Tuscan Times this morning started off with that amazing winter light. The last few days have been a little misty to say the least, but hey, mist around here makes like an Ansel Adams photo.
We had mist and some rain whilst further up north (Milan, much to the disgust of friends there) it was snowing again.
Villas-in-Tuscany (ViT) headed east instead to go to an absolutely stunning place, Bibbiena, to see one of the properties on the site and meet with the owners.
Started out great, but the further up it went the mistier it got.
A smattering of snow on the ground then got deeper the further along the road ViT progressed and it was snowing too!
One thing in Tuscany to permanently keep in the car during winter are chains for the wheels, which of course the ViT-mobile didn't have - yikes!
Well, didn't think for one minute I was off into Winter Wonderland did I, otherwise I'd have taken the Arezzo route, which I did on the way back down.
I did wonder at one stage if I was going to have to turn around, but holding the faith the ViT-mobile and I suddenly popped out of the Snow Queen's garden to a view of a dry and sunny valley - most welcome!
The villa is an absolute gem, in lush countryside, and we had a quick 'jar' of their limoncello to get some blood circulating, or that was the excuse anyway!
You feel straight away at home there as the atmosphere and Zizi' are just so welcoming.
They source and use all local products, so everything is fresh and tastes as it should.
Do listen to Zizi's directions and don't count on your gps one thousand percent.
'Doris' (the GPS dame) and I had a bit of a barny after she guided me to a road in a nearby town which had a set of street steps ''The Italian Job'' would have been proud of, as the only through way.
Doris was convinced that was the only way to go, the ViT-mobile on the other hand thought better of it.
So today ViT has stayed put as it has been warm enough to be in a light jumper out of the wind, and perfectly sunny for a Vitamin D top up.
Not chancing another snow adventure without skis, and besides, with a circus acrobatics workshop in the afternoon and M's hot chocolate afterwards there wasn't much that was going to coax me out of the warmth and sun!!!
Off tomorrow to a magical castle near Florence......
Che magia la Toscana!
