Midsummers day

Aunty Betty (far left) travelling
in her car, Marilyn through Italy in 1956

Montepulciano

Montepulciano

Montepulciano

Sparkling water fountain - 5c per litre

Mid summer maidens

Like all good maidens we are prepared for midsummers day. Little does Sue know what we have in store for her. We set off into the rolling green hills of Tuscany. Thankfully the roads are normal country roads with two lanes and even a white line in the middle. Much relief all round, we can enjoy the ‘bella vista’.

We head west from Oriveto and climb a mountain or two and make it to 600m above sea level. This is Montepulciano, a medieval renaissance town that is renowned for its food and wine. Normally food and wine don’t really do it for me but after tasting all the food in Italy I am getting much more interested in good food.

With a bunch of Americans who arrived by push bike we start our walk up the winding path that leads to the top. On the way there are stacks of shops, windows with flowers, medieval door knockers and side lanes to explore.

Lunch is on a terrace overlooking the lush green valley below, the waiter tells us if we don’t pay the bill he will bite us. This is based on a scene from Twilight the vampire movie being filmed at Montepulciano. As we leave we realise the caffé has been around since 1868 and has it’s own little museum and hosted the wrap party for the movie, Twilight.

Onwards now to our destination for the day Siena. Sue ignores any commands from Gina and we take in the stunning views along the way. Finally we arrive a perfect ‘bella vista’ and its time to get out the Harrods bag and reveal our surprise to Sue. In London we found 3 perfect flower garlands to celebrate Midsummers day, the longest day of the year. Sue is not so impressed but puts on one for at least a minute, Jane and I giggle and look appropriately silly.

The road is very windy and we share it with fast motorbike riders enjoying the bends. We arrive in Siena and navigate to our accommodation easily. Now off we go to see where the great horse race the Pailo is run. Now dinner, time for yet another Prosecco. The plan was for an early night, however its festival night in Siena, we are buying shoes at 11pm, dancing in the streets to Bon Jovi and finally fall into bed at 1am.