San Gimignano

We’re in our second day here at this little hilltop town with its walls, towers and castle. We timed our arrival for a medieval festival on for the last 3 days and it has been fabulous.

Trip here from the Cinque Terre could not have been easier, but more thru luck than management. It was 4 connections – 3 separate trains and a bus – and we wouldn’t have waited more than 40 mins for the lot! You’ve got to remember these kind of days when you get the other kind where you have to wait hours between connections. Hehe. Arrived in Siena and had a night there but will write about that later.





San Jimmy (as David likes to call it) is a perfectly preserved medieval town with stunning architecture and a great setting. Our accommodation is a 12th century converted palace and we’re on the second floor with a superb view out along the main pedestrian street (no cars allowed). Amazing.




Yesterday managed a huge hike doing a 25km loop around San G and the hills of Tuscany. Exhausted ourselves somewhat, but well worth it. Landscape all rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves and lots of trees. Nice.









Spent all day today at the festival – drums + trumpets, dancers, flag-throwers (now, there’s an occupation!), swordplay, archery – all in full costume. Quite a spectacle. The camera felt like it was going nonstop, so we’ve given it a rest over a bottle of wine, while we wait for the whole festival procession to pass by our window in an hour.




Speaking of which, we have been expanding our repertoire of wine and food. Have been super-enjoying the salamis/meats, cheeses and other delectables (although David has been curiously restrained on the gelati – I can’t figure why?!). The wine – good and cheap (esp. after Singapore). Different red grape variety – sangiovese – which we don’t get in nz, is very good. Yes. And yes again. [Side note: Joe, if you’re reading this, have you heard of a book called ‘Heat’ about a New York chef who comes to Tuscany – superb!]

Tomorrow, David’s up early on some photo mission or other. He rather stupidly brought his tripod and now he feels the need to use it???