The weather right now boasts cool mornings and gloriously hot, sunny afternoons, just like Tuscany in late Summer. So today I want to don a favorite sundress and strappy sandals and join you in an amble through the shady streets of Montepulciano, Italy.
Our first stop will be for coffee, of course, thick, dark and strong with luscious crema swirled on top just so. Or perhaps decadent Italian hot chocolate, so thick and lustrous you can spoon it up. We need such fortifying beverages to strengthen us as we climb the steep, cobbled streets.
We will go anywhere we like, turning off down side alleys, some dark and cool, others brilliant with sunshine warming hanging baskets of red geraniums.
I will have to stop at the scarf shop for I cannot leave Tuscany without a soft, beautifully patterned scarf to take with me. Scarves are my memory carriers, the items I turn to on hard days when I need reminders of wonderful moments.
With many stops to catch our breath, we will finally emerge at the summit of Montepulciano and find a cool spot under the trees to take in the stunning vistas of shimmering green hills, cypress spires, and tidy vineyards.
After all that happy wandering, it is high time to rest our bones and do a wine tasting of Montepulcianos finest bottles.
What would you like to do on a day of meandering through a Tuscan town?
Might be hard to get me out of that coffee shop!! But I can leave it for some beautiful views.
I know!!! Isn’t it a lovely spot, @coffeeandcrumpets:disqus ? 🙂
The pictures are so gorgeous, if I close my eyes, I almost feel like I am there. Italy is top of my bucket list to visit, but I imagine a day meandering through Tuscan town would be pretty similar to yours. Coffee, wine and people watching. I do hope you are well Krista. 🙂
It’s so good to hear from you, Anna! I do so miss your blog posts and hearing about all your adventures. 🙂 I hope you are well too! XO
Sorry I have been absent. Took some time out to regroup… I am back though. Kicked my new blog off on Wednesday. I didn’t realise just how much I missed the blogging community. Big hugs, looking forward to catching up on the years lost. Hugs. xxx
Oh good!!! I’m so thrilled, luv! I will go look for your blog now. XOXO
Ah, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano! Who can resist that? Sharing your wanderings to work up an appetite, and a bottle, perhaps from Cantine Talosa, to share over the meal would make a very pleasant day.
Yes! I love that wine too, @Kayrpea61:disqus 🙂 I am going to search my local Italian wine shop to see if I can find a bottle or two. 🙂
I have never been to Tuscany; I haven’t even been to Italy. I would very much love to go as it has everything I love all packaged together including climate, history, beauty and cuisine! Your images are gorgeous and thanks for reminding me why I need to continue to save up for my Italian adventure xx
I’m SO glad that you’re saving up for an Italian adventure, Hotly Spiced. 🙂 After reading your blog these last few months, I know you will absolutely adore it. 🙂
I was in here a few years ago with my husband and I think we followed the same route! Started with coffee and a sweet breakfast and enjoyed the vibrant colors, the rolling hills and views. Yes and we too ended it with wine and good food! Thanks for this Krista!
Oh how wonderful, @meetakwolff:disqus 🙂 It is such a pretty and romantic place for strolling with your love. 🙂
I like all your ideas Krista, it sounds just perfect. I’d start with a cup of coffee though 😉
Yes, @wanderingsheila:disqus , I’m a start with coffee kind of girl too. 🙂
You have me dreaming of wandering the streets of Tuscany. I love to sit and watch the world go by, watch the parents with their children, and the laughing, smiling faces.
Sigh, I do too, Val. 🙂 A shady spot on a hot day, chilled prosecco, hours of people watching. Sounds blissful. 🙂
Stunningly beautiful photos, Krista! And they bring back wonderful memories of our favorites in Tuscany. I guess I could only add sipping a glass of wine at a sidewalk cafe and then stuffing a plate of mouth-watering pasta into myself as a way to round out your (much healthier than mine) list. And yes, I buy scarfs for souvenirs — a wonderful way to remember a place! Loved this.
Oh yes, @disqus_WseMqaTPwi:disqus , how could I neglect mentioning pasta!!! That is an absolute must. 🙂
oh so beautiful! you’ve got me packing my bags! love those stone carved walls too! enjoy your sunny but cool days! xoxo
http://mlleparadis.blog.spot.com
I really loved that wall too, paradis. 🙂 It is so wonderful when someone takes the time to make a plain wall wondrous. 🙂
These pictures are wonderful, I love Italy and these have all the essence of my favourite country. GG
Thank you so much, GG. I’m really glad you liked them. 🙂
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful place!
It really is, @lizposmyk:disqus 🙂 My brother was married there and I absolutely loved it. 🙂
Oh how gorgeous!
I would love to visit Tuscanny! Such beautiful images 🙂
I hope you get to go one day soon, @GourmetGetaway:disqus 🙂 It is a place very dear to me.
I love Italy and my first stop is always for espresso, mid afternoon I need gelato and of course some prosecco to enjoy at sunset 🙂
Oh yes, @tandysinclair:disqus , gelato and prosecco are musts! 🙂
I do love Montepulciano. It was the first place we went when we got our car. Just bundled the girls into the back seat and took off for a sunny Saturday drive around Trasimeno Lake and up to Montepulciano to wander (and giggle over all the Twilight paraphernalia in shop windows… they had recently finished shooting New Moon there). Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I’d love to wander those streets with you sometime…
Oh how fun, @BethanyBassett:disqus 🙂 I’d forgotten about Twilight being shot there. 🙂 I would really love to wander with you too. One day we WILL make it happen. 🙂 XO
I would love to meander with you!
That would make me so happy, @disqus_v9uRgGTGfe:disqus 🙂 XO
This has made me want to visit Italy all the more!!
Oh good, @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus 🙂 I cannot wait for you to see it in person and read every single post you write about it. 🙂 XO
Thank you for including me on this wonderful trip!
Thanks for the day out, Krista – I had a fabulous time and loved Montepulciano!! Your photos are beautiful and really make we want to visit in real life, and I’ll definitely be stopping at the scarf shop, too. I loved how you called scarves your ‘memory carriers’ – what a great way to describe them – I hope you chose a bright one to remind you of the beautiful day.