Umbria and Tuscany

Headed off to Orvieto. Have never seen so many vineyards -- EVERYONE had grapevines! Even the small houses had little rows of grapevines growing! The tiered fields made for scenic views all along the way. The duomo in Orvieto was having church, so we only saw the outside, but it was magnificent. For such a little town, that church was huge! The Orvieto pottery is bright and colorful (and expensive!), but it's all handmade and painted. Little shops tucked in every nook and cranny with olive wood utensils, rolling pins, aprons, pottery, toys -- you name, there is a little shop for it. The leather shops smelled heavenly! Ivy along the walls. Free bathrooms. Cobblestone streets. Everything was very compact. And, of course, gelato! Got it in early today! Next was Civita! What a wonder! It's a town on it's own mountaintop that you walk to by bridge. No cars allowed. At the end of the bridge come the steep steps, and lots of them! But the treasure at the top of the steps was worth it! It's been around for centuries, has survived several rockslides and an earthquake, and it has panoramic views of the valley surrounding. The town continues in the process of restorative measures to keep it from sliding down the mountain. Quaint shops and lots of restaurants, and even a B&B there, all in the area of less than one square block. The drive there -- well, mountainous, often only one lane width, and where there were two there were no lines. Signs warning about cliff dropoffs everywhere! Motorcycles flying around like they had wings. Just a bit daunting for the newly "Italian driver" that Char is, but we wouldn't be deterred. It was so worth it! Drove up to Siena and found a beautiful little hotel with only 8 rooms called Antica Torre where we got a room for the night. Patricia, the innkeeper, gave us her home phone number in case we got lost or needed anything in the night! Toured Siena's main piazza at 11 pm, and it was hoppin' -- and it was Sunday night! People dining everywhere. And that Duomo -- words do not describe. We'll show you when we figure out how to get pics on here. Must go -- have to check out. Off to Florence today. Ciao