This is our third full day in Tuscany.  Yesterday we visited Pienza and Montepulchiano.  Amazing that towns build in the 11th and 12th centuries are still standing.  All share large fortress walls around them and they are located at the tops of hills, thus there is a LOT of walking up steel narrow roadways.  The weather continues to be beautiful.  Very hot, but sunny.

Right now I am in an Internet Cafe in Siena.  We just had lunch at a nice Italian restaurant.  I’m sure I’m putting on lots of weight with all the pasta, bread, wine (cheap!), and gelato.  Siena is home to the Cathedral of St. Catherine, patron saint of Siena.  It was so pleasant to walk into the Church and see her thumb encased in the wall.  Further up, we were confronted with her HEAD encased in glass, staring out at us.  Very weird. 

Got the link up to where we’re staying.  Check it out.  Casa Porta.  I’m in the Castelli room.

Novelties of Italy (and probably most of Europe)– finding out how to flush the toilet, getting into a store before they close for two hours at lunch, avoiding getting killed in the streets, no pedestrian right of way here.

Starting to fall into a rhythm here.  Breakfast, visit a village, back to pool, wine and cheese at night.  Have started to run in the mornings.  I was cautioned against Wild Boars.  I have had several dogs chasing me, but so far, no attacks. 

Tomorrow we take the train to Florence, which will be a huge city like Rome.  Sweating like crazy as I write this.  We are all packed together in a small, stuffy place.  I feel like I am in India! 

Beautiful here, though.  So much to see and experience.  Will write later.  Hope all is well with you.  And, yes, Susie, I did need you to nurse my wounds.  Took the band aid off last night, and woke up to blood all over the sheets.  Got busy with my Tide and all is well.  Caio.