Ze Happy Retirees : 2015-07-26

We go north-eastwards to SIENA, one of the many Tuscan hill towns. City center is UNESCO World Heritage Site. When it was an Etruscan town, more than 2000 years ago, it was called Saina.

We continue to zigzag thru the beautiful Tuscan hills to discover MONTALCINO, PIENZA and still experience the heatwave that does not seem to want to leave.

CHIANCCIANO TERME, the curative powers of its waters was already known by the Romans. Nowadays, it is considered amongst the finest health resorts in Italy; however, to us, it seemed a bit strange with tens of hotels which looked empty, few people in the streets. A bit sad.

MONTEPULCIANO, another hill town dating from the Etruscan area, about 1,5 km long and car free, where we buy some local products for our picnics, some olive oil and cheese (what would we do without cheese). It is especially known for its red wine made with Sangiovese grapes, not to be confused with the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo made in the Abruzzo region, many miles away, with Montepulciano grapes. Go figure !

Does CORTONA ring a bell ? If you like books and/or movies you must remember ..... Cortona .... Tuscany ...... the sun .... the Tuscan sun ...... Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. I happened to have her third book in my hands and I must say it was absolutely uninteresting and boring; I guess that is the result of too many sequels.

The Lake TRASIMENO where a well known roman battle took place 2000 years ago (and not 200 like I mistakenly typed before, what a difference 1 zero makes !).

We leave Toscana for Umbria with PERUGGIA , bigger city and also originally Etruscan, where the Umbria Jazz 2015- since in 73 - was blooming, music everywhere. even Lady Gaga and Tonny Bennet but that concert was sold out.

ASSISI , which all Angelenos should know ... remember the original name of Los Angeles : El pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles del rio de Piorcuncula the latter being originally the tiny chapel of Franciscus, because it was on Aug 2, fiesta de Saint Franciscus of Assisi, that father Crespi, a Franciscan which took part to the spanish expedition in California , arrived at a beautiful place with a river. The rest is history .....

GUBBIO, where we stay at a "agriturismo" place ... look at the picture... what a view.

URBINO, where after 2 hours of walking , we got back in the car where there was 50 C= 122 F , the record !

And then the Adriatic Coast with SENIGALIA, ANCONA, ROSETO DEGLI ABRUZZI; PESCARA and its former Car circuit which we drove completely, about 25 km. It was last used in 1961.

We cross the Abruzzi, visit INTROACQUA, stay overnight in SULMoNA, and after visiting TIVOLI we finally arrive in ROMA.

=========================================

Comme l'explique le texte en anglais, nous zigzaguons à travers la Toscane, l'Ombrie, l'Abbruzzo.
Je rappelle qu'il suffit de copier le texte dans "Google traduction".

Prenons MONTEPULCIANO. On y produit un excellent vin dont le Vin Nobile est le plus connu, à partir de raisins Sangiovese. A ne pas confondre avec le Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, produit dans une toute autre région, les Abruzzes, à partir de grapes Montepulciano. Mais où est la logique !

Le Lac TRASIMENO. Qui se souvient de ses cours de latin en secondaire?? Je vois encore notre professeur, une femme de taille petite, dessiner avec le craies de couleur sur le grand tableau noir deux fois plus grand qu'elle, les positions des 2 armées, la romaine et la cartaginoise menée par Hannibal en personne, autour du lac lors de la bataille du 21 juin 217 av JC (2ème guerre punique).
Onze lerares latijn in Paridaens zou fier zijn dat ik 40 jaar later haar les vermeld.

CHIANCIANO TERME: prononcé "kyantchiaaaano", où, pendant notre promenade , j'ai en une fois une inspiration ... et j'entends ma mère parler de "kyansianoooo". Mais oui, elle a séjourné ici avec mon père mais je ne me souviens plus de l'année, 40's ou début des 50's. Il va falloir faire des recherches dans mes archives.

PESCARA: nous parcourons avec notre petite Fiat 500 le circuit automobile de 25,8km. Ce fut le plus grand circuit utilisé en Formule 1, en 1957.

Et maintenant... en avant toutes à travers les Abruzzes pour ROME.

Quiz : qui a écrit :
Rome unique objet de mon ressentiment,
Rome à qui ton bras vient d'immoler mon amant.
============================================