Author Archives: Tom and Julie

The bar next door to our billet produced an excellent supper last night. Tom said the mushroom soup was even better than his! As today was going to be a relatively long walk of 23.5 kms we decided to get up early and get going. Julie’s knee is still quite painful, though it is strapped […]

Our accommodation was very comfortable and we slept well. The birds started singing at dawn, and we were again delighted to see many house-martins nesting in the eaves of the house. It has been another bright and sunny day, though a little colder than the last couple of days, with a cold easterly wind kicking […]

Last night’s supper was a little disappointing for a 4-star hotel’s restaurant, but we slept very well and woke to bright sunshine. Breakfast was back at the same restaurant, and was one of the best we have had in Italy, with fresh fruit and a boiled egg, cured meats and cheeses. And butter, which is […]

Giuseppe’s recommendation for supper last night turned out to be a very good Osteria serving home-cooked food at very reasonable prices. A kind Italian gentleman, who used to work in the oil industry based in Aberdeen, came to our rescue to act as translator as there was no written menu. He said he was more […]

Our accommodation was well appointed and comfortable, and Chantal was a charming and helpful host. On Chantal’s recommendation we went to the only restaurant, just over the bridge in Ponte d’Arbia, for supper. We had an octopus starter followed by sole meuniere, and it was very good. When we arrived there was only one other […]

It was a shock when our 0645 alarm went off. For some time during the night there had been a lot of noise from the restaurant below. Then in the early hours the street cleaners started up. Oh dear! After a quick breakfast we were on our way by 0810, aware that we had an […]

Strictly we were not due a rest today, having only walked for three days rather than our usual five, but we would not have wanted to miss out on extra time in Siena. It’s simply wonderful! We need to return and spend longer here another time. Our billet is very convenient, though it was rather […]

This morning were woken by the chortling of house-martins building their nests under the eaves outside our room. This is a sound of spring that particularly delights us. We used to have house martins nest outside our bedroom window in Chew Magna, but sadly all attempts to encourage them at our present house have failed. […]

We slept well after an excellent meal at a restaurant just along the road from the hotel, and woke to birds singing in the trees outside. The sun was shining despite yesterday’s forecast indicating rain for today. At breakfast we were served by a very friendly American woman who has lived here for 30 years […]

The official designation for today’s walk would have been more than 30kms, which was challenging for us before Julie’s achilles began playing up, so we have split the day in two with a stay over in Colle di Val d’Elsa. Colle is also the home town of Manu, the wife of one of Julie’s cousins, […]