Montepulciano

After a whirlwind tour in Venice, we rented a car and drove down to Montepulciano in Tuscany for a more extended stay to visit Grandpa Steve and Tiffy who have a home there.  The drive was beautiful but the highlight for Dennis was probably the amazing tunnels through the mountains.  We didn’t have to go around the mountains, we just went through them!

Our AirBnB was in the center of the historic center up on a hill so we had an incredible view.  It was a pretty fabulous place and even just spending time there was a treat.  We also had a wonderful time with Grandpa Steve and Tiffy with many wonderful meals and lots of fabulous wine.  And Grandpa Steve started giving the kids some history lessons – including what are the differences between the Bronze and the Iron Age?

Soon after we arrived, it was the election.  After following the debates and news from afar, Mira and Johanna got up at 3am to watch the results and Dennis joined soon thereafter.  And then we got back into bed… for the next four years. 

We also took some incredible field trips.  One of the highlights was a trip to Pienza where Grandpa taught us all about the architecture and the difference in artwork from medieval times vs. renaissance times.  We also had lunch at one of our favorites spots, Latte di Luna, and revisited our favorite playground to re-take some pictures from the kids’ earlier visits.  We also went to Sarteano to visit a museum about some Etruscan tombs and then went to see an actual tomb nearby!  It was a good thing we went to the museum beforehand because the entire tour was in Italian.  It was really a special treat.

Grandpa and Dennis also took the kids to Siena, one of our favorite cities, where Dennis climbed the clock tower and everyone else wimped out.  After running around in the piazza, everyone was off to the Siena Cathedral (aka the “black and white” church) which we love and now the kids do, too.  The day was topped off with a visit to our favorite restaurant in Montepulciano where they remembered us and we felt like regulars.  

After all this (not actually that strenuous) touring and many great lessons from Grandpa, the kids took a much-needed break by heading to the thermal baths at Bagno Vignoni with the grandparents where they swam, soaked, and lounged to their heart’s content.  

Our last day in Montepulciano was Mira’s 13th birthday.  We surprised her with many wonderful videos from friends and family (thank you!) and she was really touched.  We asked her what amazing thing she wanted to do for her birthday and her request was to stay home all day, in her pjs, with unlimited screen time.  And that is what she got, though we did force her out for a special birthday dinner.

Next stop is Spoleto in Umbria to see Uncle Hank, Zia Maria Anna, and the one and only cousin Zelda!