Dax and Kathleen, at dinner in Florence.
The villa had a vineyard, its own church, and a woman named Bianca who bakes fresh bread on Tuesdays and Fridays.
We hiked in the outskirts of Greve, stopping for a photo shoot with the herd of goats blocking our path.
We drove to vineyards and rang the bells of stone-walled houses. We stood in cool tasting rooms where the sun streamed through the windows, highlighting our fingerprints on the wine glasses, making my hair glow fiery red, Kathleen's honeycomb brown.
We said grazie and prego. Scusi. (I decided I could form any Italian word by putting "usi" at the end. "Usi." Italian is so cute, non?)
We ate lasagna.
If our trip had been a movie, there'd be a montage of four glasses lined up on worn wooden countertops, filled with good red wine, again and again. And then some.
Swirling, smelling, taking nerdy notes (me), leaving nothing for the spit bucket (the guys--okay, me and the guys), buying 17 bottles of wine (Dax and Kathleen), and staining our teeth a hopeless shade of gray (everyone).
Dax prefers the Super Tuscans. I like when the Sangiovese grapes don't exceed 80%--a little Cabernet Sauvignon mixed in is nice. I have preferences. Chianti stipulations. I'll be insufferable in no time.
Naturally, we quoted lines from Sideways. Hello, we were so "not drinking any fucking Merlot."
Our car, the Fiat Panda, was a fearless mascot, as was the symbol of the region, Il Gallo Nero, the black, umm, rooster.
Oh yes, and did I mention that I nearly ran away with Lorenzo, owner of a small vineyard and a dog called Pinto?
And that was all just on Friday. See the pics for yourself >>
The pics are great, Coquette. Could the name of the town have been any more appropriate for someone there on vacation from France? On strike, indeed...from the rigors of everyday life.
Posted by: DDJ | 27 April 2005 at 10:08 PM
Gorgeous pictures! Now I hate you because you went to Italy ;)
We stayed near Greve also. It's so pretty. Sigh. That's okay, it's raining (again!) here.. I'll be fine..
Posted by: Gloria | 27 April 2005 at 10:10 PM
We loved sharing in the adventure! The photos are great and the writing wonderful and witty, as usual.
Posted by: Mary Lou | 28 April 2005 at 12:18 AM
So... why didn't you run off with Lorenzo?
Pictures=pretty.
Posted by: Asian Leprechaun | 28 April 2005 at 01:42 AM
"I like when the Sangiovese grapes don't exceed 80%--a little Cabernet Sauvignon mixed in is nice. I have preferences. Chianti stipulations."
La classe, tout simplement, pour une fois sincèrement.
Posted by: schuey | 28 April 2005 at 04:54 AM
Merci bien, Schuey.
Asian, Lorenzo had a wife. Blast.
Posted by: Coquette | 28 April 2005 at 01:51 PM
Nice pictures! The trip sounds/looks so great. Lucky you!
Now...are you still laughing about the block cock? I am.
Posted by: Alisa | 28 April 2005 at 02:59 PM
Only Friday?! The photos are fabulous. Please post the rest (of the story, I mean). Are there photos of Lorenzo? Or at the very least, his dog? :)
Posted by: Marilyn | 28 April 2005 at 04:51 PM
great photos coquette! but none of you! :) you simply must turn the camera on yourself at some point.. in all fairness, it took over a year to post a picture or two of myself on my blog (they are the most hit of all my photos, go figure.) my husband and i were in italy in 2002 and it was the best time ever! i LOVE florence. that's where my husband proposed and we bought the engagement ring on the ponte vecchio. *sigh* good times. i must go back.
Posted by: gleek | 28 April 2005 at 05:38 PM
Before, I did not hate you. Now, I hate you.
But, hey-- at least you shared with us, so maybe I will get over myself.
Posted by: bluepoppy | 28 April 2005 at 06:07 PM
Great pictures, great story, but wishing there were some pics of you.
Posted by: Bob | 29 April 2005 at 03:50 PM
I wish I knew something about wine!
Posted by: chaton | 29 April 2005 at 04:58 PM
thank you for taking me away, just a little anyway, on a rainy stateside morning.
Posted by: brando | 29 April 2005 at 05:44 PM
Hi Coquette--I found you a few days ago in some roundabout manner. I've been enjoying your writing! Kate Hudson has nothing on you. I'm planning a trip to Italy this summer, I must visit some of the places you've photographed, they're beautiful!
Posted by: Jillian | 30 April 2005 at 07:11 AM
i like this part of this blog:"Dax prefers the Super Tuscans. I like when the Sangiovese grapes don't exceed 80%--a little Cabernet Sauvignon mixed in is nice. I have preferences. Chianti stipulations. I'll be insufferable in no time." is very good
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