Waking up early in Barberino is easy; sunlight streams into your room and bam, you’re awake. So, today, we left very early and caught the morning bus to Florence then the morning train to Cortona.
While on our way, the Mafia Train Agent interrupted my morning nap (air conditioned train, mind you), and asked to see our tickets. I proudly presented our passes and even offered ID. Then he started going though the docs, page by page. I got nervous and rightly so. This would-be cousin of Tony Soprano told me that we had not had our tickets validated before leaving the station in Florence and were now subject to 100 Euro fine each! Michele and I apologized profusely and put on our best blonde surprised looks and he fell for it. But honestly, I didn’t remembering doing this validation thingy-ma-jig last year. He let us go and even validated our tickets for us at the next stop. He will go to heaven for sure or at least Santa will drop off a nice bottle of Limón cello for him!
Cortona is my favorite Tuscan town and I wanted Michele to see it. It is so quaint with all the tall ancient buildings and winding stone staircases that you would think you were on a movie set for some Disney esque fairy tale. We trucked down some massive Stairmaster type hills to see the ancient medieval dwellings on via Janelli. People still live in them by the way. A nice painter on his way up the hill escorted us back down the hill to help us find via Janelli. He did not speak any English but was nonetheless very helpful and friendly.
The way to Cortona is easy by train. Once there, one can catch a cab up the hill for 10 Euro; money well spent as the driver drops you right off in the center piazza then gives you his card to pick you back up when you are ready. The main street in Cortona is flat, believe it or not. After some shopping and a wonderful gelato, we had a light lunch behind the tower. At that point we were told it was 40C outside, or the equivalent of about 100 degrees we figured. I didn’t care how much a coke or bottled water cost; I just wanted something cold fast!
For those that know me well, my hot and bitchy threshold is about 72 degrees. However, I am proud to mention that I have kept a cool head during these hot days so far and not really complained more than any other person in almost unbearable hot weather. So, there is hope for me yet!
One the way back, the SITA bus drivers had it out for us. They knew we were in town and made our bus ride home a little difficult. See, the don’t like to mention that a bus change on the way to Barberino is now necessary. No way. You are just supposed to read their silly olive oiled heads. We got on a bus to nowhere and circled back and caught our connection home. Long day. I am totally bushed!
Hope you enjoy the photos below of our day in Cortona. Many thanks to everyone who has sent me a post. I am sorry for not posting back personally. I will try to do so as soon as possible. We are off to San Gimignano tomorrow via the bus station at Pongibonsi. Hopefully, no creepy old dudes will hit on us this year!
Oh, and by the way, we did see Underwear Pizza Man last night…with Levi’s on.
2 comments:
Beautiful! Glad you finally saw Underwear Pizza Man and thank heaven for kind strangers who give us a break every once in a while.
Have you ever been in Casentino Valley in Tuscany??
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