Julie Sees SAN GIMIGNANO!!

San Gimignano, or as it is appropriately known, "San Gimignano della Belle Torre," of the beautiful towers (beautifully shown in Zefferelli's film "Tea With Mussolini"). Very few of the original 70 or so medieval towers are still standing inside this walled hill town. Cars are severely restricted inside the walls. It was hard for me to judge, on a short visit, what the life of the town is like--many of the businesses on the main streets pretty obviously cater to tourists. In that sense it is unlike Siena, which has an obvious and vibrant life of its own apart from the tourist trade, in many other ways it is similar with an exceptionally well preserved medieval character and classic Tuscan scenery. It's a wonderfully romantic place. (Okay I didn't really write this but it pretty much sums it up! Oh! This writer mentions Siena...we went there too! More on that later.) Sara pronounces it San jimmy YAWN o. Our own precious Miss Bee has a different pronunciation. But regardless of how you say it - you can spell it B-E-A-U-T-Y!!!

Isn't it just beautiful?

Here sits precious little Sara at the entrance to the quaintest little shopping area I've ever seen.

My most favorite dessert while in Italy was definitely the gelato. Italy's ice cream but in flavors you wouldn't never imagine. Whenever we got some...which was pretty much daily, we always shared! They even had wine flavored gelato! The wine that this area is really known for is Vernaccia. Mmmmmmm!!!!!! C'mon say it with me: ver NA chia. Oh, very good!

Olive trees were everywhere but unfortunately the olive harvest was the week prior to our arrival.

We walked up one of the towers and this was the view. Well this was Sara's view. I didn't stay there forever! Wanted to...but didn't. Tee hee hee!

We had a very awesome dinner at a monestary. They claimed that the monk population had decreased from several hundred down to less then ten and that they would actually be doing the cooking and the serving as well! I'll let you be the judge as to whether or not they were being truthful with us! Click on the cutting board and you can read the menu.

This was one of the courses and as you can see by the look of all the glasses for various VERY potent potables I kinda forgot I was taking pictures of all the courses. **blush**

We had entertainment........

.......in between each course and sometimes during the courses more entertainment!

A monk you say? Bwahahahahaha!!!! I'm not even sure he was Italian! He really enjoyed getting his picture taken though! He wanted me to entertain the group with him!
Details? Not on your life!

Shortly after the evening started Sara said, "He's making eyes at me." It was so cute how she said it. Well as the evening continued every time he came into the room he DID make eyes at my daughter! But of course since we didn't know that we were being scoped out to be the evenings entertainment we just kept politely smiling.

This fella did nothing but pick on me. He wouldn't serve me and then when he did he would just give me a little dollop. Then he tried to take my wine away! He would reach for my ankle and my wine glass at the same time! So I kicked him as I grabbed my glass! The group busted up every time he came near me. Flirts I say! Nothing but flirts! Tee hee hee!

Hmmm all of our bottles looks pretty empty huh? *giggles*

Then it was time for the sampling and the sales pitch. One of the "monks" tipped a bottle of 94 proof "something" on my tongue. I swallowed like a good little guest........

......but they had to bring in the fire extinguisher for this poor fella! They said that all the alcohol was made at the monastery. There sure was a lot to sample! *giggles--hic--hic--giggles*

It was a most wonderful day AND evening! A time that makes a smile flash across my lips with every memory!

The next stop on the trip will be Venice!

Hugs, Happiness and Harmony!
Julie