This Thing They Call the Tuscan Sun
Friday was our last full day in Lucca and we decided to check out the town of Livorno. I had read a bit about it and it sounded worth exploring. It wasn’t. It’s a seaside town, quite large with nothing quaint or interesting that we were able to find. We met a local on the bus with an obvious passion for her hometown who steered us to an area called “the new Venice”. I had read about it and was intrigued so we checked it out. After seeing some of the things we’ve seen over the last few weeks the new Venice was underwhelming to say the least. We did stop for lunch there and Hugh and I shared the most amazing pasta with calamari. That meal was almost worth the trip to Livorno. Almost.
Saturday morning we got up, got packed and headed out to get our rental car. Another frustrating experience involving modes of transportation which took hours (should have taken mere minutes as I had prepaid) and had us out another 200+ euro than originally planned.5 Oi.
The drive to Cortona was beautiful and this farmhouse, although on the opposite end of the spectrum from the lively hustle and bustle of our place in Lucca, is amazing.
The owners, Keith and Tania, are originally from Orange County and moved here nearly six years ago. They came for a six month experience living abroad and never left. I can see why. They live on the property as well and we’ve become fast friends.
After settling it to our new home vinny began to pace in anticipation of the arrival of his best friend, Wilson. Hugh and I opened a bottle of wine and ventured out to the front porch, enjoying the beautiful sunset. The Blanco’s soon arrived … and our first evening in Tuscany with our friends was under way. Wine and conversation flowed plentifully, a dance party broke out, and when Keith and Tania returned home from their night out we all sat on the porch together with a few of their friends and sampled Keith’s homemade limoncello infused with orange and grapefruit. Our first night here was perfect.
Yesterday was the 4th of July and Keith and Tania invited us to their BBQ. The boys got up and immediately headed for the pool, followed soon after by Sofia. Lance and I took on the task of baking an apple pie, as what could be a more American contribution to a BBQ, right? Turns out Italians aren’t big fans of cinamon, yet they were all polite and tasted it. By far they enjoyed the pie crust itself most of all, even asking for the recipe, and were quite impressed to learn that it was Lance who made it.
We spent the day lounging outside under the shade of the trees socializing with our new friends. Keith BBQd hotdogs and hamburgers. There were chips and guacamole, baked beans, pasta salad, watermelon and even onion dip made from Tania’s last packet of onion soup mix from the states and Greek yogurt since you can’t get sour cream here. It was delicious and much healthier … think I’ll have to make it that way at home! There were a plethera of desserts as well including a vanilla gelato with lemon and basil, topped with a cherry sauce and a splash of vodka that was delectable! We were stuffed as one should be after a proper 4th of July celebration.
The boys spent more than 9 hours in the pool … forced out in the evening for a trip in to Cortona’s town center only to return to the pool as soon as we got back. It was fun to watch them play in the pool with the other kids, neither group understanding the language of the other yet playing as though they’ve known each other for years.
Cortona’s town center is much smaller than I had pictured in my head and feels very much like Lucca. Because it was a Sunday evening some of the shops were closed so we have planned to return another day to appropriately check it out. Our new friends, Sabastian and Allesandra, each own a store in town – his a jewelry store and hers a gift shop – that Kris and I are wanting to visit.
Our 4th of July in Italia was relaxing and full of lively conversation with friends both new and old. Perfecto!
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