Mother’s Day – which Rick remembered as soon as he woke up. So sweet – he’s made this a special day every year from the very beginning when Kylie was born. In fact – that’s what he said – happy Mother’s Day, your 30th! A Mother’s Day from years ago:
This Mother’s Day:
We had a day completely dislocated from agenda, requirements, calendar appointments, expectations. A rare rare day. And we loved it. Rick woke at the unheard of time of 7:15, I’d been reading a romance (what better way to start the day) for an hour, we had a leisurely breakfast, then we sat and had quiet time for an hour near the pool. Not raining – another happy thing – looking over the Tuscan countryside with the birds, the pool’s little waterfall sounding beside us. It was amazing.
Then we walked into town for a bit of circular around the walls of the town, exploring all the little curving streets and a few shops that were open. I just love the golden stone and shapes of the streets. This town is an Unesco World Heritage town named after Saint Quirico, an 3 year old martyr and his mother Julieta who angered the Romans.
This is the church for the Via Francigena – Chiesa Santa Maria de Assunta, 12th century. Our favorite church in the town, plain, simple and the hospital (hospitality for pilgrims) was across the way with a beautiful well.
The roses have been gorgeous.
Built into the wall, this thin building below had two apartments, the top one a vacation rental. I’d love to see inside a lot of the created apartments and homes – so much ingenuity to have 20th century homes inside buildings from the Middle Ages.
I know about arrow holes in these walls; I’d love to know that this specific design is for:
On top of the wall:
And a wonderful garden, Horti Leonini, with a formal design below and a “wild” garden above was designed in 1580 by Diomede Leoni. Francesco I de’Medici gave him the land for the garden. It’s the same today as it was in the 1500’s. I’m standing in the wild garden…
After our wandering, Rick and I had lunch at the place two different people had recommended. Food was good, atmosphere was great, seeing older couples and groups coming in dressed up after church, chatting, holding the hands of very old small women. I loved it.
Back to the hotel where we read/dozed and then got up and took a walk – because that’s what you do in Tuscany – and marveled yet again at how beautiful it was.
Reb's Walks! 