A
And here we are: Benvenuti a tutti! What a wonderful reunion with Natalie, her husband Jon, Randy and smart Dennis (they already were on a superb Best Of Europe Tour with me!) and to meet their friends Helen, Katie and Don Robert, Cindy and Jack, and Barb and Ken - What a great group and what great preconditions for a unique week! A short Welcome Briefing informed well about the oncoming days and what jewels of the Tuscany we will discover.
The eagerly awaited start into Riding Day 1! And off we go: We leave busy Florence and take the soft swinging Strada in Chianti to reach the charming town of Greve in Chianti for a first refreshment in one of the nice cafes on the main Piazza with the statue of Giovanni da Verrazano - the seafarer, who discovered New York harbour. Via Castiglione in Chianti we headed up the hill to amazing San Gimignano, with its medieval "Skyscrapers". and also famous poet Dante Alighieri was there performing hie "Commedia Divina" - the "Divine Commedy". Spiritually and physically invigorated we rode back direction Florence, to have the loveliest panoramic view over the whole city down from worldfamous Piazzale Michelangelo.
Our riding day 1 just promised, what the next days will be: Ride, enjoy, eat, enjoy, ride, eat, enjoy, sleep ... And so we started into our 2nd riding day. We left the Arno-Valley behind us, rode uphills to Villa Pitiana, where we could get an impression of the aristocratic life of ancient times, visited the Monasterio Vallombrosa (founded in the year 1037!), had some nice arabic food near Bagno di Ripoli, wedeled through all the raindrops without getting wet and were enjoying coffee, cold drinks, sandwiches and delicious pastry inside, while a heavy thunderstorm raged outside - just perfect!
Riding along the Strada in Chianti again, having another stop in Greve with wine & souvenir shopping, La Macelleria Falorni, the story of the Gallo Nero (the famous brand of the Chianti Classico Wines) and and and .... and then letting the wasps hum to Siena up and down the smooth tuscan hills. La Piazza del Campo - the central place of Siena and stage of the outstanding Palio-Horse-Races - welcomed us with crispy Pizze and delicious icecream. Via Palazzo Publico - the Gouvernment house of the Republic Of Siena back in 1500 - we entered the amazing black and white cathedral, with its unbelievable treasures. Through wineyards full of ripe grapes, we first reached Gaiole - the booming Eroica-Vintage Bicycle Race founders place - then Radda and Dudda and then back to our charming hotel Villa Neroli in Florence for a jump in the cool pool and a nice gin´n´tonic on ice. What a day!
Today we skipped sightseeing - a day of pure Scooter-riding is the plan. Alongside just impressive castles and villas we visited the racetrack of Mugello, watched some fast cars going round there, whooped them and went back to the lonesome winding roads of the region, riding over the Passo del Muraglione, had an original tuscan Spezzatino and Noodle Lunch - wasn't that great? - and went back to Florence over the hills east of Fiesole, just to geat ready for a next highlight: Dinner at Ristorante Terrazze Michelangelo! Just another great day!
This day started with the tuscan version of an old Hamburg-Song: "Blow Vespas, blow! To the east of the Toscanio - there's plenty of gold, so I've been told in the old town of Arezzo! " To reach Arezzo, we decided to take the lovely mountain pass road over the Passo della Consuma - best of best choices! The town finally is the main destination of today and the italian center of kwellery production: about 230 to's of gold are worked up here year by year. And at the ristorante on the main Piazza, landlord Maurizio welcomed us with an outstandig lunch! Everyone just wisehd to stay in town for a couple of days - but ... one day every journey ends. And we friends finished it with boot beer, loads of impressions, new experiences - all discussed at farewell dinner - and new plans!
You were wonderful! I hope to see youall again soon. Big hugs, Felix