Tuscan report

[CVP]

Tuscany rather than one of Blackpool's finest snorters I'm afraid.

A week in the Tuscan countryside just walking and sight seeing followed by a few days of culture in Florence.

We're still working our way through the images as I have 4.7gb of data and Mrs CVP has nearly 3gb, so lots and lots of images.

So far stored at my usual location of [url]www.pbase.com/cvp[/url].

Some of my favourites,

ITALIAN LIFE
Scooters are just a way of life as fast transport around the narrow streets of the towns and cities. No nylon protective suits here, it's all about looking good as well as getting around

[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44204769/large.jpg[/pic]
[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44204768/original.jpg[/pic]

For the ladies shoe shopping and the mobile seem to be two staples of life. Sneakily taken whilst Mrs CVP got into the swing of things and was shoe shopping !

[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44216960/large.jpg[/pic]

LANDSCAPES
The rolling hills of Tuscany are wonderful. I can't really do them justice but here's my best effort to capture the rolling green wheat fields.

[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44163970/large.jpg[/pic]

For once I made it up at dawn to get the soft morning light
[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44216957/large.jpg[/pic]

Another early morning start and a beautiful misty morning where I seemed to have the whole of the countryside to myself

[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44245710/large.jpg[/pic]

Classic Florence with the Ponte Vecchio. The D100 did much better at coping with noise than I thought on this night time exposure of about 4 seconds.
[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44163969/large.jpg[/pic]


and of course it wouldn't be me without some wildlife...even on holiday

One of the frogs in the pond of the farm where we stayed for the first week
[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44163958/large.jpg[/pic]

A friendly lizard living on the wall outside our room at the farm
[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44163960/original.jpg[/pic]

Finally a wasp living in the Rosemary bush near our room at the farm
[pic]http://www.pbase.com/cvp/image/44163978/original.jpg[/pic]

More to be posted to pbase as we process the remainder of the images. I'm really looking forward to returning there, probably later in the year around mid to late September when the vines are starting to turn red and the autumn colours are coming through.

Chris

[Hugh1]

Great photos, the night, frog and wasp ones especially!

[lotusfan]

Hugh1 said:

Great photos, the night, frog and wasp ones especially!

my sentiments precisely. love the shots, especially the frog.
LF

[chris.mapey]

Fantastic- love the rolling lanscapes & the night shot.

Chris

[ehasler]

Some nice shots! I like the spiders web one on the pbase gallery.

Where were you staying? We've just got back from Tuscany as well, staying in Castellina in Chianti, although the scenery further south was more photogenic - not had a chance to go through my pics yet, but will try to post some in the next day or so!

[nomoregravy]

Hi Chris,

I like these, the countryside ones especially.

Really cool.

Matt

[V6GTO]

Great work, Chris

Martin.

[CVP]

ehasler said:

Some nice shots! I like the spiders web one on the pbase gallery. Where were you staying? We've just got back from Tuscany as well, staying in Castellina in Chianti, although the scenery further south was more photogenic - not had a chance to go through my pics yet, but will try to post some in the next day or so!

First week was at an "agrotourismo", a peculiarly Italian working farm that also does B&B. It was called Fattoria Voltrona and is about 5 miles from San Gimignano. Most of what you eat and drink is grown on the farm. It's simple and delicious, not to mention a complete bargain. For instance dinner is Euro 19.50 per person for antipasti, pasta course, main course, dessert, coffee, white wine, red wine and grappa. They do have a web site which I think is www.voltrona.com or something like that. We will definitely going there again, a great place with really friendly family / staff.

In Florence we stayed at the Hotel Alessandra on Borgo SS. Apostoli. A small family run place only about 2 mins walk from Ponte Vecchio. I'd really recommend this place to stay as the family who run it are very friendly and it's a super small hotel.

Look forward to seeing your images Ed.

Chris

[bilko2]

Very nice pictures
That night one is incredible, just off to browse your pbase account now.

[badbeachbuggy]

Very nice pics, I like the moped ones

[te51cle]

I don't want to look at these. I spent all of last May in Italy. It was grey, windy and wet. I am jealous, full stop.

[petros]

Those roads look like they're tailor made for a Blat

[CVP]

petros said:

Those roads look like they're tailor made for a Blat

You're not wrong. The roads are twisty with lots of uphill, downhill and camber changes. Generally well surfaced.

I had to endure being in an old LDV diesel van with hardly enough oomph to get up the hills and I'm just sitting there thinking what it would be like in my own car, god it would have been great.

Chris