CUCINA CARA MIA.......Random thoughts from "my dear kitchen" about food, travel, Italy, San Diego and life!

Monday, May 5, 2008

TUSCAN MEMORIES















INSTEAD OF GETTING THE HOUSE READY TO HAVE OUR HARDWOOD FLOORS INSTALLED IN 3 WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN REMINISCING LATELY ABOUT THE TRIP TO ITALY WE TOOK LAST SUMMER FOR OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY. VISITING TUSCANY WAS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST AND I BECAME OBSESSED WITH RESEARCHING UNTIL I FOUND THE PERFECT SPOT. I LOVE TO READ TRIP ADVISOR AND OTHER TRAVEL SITES TO GET PREVIOUS VISITORS OPINIONS ON VARIOUS HOTELS THEY HAVE STAYED AT. AFTER BOOKMARKING SO MANY PLACES, I FOUND “IL BORGO DE VESCINE”. ORIGINALLY A 13TH CENTURY HAMLET, NOW A COUNTRY RETREAT, A FEW MILES OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF RADDA. I THOUGHT THIS PLACE WILL BE ROMANTIC!

WE ARRIVED QUITE LATE, AFTER GETTING LOST. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE ITALIAN ROUND ABOUTS WITH 15 SIGNS POINTING IN NINE DIFFERENT.DIRECTIONS? WE KEPT GOING ROUND AND ROUND! OUT OF FRUSTRATION AND PURE LUCK
WE FINALLY WE FOUND THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO OUR DESTINATION.

PERCHED HIGH ABOVE THE VALLEY AND VINEYARDS, THIS HOTEL WAS IN A SECLUDED SETTING (SO SECLUDED WE PASSED IT TWICE ON THE WINDING DARK ROAD) EACH ANCIENT STONE BUILDING FEATURED 3 OR 4 CHARMING GUEST ROOMS. A DELICIOUS BREAKFAST WAS SERVED IN THE MAIN BUILDING WITH RUSTIC WOOD BEAMED CEILINGS AND TERRA COTTA FLOORS. THE FIRST NIGHT WE ATE DINNER ON THE OUTDOOR PATIO –THE PANNE COTTA (COOKED CREAM WITH FRESH RASPBERRIES) WAS TO DIE FOR AND THE LOCAL CLASSICO CHIANTI WINES WERE’NT TOO BAD EITHER. ANY WINE WOULD HAVE WORKED AT THAT POINT. THE SECOND NIGHT THEY HAD A WINE TASTING FOR ALL THE GUESTS SERVED WITH SOME DELICIOUS ANTIPASTO AND OTHER APPETIZERS.

FROM THIS IDYLLIC LOCATION, WE TOOK DAY TRIPS TO SIENNA, SAN GIMIGNANO, AND OTHER SMALL TOWNS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SPECIAL PLACE TO CREATE YOUR OWN TUSCAN MEMORIES. VISIT. http://www.vescine.it/ FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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2 comments:

Debra said...

Italy is one of my dream vacations. I fully intend to visit there some day in the future. Have you read the book, Eat, Pray, Love? It is a wonderful story and I think it will bring you back to Italy.

Thank you for sharing your adventure. I think you might be able to move the photos together if you go back into blogger where you can make your edits, and bring your cursor to the top of your second photo. After that, try hitting return until you bring the photo to the place that you would like for it to be. I am not expert, but I am learning, and that just might work for you. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Hugs,
Debbie

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi LInda!

I love all of Italy! This looks like a wonderful hotel. I'll keep the web site for a ( hopefuuly) future trip.

To move the top picture go back to "edit my post" on blogger, go the HTML edit, and then you'll see either P or DIV in arrow brackets....just delete them all and the picture will move up...be careful not to delete the HTML code for the photo though.

I'm still figuring blogger out...just have to keep experimenting!

Good luck with the wood floors! I have mainly all wood and love them.

Hugs, Pat