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| Just outside Castiglion del Lago, April, 2012 |
After the
craziness that is Easter in Italy, I took a train to Castiglion del Lago to visit my friend Elin (from Toronto.) Elin was fresh off hosting some friends from
T.O., and I think she was craving some normal interaction with someone who
wouldn’t ask too many questions, understood how Italy worked, would help with
the dishes, and was OK doing “normal” stuff.
And normal stuff we did!
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| The spectacular view from Elin's villa. |
After arriving
mid- morning, we went shopping for plants for her villa. Elin found a great nursery on the south side
of Lago Trasimeno and we filled the
car with an assortment of colourful annuals and perennials. The afternoon was spent getting our hands
dirty planting, and by 17:00hrs, the garden had a fresh new look.
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| Elin doing laundry - Italian-style. |
After a wee nap,
we headed out for aperitivo hosted by Elin’s friend Nan H-M (from South Carolina).
Nan owns a lovely villa just over the next hill from Elin. Drinks were consumed, food was eaten, and
then we all jumped into the car and headed to Chiusi for dinner at Osteria la
solita zuppa. It was a wonderful
meal and Nan and Elin were thoroughly charming and delightful dinner
companions. The food was spectacular too.
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| The view from Pienza |
On Day 2, Elin
and I jumped back in to car and headed for Pienza. Just outside of Pienza, we stopped at a store
that made beautiful iron furniture and accessories, and Elin bought a bunch of
stuff for her villa.
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| The main piazza in Pienza |
I had heard a lot
about Pienza from my friend Jane R, who spends time there at a friend’s
apartment, so I was happy to see it.
Through the rolling Tuscan hills we went, and up to Pienza for a visit
and some lunch. Pienza is a lovely,
small Tuscan hilltop town with stunning views and I can see why Jane (et.al.)
love it so much. My train back home was
not until 17:30hrs, so we did what all good consumers do, we went shopping at the
local outlet mall – Valdichiana.
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| Pienza, 2012 |
Nestled next to
the A1 autostrada just outside Bettolle, this mall had everything was I
was looking for at prices I could afford.
For many years, I have been coveting a set of bed linen from Frette, a high-end Italian
manufacturer, but never seemed to be able to afford them. So, one of our first stops was the Frette
store. After rummaging through their
stock, I found some beautiful sheets and a comforter cover. They were
expensive, so I was predictably trying to justify spending the money. Elin
exclaimed, “Buy them! They’d easily be $1,000 back home, if you could get them.
Check out their website when you get home and you’ll see how CHEAP these are!” I heeded Elin’s advice, and indeed, my
purchases were indeed deeply discounted. I was one happy shopper, and my new
shoes were pretty nice too!
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| Catching the train back home to Firenze - shopping in hand. |
While the outlet
mall is a cathedral to consumerism, I’ve tried hard not to buy too many
beautiful Italian things while I’m over here.
I remind myself that at the end of the day, I have to lug all my stuff
home, so my purchases have been very selective.
The Frette sheets were a special treat though, and I can’t wait to lug
them home!
