Who Wouldn't Love Italy?

Ugh! after great effort I cannot figure out how to load the photos from my camera. I m ust learn all those computer words in Italian. Perhaps later. For now a few stories.

All is well.  The walking is hot and sweaty but lovely. There are incredible wildflowers everwhere not too mention the wild artichokes, chamomile, fennel, mint, figs etc. growing on the side of the road. And the gardens are fantastic!  Everyone grows there own food, community gardens, rooftops, containers you name it. Even herbs growing out of the cracks in ancient stone walls. At the first Abbey I stayed at, they were growing basil in the forest, in the shade! and it was gorgeous. The monks there made herbal tonics of all kinds from their gardens. A cure for every ill. They have been making these for centuries. I wished I could buy some, but there is a long road ahead for me and my little backpack. 

Food! I have eaten so many good things already. My favorite so far was rabbit in olive oil with rosemary, with roasted vegetables (eggplant, red peppers and artichokes) in a deep green olive oil with mint. Fantastic. The meat is also gorgeous. I had a thick t-bone steak of veal. They don't ask you how you want it cooked. It all comes very rare. I loved it.

I notice that all the food available in the shops and restaurants is grown locally. There is nothing exotic. A true local economy, except for the coffee, chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar.  I heard someone on CBC radio describing his prediction of post-petroleum society and it sounded very similar.  Only import the most precious items and produce the rest close to home.

I was in a tiny medieval walled village 2 days ago called Buonconvento during their festival of St. Peter and St. Paul when a group of old men on bicycles passed me arguing about who is the best dancer. I missed the dance competition but saw several of them dancing at the public dance that evening. I thought the small old man in the tight purple shirt with the red blazer was the best. His wife, of the same age, wore a sweater that revealed her navel. I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm for life. Incredible firework display at midnight.  The man next to me kept saying, "This is the finale", and 5 minutes later, "This is really the finale", 5 minutes more, "This is definitely the finale" and on it went for 30 minutes or more.  They seemed to specialize in fireworks with strange sounds - far beyond the usual buzzing and whistling.  One sounded like a cat meowing, then there was a baby crying, and another was a scream from a horror movie.  Great fun.

I am now in the hilltop town of Montalcino. The streets are so steep I long for handrails. How do the old people do it? I saw a man yesterday riding his bicycle with his cane hooked around the handlebars. The key may be fitness.

I hope to show some photos. I will try again later. It is stunning here. There is a panorama all around this town of the farms, vineyards, forests and rivers below. Love to all. Maria