Tuscany 2002 - Day 1

This time the holiday is special.

Bettina and Christian are on their honeymoon in beautiful Italy and I'm joining them for the last week. It was their express wish - I wouldn't have just squeezed in. Nevertheless, it is once again pure relaxation in this wonderful spot on earth near Siena.

Saturday, 22.6.2002

This time the journey to the promised land begins in Graz - my base in the south of our country. And therefore not at 10 as planned, nor within the targeted time period of 12, but only at 1. The hours were very, very nice and saying goodbye is as difficult as every weekend. I expect the upcoming 800 km to take 8 hours to drive, including traffic jams, refueling and pee breaks. So I would only arrive in Miscianello late at 9.

But I don't want that either, so the Alfa drives obediently towards its homeland. Klagenfurt is quickly reached, the border is crossed at a good 100 km/h, and there is almost nothing going on at the toll stations. Nevertheless, there is a lot of traffic all the way to the caretaker beaches. It is time for a pit stop. I accurately find a rest stop that is being renovated. Outside temperature: 38°C

So we quickly went into the toilet container, then into the shop container, filled up with fresh juice for the car and off we went.

The exit before Padua onto the motorway towards Bologna comes much too early for me and tears me out of the left-lane monotony. I just made it! There is not much traffic between Bologna and Firenze - on the infamous Apennine stage. But suddenly there is a traffic jam, as IlLungo predicted on the phone. Thank God it is only 20 km to Florence, then the route is perfectly passable again. Well, apart from the thousands of Danes who cannot drive at all.

Nevertheless, a wonderful feeling of euphoria prevails. Is it the fast movement and the overtaking of Porsche 3 series cars or the good music (Radio Italia Network) or are they fumes from the air conditioning? The temperature in Florence should also not be left unmentioned: 39°C - unbelievable!

7pm Siena North, 7.30pm Miscianello. Best time! 6 ½ hours.

But the K's aren't there. I thought the pasta was already in the pot, the wine decanted, the table set. No one there. Just the mailbox, of course! What now? Hidden camera? Wrong day? Wrong apartment?

I search the winery and discover the Tullner Laguna next to the owner's office. I soon find it in the wine cellar and then the newlywed couple comes out of the pool. And that is my next destination. The temperature is still well over 30°C and the water temperature is at least just below that.

This time we are in a new apartment. Completely unsuitable for a quiet stay in Tuscany with TV and internet access. In principle this should not be accepted, but this time it is tolerated as an exception, as the World Cup is still going on. Unfortunately the Azzurri are already out, otherwise it would be a pleasure to watch the games in a bar.

Instead, I have a single bed of minimal dimensions. You can only lie down and not move. Turning to the side means you'll fall. But I don't want to complain. It's very nice here - just terribly hot. Especially when the two of them are preparing the perfect dinner in the kitchen under the spotlights.

For antipasti there is prosciutto con melon and then penne con zucchine e pomodoro. With that there is Chianti classico riserva from 98 and 99 and the obligatory grappa from Aiola. So it gets a little later on the terrace, around 20 to 40. I would guess.