Happy New Year readers!
The first blog post of 2019 is dedicated to a favourite hobby and an restless thirst; travelling. Back in March of 2018, I went on a roadtrip through Tuscany’s vine fields and pebbly towns with Diary Wings and some girlfriends. Nearly a year later, I came across the photographs I took and wondered what I should do with them. Perhaps I can write about which route we took or life on the road, I thought, yet sometimes I like to let the images do the talking.
So without further ado, here are images from Tuscany that soak up local life and first impressions.
The first acquaintances in Italy: shadows figures in Milan airport
En route to Tuscany, we started our road trip in Genova. When only had a morning to take in the town so off to the streets we were!
Finding Genova’s colourful alleys
Street markets are always thrilling to find, tasting local products and seeing how residents interact. Bought yummy fresh pesto from here.
A softer view of the officials in their morning stroll
When we hit road again, we stopped somewhere between Genova and Cinque Terre, to find a coastal view point and stretch our legs.
I’m assuming that entrance is not used any more.
The viewpoint
It may look like calm sea in the photo but this was an incredibly windy corner, resulting in dozens of hair-covered-faces pictures. We took a short pit stop to break up the one and a half hour drive.
Reaching the Insta-famous Cinque Terre
The most photographed spot of Manarola town and what you’ll find when Googling it.
Cinque Terre is super popular with tourists and there’s a big buzz around the five small coastal towns. We visited in a low season so our experience of it felt rather strange. The only way I can describe it is like visiting Protaras in the winter. Only a couple of restaurants open, art shops closed with their signs still out and only a few people roaming the streets. It wasn’t a ghost town per say, but I definitely got the feeling that the summer is a better season to come to see it in all its glory.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still beautiful, just less glammed up than the photos make it out to be. When we were on a viewpoint though (from where this photo was taken), a couple asked us to take their photo. As they posed, the man got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. It was a priceless moment. Full of joy and in a dreamy background. Everybody cheered!
Vine fields for me are the definition of Tuscany
The following morning we started our day with some wine tasting at Fattoria San Michelle a Torri. Sipping wine at 9am when you’ve got a day full of driving ahead may not sound ideal but when in Tuscany… We toured the factory, ate our prosciutto and continued our way into the town of Sienna.
Light and shadow in Sienna’s streets
Picturesque Sienna was livelier than other places and its centre is full of shops, markets and tratorrias. As always, I loved walking the side streets to observe local life.
Fixing the cable
Universal house chores
Last but certainly not least, we took a long three hour drive to find the natural hot springs of Saturnia. The countryside was everything you imagine Tuscany to be. Fields of green and yellow as the sun shone through the clouds, endless vineyards and tiny villages.
Reaching the springs, we were welcomed to a Utopian landscape of running hot waters and nothingness. We braved the unpleasant smell natural hot springs sometimes have (a bit like rotten eggs) and relaxed in the water, trying to take in the scenery.
Paradise, is that you?
Tip: Don’t wet your hair ladies. The water leaves it extremely dry for days. You might need a bottle of conditioner.
After a day visit to Florence, which is busy no matter the season, we drove back to Milan to conclude our trip. Driving through Tuscany was exciting and perfect if you don’t want to follow a tight schedule, just make sure you study Italy’s road sings and road conduct. We are still paying for it, literally.
