I'm not sure there is a more idyllic place on earth.  We are sitting on the terrace of our little apartment that is part of a 500 year old olive farm; the dappled sun makes the temperature perfect and we have surrounded ourselves with local wine, olives, and marinated artichoke hearts.  It is so beautiful that words can't really describe the peacefulness of it, but right after we arrived Chloe did say, "Wow, this is pretty.  Thanks for bringing me here!"

We left Rome this morning and caught a 12:15 train to Florence.  As soon as we got off the train I was hit with a wave of nostalgia - I remember Jeff and I taking a self-portrait on a bench while waiting for a train out of Florence 14 years ago.  I swear I saw the exact bench - the picture and moment are burned into my memory.  When we entered the arrival hall I was met with another flashback… we were young (and admittedly not the brightest tools in the shed) and we got off the train in Firenze.  We looked all around wondering where we could catch a train to Florence and were just about to ask at the Help Desk when we saw a few travel posters and realized (to our surprise) the Florence is Firenze.  We inwardly grimaced, blushed, and were quite happy not to need to get on another train.  So, for those of you who didn't already know - Florence is Firenze.  What can I say, we were young.  You're welcome.

The train we took today may have been the nicest train we have ever taken in Europe, and we have taken a lot of trains!  It was a Eurostar through Trenitalia and amazingly we actually arrived 10 minutes early on a 1 hour and 35 minute trip.  We were in first class (no, it's not like the difference on an airplane) and the cost upgrade is minimal but well worth it.  We had a lovely little four person 'booth' and service included hot coffee (the strength of regular espresso but with half the water we're used to), delicious rosemary breadsticks, and sparkling wine!  The kids had sparkling orange soda and chocolate chip cookies - pretty civilized!

Me looking slightly stunned on the train.                      --------------------------------->

Technology is amazing and it was utilized to it's full advantage today.  Before we left Rome Jeff used Google street view to look at the route we needed to take from the train station to the Europcar rental location.  He knew we needed to turn right out of the station, walk two blocks, turn left at the bank, walk two more blocks and it would be on our right.  Amazing!  We walked to the place like we knew where we were going - and we did!  The lady who worked there was very friendly and fluent in four languages - one of them being our own.  We ended up with a very snazzy red Alfa Romeo and with excellent directions from the lady at the desk we were off!  We made it out of Firenze with no complications and after driving down tiny winding roads with beautiful vistas we arrived at Podere Patrignone - our home away from home for the next week.  After a quick tour of the place we quickly unpacked at headed down to the pool.  The entire place is covered with beautifully trimmed rosemary bushes which give off the most amazing smell.  Combine that earthy smell with unending views of vineyards and olive trees and you have this little slice of heaven.  I totally understand why people get addicted to this area!

We needed to get a few groceries so off we went to Castellina in Chianti - any idea what they're famous for?  Our gelato meters were low so we needed to re-fuel and we all agree that this was the best gelato so far on this trip.  I had half coconut half banana and it was amazing.  Jeff kicked it up a notch with half coffee half bacio (chocolate hazelnut) which seemed like an excellent choice as well.  Keeping with tradition the kids chose mainly fruit flavors although Chloe went out on a limb today and added crème caramel to her peach.  I have a feeling we'll be heading back to that town just for their gelato, not to mention the fact that the town is really cute and completely quintessential small town southern Europe.  Small cobbled streets, restaurants with tiny outside patios jammed along narrow alleys, church bells ringing and little old couples walking arm in arm.  Love, love, love.

Later that night…..

Just got back from dinner in San Donato - what an adorable little town!  Certainly a quiet one but really well preserved - I remarked to Jeff that if a lady from 1584 was shot into the future (well, present for us) she would have no trouble finding her house.  The little streets feel so authentic, and probably because they actually are!  It's so clean and the best part is that it didn't smell like pee!  There were only a handful of restaurants so we had to wait for half an hour to get seated at a very busy pizzeria, then wait another 15 minutes for our order to be taken, and another hour until we received our pizza!  Thankfully the kids were playing with some Belgian girls from another table (one being a 7 year old who could speak English mind-blowingly well).  Thankfully between playing tag and watching the pizzas being made they were well entertained, because by the time our dinner hit the table it was 10:15 pm.

We're back and ready for bed.  My mom is flying in tomorrow so we'll be picking her up from the Florence/Firenze airport around noon and then we plan on spending the rest of the day sightseeing in Florence.  She's here for a quick 5 days then jetting back home again - just enough time to eat some great pizza and soak in the Tuscan atmosphere.

Buonanotte!