Well this is certainly proving to be a busy tour around Italy!  I’m three days behind writing up what I’ve been up to so will do my best to catch up in the coming days.

So after a crazy day in Roma, it was at last a day off from touring in a group and a day at leisure all to myself   At last a day when I don’t have to set an alarm clock or be on a coach by 8am.  Instead what happens…..I’m wide awake by 6am!!!  Argh!!!!   I managed to make myself go back to sleep and awoke again at 8am.  Today is going to be a relaxing day around the town where I’m staying which in a small place called Chianciano Terme in Tuscany.   It’s renowned for its themal spa’s which is something I usually love but today I’ll give it a miss and just have a mooch around town, a lazy lunch & just see how the day fairs.

After getting the coach down to the Old Town I was quite surprised how quiet the place is especially compared to the previous day in the chaotic Rome!  Considering this is pretty much the summer season there are a lot of places closed or the museums literally only open for a couple of hours so unfortunately I turned up when they were shut!   It doesn’t bother me too much as it’s just nice to wander around the beautiful cobbled streets taking in the atmosphere & more importantly the sunshine!   The scenery is absolutely beautiful and is very much like the pictures you see of Tuscany.

I had a slow meander from the Old Town to the New Town, through the park trail and just took in the views, every so often just sitting on a park bench.  When you spend most of your week in an office, sat at a desk, glued to the computer to spend your Wednesday morning on a bench, alone, listening to the birds, taking in the views with the sun beating down your skin is truly wonderful.     I don’t get out into nature enough or just living in the moment so really took the time just to be still & take life slowly.

What you don’t get in an office though is sun burn from your computer!!     After ½ hour on a bench I realised I was getting rather red so decided it was time for lunch.   Once again, either nowhere seemed to be open or empty which isn’t a great sign so decided to just head to a café in the main Piazza.

Lunch again was a pizza!   You certainly can’t beat them here and are so reasonably priced, much cheaper than in the UK.   After a long leisurely lunch I decided I would brave the steep, uphill walk back to the hotel.   I could see dark clouds in the distance & not knowing exactly where I was going or how far the hotel was tried to set off at a brisk pace.    Pretty much after 5 minutes I realised how unfit I was and what inappropriate footwear (flip flops) I was wearing!   It was one of those walks where you’ve left the town, the taxi rank & the last bus stop are behind you & you just have to continue ahead as there’s no going back!    Which was fine until it started raining…followed by thunder….followed by lightening.  Up went the umbrella and before long I was slipping out of my flop flops which wouldn’t stay on my feet with the rain.   My legs were getting covered in mud from the gravel road but thankfully I was only 5 minutes from the hotel so managed to make it back semi-alive!

Despite this slight change in weather it didn’t detract from a lovely day which was topped off by an afternoon sleep!  (Something you don’t get to do on a Wednesday afternoon when you work full time)    I think everyone on the tour appreciated a day off from what is a full on trip from 7.30am – 10pm each day…at this rate I’ll need a holiday when I get back.

So from a very relaxed & chilled Lou Lou!

Ciao!