According to the locals this summer in Tuscany was not good – lots of rain and wind, and not the usual warm temperatures. But we didn’t notice – for our two day stay the weather was glorious.

It was a short stay but we still managed to cram in a visit to Siena, dinner out with our friends Danni and Olga and some time to reacquaint ourselves with the Chainti region.

We stayed at a hotel in Radda in Chianti – Relais Vignale – a charming old villa that has views across the Chianti hills.

We dined on everything from delicious Florentine beef at Osteria Il Papavero in the tiny borgo of Barbischio through to beautiful ravioli pasta at Osteria di Bigelli in the Campo in Siena.

After almost 3 weeks of a seafood diet, the chance to eat red meat was too good to miss.

Jean managed to do a little shopping in Siena and I managed to spend a little time in Al Mangia bar while Jean went shopping – so everyone was a winner.