A great town, very tourist friendly, maybe too much. Like all of these towns in the area it is built at the highest point so the views are all a 360 panorama of the surroundings. We were back on the bus then on to Siena. We split up and wandered around the maze of streets that run at a thousand different angles to each other until finally you end up at the Campo, which is the town piazza. The week before we arrivd the Palio had been run, this is the madness where reps of the local families saddle up horses and race around the town square, which is centuries old cobble stone that is tilted at about a forty degree angle. Glad it wasn't on when we were shopping in the square. Could be dangerous.
We shopped, then came back to the villa, cooked our own dinner, ate, then had a few quiet bevvies before bed. This is the life. La Dolce Vita. Wouldn't be dead for quids.
We took off for our biggest driving day the following day. Assisi and Perugia were on the agenda so it was going to be a couple of hours in the bus. Our first view of Assisi was breath taking. It is built on the side of a mountain and the old stone buildings are terraced across the hill, with the church sitting on top.
The walk through the town was once more a view of history overhead and retail at ground level. Here this consisted of many souvenir shops selling St Francis related paraphenalia as well as restaurants and gelateria. The church is beautiful and the chapel beneath, the spot where the saint is buried, is very solemn and spiritual, as is the little museum that has relics of Francis including his robe and the Popes official recognition of the Franciscan order. 
The tour inevitably finishes with the souvenir shop and I am afraid the mood gets lost for me. But I suppose everyone has to make a buck.
We stopped off at Perugia on the return journey. I really like this town. I am not sure what it was, but I loved the winding broad steps that took you up to the main square and the enormous piazza. The church was unlike any other we had seen and the view from the green square surrounding the town hall reminded me of the Blue Mountains. It was nearly what you would call cold here and you could imagine this place covered in snow in Winter. Despite the chilly feel, Michele and yours truly managed to round up two gelati and braved the sensation of icy Pistacchio and Fragola in our ever expanding bellies.
Another great meal of local meats bread and cheeses that night.
After our two big driving days, the next excursion with our brilliant local guides, was to some of the more local places recommended by Manuella, the Big Cahunna of Pienza. She is amazing. She comes in and makes us breakfast every day and treats us like family, helps with local doctors, gets check outs at the Supermarket opened with a yell across the floor, drives us to pick up supplies and much much more. She has relatives all over the area and owns quite a few little business concerns apart from our Le Sorbelle and manages to keep everything running with limited, but effective English.
The two morning trips were something different. The first was to a local natural hot spring called Bagno St Filippo, which was stunning. Photo opportunity plus. This was so different to the rest of the area it really stood out. 
It was rainforest with limestone cliffs behind and a hot sulphur spring running through the middle.
Sensaysh.
The next stop was Rocca D'Orcia. This is the highest point in the Orcia surrounds, topped with an ancient fortress used as a sentry point to warn of imminent invasion. It seems there were plenty of these in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. The climb was a little hairy...it was steep and precarious but worth it.
An incredible sunset lit up the sky for us too.
We made it through unscathed to the magnificent abbey, surrounded by vineyards and hills, a really spectacular scene. There was an oboe being played as we walked around the church....very atmospheric. Beautiful.
It was BBQ night, so we stocked up with sausages and hamburger mince and used the 14th century oven for an Aussie cook up. With a few Morettis (a great Italian beer) we recreated home the best we could.
Yeah, issa no bad.
And a photo of the boys in the Tour shirts....
On Thursday we only had the bus for half a day so it was decided that some of us would have an active morning and have a walk through the countryside. We were driven to Montalcino, yet another Monte, situated on a hilltop overlooking the green hills, and we then took off on what was to be a seven kilometre walk to the Abbey of San Antimo, originally built in the 8th century. It was good to have some exercise to walk off some of the scrumptious food we have eaten and because it was mainly downhill, we made pretty good time with no heart or lung issues. The only threat to our health was the hunter or hunters who were firing rounds across the valley every couple of minutes, apparently at the wild boars.
The final night for a few of us... Peter, Chez, Gaetan, Glenda, Greg and Barb...was special. Manuella came in loaded down with the ingredients for Gnocchi and Pici, the pasta this area is famous for. The boys all got in and rolled Pici, Manuella made Gnocchi from scratch and then she and her daughter Alessandra cooked a magnificent meal from it.
More local alcoholic beverage. Licorice and chocolate gelato next. A bit more local lubricant, Beatles music. Finished off with a drink, then a little nightcap to wash it all down. Some mixed music where Elvis got a start, Mama Cass, whose passing was a clear warning to us all not to overindulge and then some Karen Carpenter just to balance the equation.
And then a little good night drink.
Top night.
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