Podere Monti our home for a week. The villa is at the edge of the town of Saint Albino and near the larger town of Montepulciano. Sharing the villa with us were:
Perry and Sally Sorenson
Brad and Polly Oliver
Rhoda and Mark James
Lex and Geri Alexander
Polly’s sister Lorraine and her beau, Les
Indeed a grand time full of laughs, stories, great wine, wonderful food, good friends, and so many sights to see.
 |
The villa |
 |
The View |
 |
More villa |
 |
Waiting for dinner..Les, Lorraine, Polly, Mark, Brad J, Sally, Perry |
 |
Chef Alessandro rolls out the pasta dough |
 |
The pasta |
 |
The chef at work |
 |
First course is ready |
 |
So many lovely things to see like balconies |
 |
Bell Towers |
 |
Churches |
 |
Countryside views (we did have a good amount of haze) |
 |
Hilltop towns |
 |
Good looking guys... |
 |
And art everywhere. |
 |
Lunch in Montepulciano |
 |
Pasta with wild boar sausage sauce - a specialty of the region |
 |
A collection of rock for a wall |
 |
The wisteria was in bloom and lovely |
 |
A pretty window..we saw many |
 |
Ready to eat! Lex, Buck, Brad O, Rhoda, Sally |
 |
This was empty when we arrived : ) |
 |
Brad J, wearing his Italian apron, was always happy to refill wine glasses. |
 |
First to take up the swim challenge..Rhoda and Brad O |
 |
In go Rhoda and Brad |
 |
And out they come...oh doggie, it was cold. |
 |
Not to be deterred..in goes Buck-also made a quick exit. The rest of us smart ones cheered them on and stayed warm. |
 |
Polly, Lorraine and Les |
 |
Church on a hillside |
 |
Doni, Perry and Sally |
 |
Gluten free and vegetarianism have arrived. |
 |
Smelling the roses |
 |
Narrow street and old buildings |
 |
Sunrise |
 |
Another hilltop town |
 |
Umbrellas |
 |
Part of the gang - Polly, Brad O, Lex, Geri, Buck, Rhoda, Mark, Betsy, Brad J - Lorraine, Les, Sally and Perry had departed. Doni is behind the lens. |
 |
Sometimes you don't need to speak Italian to read the signs. |
 |
The crowded bridge to Civita Bagnoregio - a famous Hilltop town. We went on May 1st not knowing it was a holiday and that the rest of Italy would be there too. |
 |
Civita Bagnoregio |
 |
Pretty Lizzard |
We leave beautiful Tuscany and head to Assisi and then Rome. Our trip is nearly over.