First Glorious Day in Tuscany

Wow! There isn't much more to say. Every vista a postcard, every farm completely managed, every vineyard and olive grove a thing of beauty. We walked silently for miles until the thought of walking back creeped in.

Only a few miles outside of Arezzo is the Academia Dell' Arte where Aliyah spent a semester. You can proceed from this property in any direction and find nothing but the most picture perfect vistas. It was a glorious day with flowers in abundance and a radiant sunshine peeking in and out of an occasional cloud. We stopped at a simple winery that also produced a high quality olive oil and purchased a few bottles to bring home with us. The owner was very sweet and was about to describe in detail every bottle of wine that they produce, when I interrupted her and told her that we did not drink. This sudden comment struck her so much by surprise that she cracked up and could not stop laughing. We had such a good time with her, and she joked back, "Do you not use olive oil either?" This sent us into another laughing spell, and she finally excused herself by thanking us for making her day. Then another worker wrapped the olive oil for transport and we went on our way.

The estates in these hills are also unbelievable; completely manicured with a mixture of new and old. Ancient stone work, grottos, walkways leading down to infinity pools and polished copper bath houses. The wealthy are alive and well in this part of Italy! We were drawn to one incredible estate that seemed to be the grandest of the grand, and we were informed that this was the estate of a count and countess who reside there year round. The gardens and walkways were glorious (I'm a little flat on adjective use today). The state or province provides specialized gardening services to take care of this property and it looks it. I will upload some pictures if my technical support team will show me how to do it.

On the way down the road we came across our first aqueduct which was fascinating. We climbed up and walked along the top, all the while trying to comprehend the age and the history that must be hidden in such a structure. The Italian plumber that lives inside of me felt pride in the fact that we were the first to bring water to where it was needed. On that note I must also add that there seem to be many, many Italians living inside of me: There's Louie the Glove, Guido the Shark, Brainsy, and Carmen from Broad and Shunk, plus all of the ancient one's, Leonardo, Maximus etc.,however, it's only Maximus that I fear the most because he is the one who will seek revenge and serve justice where it is needed. I keep seeing myself in a Roman helmet, a loyal servent of Marcus Aurelius and defender of Rome. I really believe that I will enter on a chariot dressed in a Roman military mini skirt with the throngs yelling, "Novelli, Novelli, Novelli" just like my students used to do when I cancelled a test at the last minute....

Please forgive me, but this blog must end abrubtly at this time. Aliyah just informed me that it is eating time again. This is critical because we haven't eaten in two hours and we seem to be eating every two hours around the clock. If this pace keeps up, my chariot will drag into Rome and the throngs will gasp in horror at the sight of my posterior sticking out of the back of my mini skirt, and they will be yelling,"Maximum, Maximum, Maximum". Ciao from Alberto Novelli