This gallery contains 4 photos.
… beautiful. As we hoped, it’s back to summer clothes for a wee while. Yesterday we wandered down to the beach at Positano. The village is still busy but that summer crush of people has gone and everyone seems more … Continue reading
This gallery contains 8 photos.
Siena is full of restaurants and most of these are either fully or partially outdoor. This is particularly true of those that ring the Campo. In summer outdoor dining makes perfect sense with umbrellas or awnings giving protection from the … Continue reading
Poppie was sitting on Jean’s knee this morning as the sun was streaming in through the window. For Poppie this is about as good as it gets.
The weather forecast for today was a 70% chance of rain. And for the first time since June the grey clouds gathered and the heavens opened.
In the distance Siena disappeared as the rain enveloped it, only to reappear a few minutes later.
Around us the rain fell straight to earth as there was no wind (a novelty for those from Wellington) and you could hear every drop strike the parched ground.
Spending Autumn in Tuscany was not something we were particularly looking forward to. After the heat of summer the thought of going from the mandatory shorts and sandals to Autumn’s jeans, shoes and socks filled us with loathing.
But Autumn has been a pleasant surprise. The weather is settled and the days are warm. It’s an ideal temperature for getting out and seeing things. Mornings are crisp and sometimes misty but the day warms up enought for an al fresco lunch and a gelato in the afternoon which can be eaten before it melts – something simply not possible in the height of summer.
The countryside has taken on a yellow and orange hue as the trees prepare for winter and the days have got noticeably shorter. All this has meant is a new and exciting series of sunsets to capture on film.
Autumn sunset
Arch in Monteriggioni overlooking Tuscan countryside
Gentle readers, you may have noticed a brief pause in posts to toscanakiwi. We have had visitors from home staying at our place and have taken the last few days to show them some of Tuscany.
We have revisited some places we went with others and explored some places that are new. Old favourites like San Gimignano have impressed and new places like Monteriggioni have surprised.
Autumn is an ideal time to sightsee as the days are still warm, but not too hot. In summer you sit in the shade at cafes avoiding the sun, but in Autumn you sit in the sun and savour the last of the good weather.
Pictures and stories of our travels will be added over the next few days.
As summer turns to autumn, every week there are less and less visitors staying at our place. The days are still fine, sunny and hot – unusual weather the locals say.
From the height of the season when there would be kids, adults and inflatable toys everywhere around the pool, today there was just us. Bliss.
As summer recedes and autumn takes hold, the landscape around us once again changes, revealing yet another Tuscany.
La dolce far niente 