Adventure comes at a cost and ours (well, really Nancy's) is serpentine mountain turns that may be feared, but are bravely faced each time we head out.
Radda - a gem of a hillside town: incredible stone, cascading flowers, chestnut trees, the smell of leather in the shop doorways and some of the most spectacular vistas in Chianti.
We stormed the gates of Bar Dante and did ourselves proud as a conquering force, if conquering forces attack with the intention of eating and drinking their way through an entire Tuscan menu! Crostini’s, ensalatas, pate, delicate pastas rich with truffles and wild boar, bread soup, Italian ice cream, coffee ... and, because we could, grappa and limoncello!
It was a fabulous feast and a fine memory to tuck into the Tuscany memory bank.
Side note: Betty made a splash in Radda as she "free wheeled" through town - her fancy new wheel lending her chair a whole new level of cool.
We returned to Ciona for cocktail hour on the lawn, and as the sun dipped behind the hill, the light faded and the lightning and bats competed, streaking light and dark across the sky.
And then? Well, obviously it was time to eat and drink! We settled at the table for a family style meal of meats, cheeses, bread, oil .. and maybe a bit more wine. It’s all a bit fuzzy.
Tonight's table talk topic was brought to us by David P. What book are you currently reading and why? Now seriously, did anyone actually think this would be a straightforward exercise? The discussion which ensued as we rounded the table was like a roller coaster. The ride seems fun, but there are moments when you would kill to have the damn thing stop! 😁 It was memorable to say the least, so for your pleasure/education, and/or speculation here is the reading list of T.B.I.S:
Nancy : Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
Sandy : Warlight by Michael Ondaatje
Sandra: The English Parient also by Ondaatje
Wes: the Invisible Heart: An Economic Romance by Russ Roberts (Nope. Not a joke)
Pam: Peace Like a River by Lief Enger
Dave: Cutting for Stone byAbraham Verghese
Betty: Helen Creighton: Canada's First Lady of Folklore
by Clary Croft
Tanya: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy
David : The Brief History of Homo Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Allison: the Subtle Art of Not Giving a F **k by Mark Manson
Kevein : Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency:
by Alexander McCall Smith
Wendy: Strength of the Sword by Wilbur Smith
Lloyd: A Pictoral Guide to Chianti
Shaun: The Art of Mary Pratt: The Substance of Light
by Tom Smart
Rose: No Great Mischief by Alastair MacLeod
As if all this was not enough for one day, there was more to come! We switched from literature to musical theatre when Nancy and David broke into song and dance in the kitchen. Not only a great way to get out of dishes, it was friggin' fantastic entertainment. Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke be damned. The score from Mary Poppins never sounded so good!! Word has it (from the late night kitchen dwellers) that Shaun has taken up the challenge and is planning his own artistic debut later this week!
So, Day Two complete in fine fashion. Tomorrow brings the promise of Siena . . .
Love from Chianti! (photos to follow)
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