SAN QUIRICO - TUSCANY

SAN QUIRICO 16/5 - 22/5

We arrived in San Quirico mid afternoon to a warm welcome from Baz (Darren's high school Italian teacher and now great mate). He cooked us up a 3 course storm...... consisting of local peccorino cheese, prosciutto, salami, bread, wine.... followed by pasta..... and then our main meal... lucky you aren't here T!

San Quirico is a small tuscan village built within the town walls and has one main street which was once the main road to Rome. Baz is the king of this small town. It took us an hour to walk 50 metres, as all the locals would stop him for a chat and boy does he like a chat!

The countryside around the village has amazing views of rolling green hills, olive groves, pencil pines... all very tuscan and all postcard perfect. Baz was a wonderful tour guide showing us all the highlights and teaching us all the history of the region..... finally some culture, not just all food and wine! We hit a local vineyard named Sante Maria and met the winemaker Alfreddo - who is a smiley old guy with a hildebrandish tan and crooked eyes. One of the nicest people we have ever met!

We met heaps of locals inlcuding, Paulo who is one of Baz's best Italian mates. This guy lent us his car, provided us internet service and gave us great deals on his postcards..... Italian hospitality at its best!

MOMENT OF THE WEEK -
Eating at the Costellos street dinner where they set up tables in the piazza and showcase their traditional meals for everyone in the town. We ate like kings and filled up on brushcetta, penne almatriciana, grilled pork, donuts...... and of course Alfreddo's house red! TC also hit the dance floor with an 85y.o old Italian - Eugenio - who would have won dancing with the Stars any day of the week! He was a dance machine!

MOMENTS -

• Sante Marie winery
• Being served free prosecco - a special Italian champagne - and nibbles from Marco at the 5 star resort Baz teaches at
• Eating a lunch feast in the towns picturesque gardens
• Swimming in the natural thermal springs (38 degrees) in Bagno Vignoni
• Visiting the other small towns around the region
• The super-friendly locals who welcomed us with open arms and little English - Paulo, Trickey, Alfreddo, Eugenio, Roma and co.
• Hearing 12 big ones in the piazza on our last night
• Gelato, gelato, gelato
• Peccorino, peccorino, peccorino
• The food and wine
• And most importantly the company!

TOOL OF THE WEEK - After a serious night of drinking in the piazza we ventured home around 1am to call it a night. Around 4am when we all agreed to finally go to bed, Baz turns around and says 'Hey mate.... should we open just 1 more bottle of red?'

And people think we are the bad influence........ BAZ YOU HAVE FINALLY MADE IT!