Photos of our Fabulous Adventure
I slept in until 6:30 today – yay! Showered and dressed I went down early for breakfast and met up with others as they came down.
Today is our transfer day to San Quirico and we are all excited to reach our destination for the week. Everyone is packed and ready well ahead of time and our us arrives exactly at 11am. The driver Walter is a very friendly fellow and in his broken English and my broken Italian/Spanish combo I decipher that he would have arrived earlier, however there was an incidente (pronounced inshedente) on the highway.
Luggage loaded we are off to the PisaMover to pick up Deirdre & Bill, our hiking guides. Bill has just arrived this morning from England and his flight has been delayed so unfortunately we have about a 30 minute wait. Bill arrives and we are off! Spirits are high and we chat amiably while watching the incredible Tuscan countryside. Breakaways has provided some snacks to tide us over and shortly following we stop for a washroom, snack break. The cafe/store is amazing and everyone one of us buys wine, Prosecco, chocolates, and a variety of other goodies.
Around 3:30pm we arrive in San Quirico and the Hotel Palazzuolo. The hotel was developed from an XIXth century farmhouse run by Simonelli Santi Family, which dominates the valley crossed by Via Cassia connecting Rome with Siena; the hotel overlooks on Montalcino at the sunset and on the ancient San Quirico d’Orcia center at the sunrise. The surrounding farm produces Olives and wine and has been in the Simonelli family for over 600 years.
Settled in our rooms, a few of us dropped their bags and head for the stunning pool, others unpacked and relaxed until the 5:30 city tour of San Quirico.
The town is a gorgeous originating in the Etruscan times, the first reference specifically to San Quirico is 712!
Oops, the balcony is a wee bit small.
Happy travellers!
Following our introductory tour of San Quirico, we head back to our rooms, and it is time for Happy Hour! We decide that since Gail & Dave have the room with the balcony, albeit a very narrow one, their room will be our designated family Happy Hour location. We gather up our recent Prosecco and wine purchases, all available glasses and b-line to their room. Let the fun begin! We are all so excited to be here in this lovely location and together, such a special time for us. Along with our drinks, it is also time for selfies – this proves to be hilarious, however we did manage a great family photo on our balcony.
At 7:00pm, the entire group gathers on the Terrace overlooking the pool and we hear from our hiking leaders, Bill & Deirdre, about our exciting walks for tomorrow. The first day is always the most gentle and generally the majority of the group will take the easier walk. Now easier doesn’t necessarily mean ‘easy’, it usually is just the shorter version of the harder walk.
Dinner time, and the 30 of us move into the long table in the dining room for our 4 course dinner. The food is delicious and the conversation very animated and lively. A great first night in a gorgeous part of the world!