Montalcino, Tuscany

Keen to see a little more of the Tuscan countryside, we set off from our hotel in search of adventure.

Leaving the X5 at home, we poured ourselves into the soft top, turned the music up and raced out along the winding roads.

Across Tuscany’s rolling, lush green hills, past vineyards and forests.

Pulling over every few minutes to wander Cyprus tree-lined tracks, pop into churches and climb to the very best views.

Enjoying the early summer sunshine, despite the persistent wind that threatened to blow us all away at any moment!

Gingham dress

Leather handbag // Strappy sandals (Gorgeous HS versions)

Denim jacket

Embroidered dress (Pretty HS option, diff colour) // Embroidered shoes

Pink Chanel bag

Ad - Shop this post

We spotted the med-evil town of Montalcino from across a gentle valley, carpeted with a forest of oak trees.

A quick hop, skip and a jump, and we were there.

Giddy with the excitement of discovering unknown shores.

Abandoning the car at the edge of town, we proceeded on foot.

Climbing up towards the center, with only a few stops along the way to catch our breath.

We crept through abandoned, stone flanked streets and relished the warm sunshine mingling with the ringing of church bells and the smell of baking wafting from shuttered windows.

Stumbling out into the town square with no warning whatsoever!

Just in time for a good Italian cappuccino.

Refueled and not quite ready for lunch, we set off again.

This time making our way towards the lower parts of town, looking out over the carefully terraced hills, dotted with houses, farms and orchards.

With spring in full bloom, the boys couldn’t very well resist a few snaps of their girls against a wall of tumbling wysteriea.

That’s our Christmas card sorted, Jules!

We carried on, climbing through olive groves with the occasional Tuscan cat purring its way over to wind around our legs and ask for a scrap, or perhaps a glass of wine.

You never know with Tuscan cats.

We chose Osteria Enoteca Osticcio for lunch. A decision fueled by the mouth watering menu and this view…

We popped open a little local bubbly and settled in for a long, lazy lunch.

Starting with a board heaving with local cheeses and another topped with locally sourced and cured meats.

Ribboned with melt-in-the-mouth fat, the occasional aroma of acorns or pine coming through.

Delicious with the rich, creamy cheeses and cool, crisp wine.

Despite Julia’s choice of cheese and hazelnut risotto, she couldn’t keep her paws off my pasta.

The pumpkin and sausage pasta turned out to be a crowd favourite, especially when topped with an avalanche of Parmesan!

We shared a couple of rounds of tiramisu, all polished off with thick black espresso shots.

By the time we emerged feeling very fat and happy, the sun had passed over the town and we were left chilly in the shade.

We hopped in the car and raced off in search of one last drop of afternoon sun.

And one last frolic through Tuscany’s irresistible roadside fields. Ok, maybe more than one more.

We raced, hid, danced, lay chatting in the long grass, making shapes from clouds and reminiscing over our trip.

I feel so very lucky to have met such wonderful friends through this blog.

It really does seem to have made the world a much smaller, friendlier place.

Whatever life brings, it’s pretty special to know we’ve made life long friendships along the way.

If you’re thinking of starting a blog… do it!

Not only will you have something to look back on and read through your adventures, it’ll make you get out there and do more, see more. It’ll open your life up to possibilities and friendships that you might never have made otherwise.

I wrote a post a while ago filled with advice on how to get started. Check it out if you’re keen!

If you’re already knee deep in the blogging world, go to meet-ups, plan a party, reach out to others!

You’ve got nothing to lose. Except maybe a shoe in Julia’s case…

On the way home we spotted this beautiful villa, sitting proudly atop a waving field of grain.

We lept out of the car, put the Gladiator soundtrack on full volume and lost ourselves in the moment.

I can’t imagine a more perfect finalé to our Italian adventures.

Hands down one of the greatest trips of my life.

Italy you may just be my spiritual home. I will be back!