Finally in Tuscany

After another long day of travel, we have arrived at Castillo di Montalto about 20 km east of Siena in Tuscany. We started the day learning of a county-wide transportation strike. Translation: all vaporettos, water taxis, gondolas, trains, and buses out of Venice were canceled and their drivers apparently headed for the beach. We received instructions from our B&B host on how to get back to our rental car (via walking several miles) only to stumble upon one vaporetto stop operating and heading to the bus station stop...apparently that one was considered 'essential services' and fell outside of the strike zone. Booyah! So with the help of that vaporetto and a happy taxi driver (who must get lots of extra fares with these strikes) we made it to our car with minimal pain and suffering.

We're getting used to this scenario...we calculate our transportation time and then add 3 hours for complicating factors like strikes, closed exits, Chicago-like traffic jams, and signs written in a foreign language which we can't read until we've long passed. Calvin noted today that the only thing that may need improvement in this country is the transportation system, otherwise they seem to do so many other things with brilliance - recycling, environmental preservation, food, entertainment, etc. Interesting, yes?

My sister, Sue, told me that some Italian language skills would come in handy in Tuscany and indeed she was right. I have said, "Io parlo piccolo Italiano" (I speak a little Italian) a dozen times today, each time greeted with a smile and patience. And when I asked, "Parla Inglese?" (Do you speak English) the answer was always "No." Mamma Mia, let the charades begin. It started when we stopped for directions three times to find the grocery store in Siena with each person so eager to help - hand gestures and map drawing galore - and then again at the store when asking another shopper for 'basilica' (a church) instead of 'basilico' (basil). She had a good laugh over that one. We were frustrated the past two weeks that nobody had the patience for us to practice Italian or deal with our inefficient language skills and now people seem actually amused with our attempts. How fun is that?

So, we piled up on groceries and finally made our way to the Montalto Castle. The view is grand here and it is quieter than anyplace we've ever been. We did, however, underestimate how rustic a 1000-year-old castle would be. Thus far we have found a scorpion in the boys' bedroom, a bee that we can't seem to catch to release outside, a giant spider under Calvin's pillow and another under Drew's bed, and several other ants, mosquitoes, moths and unidentified critters. Calvin may not sleep tonight and Drew wants to go home. Just pour me another glass of wine, please.

The bright spot of our move-in was a darling kitty who seems to consider us her family. We've named her Sete which means 'thirsty' in Italian because she drank a whole bowl of water when we let her into our apartment (which we're pretty sure is forbidden, but how can we say no to the only bright spot of the evening?)

Hopefully the light of day will bring brighter thoughts and higher hopes for our next two weeks. I think once Drew plays some tennis and Calvin does a few handstands with some awesome backdrops, life will be good again. And, in fact, life is grand. To experience the bustle of Rome, compared with the resorts of Sorrento, the lively, but sauntering pace of Venice and now the rustic hillsides...what a gift!!

The pictures today...one is of the view from our apartment (the first of many from Joel, I'm sure) and the other is of the fish market in Venice this morning shortly before we left. Beautiful seafood some of which I've never seen before!

xo