We really did have a beautiful day "Under the Tuscan Sun" in Cortona. Frances Mayes put the town on the map for American tourists with her book and movie. It is an authentic Etruscan hilltop town having been established over 1500 years ago - it's older than Rome! It is right on the edge of Tuscany and Umbria and we could see Lake Trasimeno where Hannibal defeated the Romans in 217 b.c. We took the train to Camucia then a bus wound its way up to Cortona where we enjoyed a great lunch and a few hours of shopping and sightseeing. The weather was perfect and the day delightful. Everyone always enjoys the trip to Cortona! More later . . .
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Off to Rome and Staying Home - May 7
Jane, Joyce and Helen took a day trip to Rome, leaving on an 7 a.m. train that got them there in less than two hours. The rest of us took a morning walk over to the Santa Croce neighborhood. We passed by the Duomo, Dante's house, the Bargello and lots of shops on the way. The leather school behind the church was our destination, but no big purchases were made - very expensive! The rest of the day was spent doing our "own thing" including another visit to Tullio's cafe, the Bermuda Triangle, for gelato and coffee. It's just down the street from La Contessina and hard to resist! The girls returned from their successful trip to Rome about 10 p.m. and all are safely home. More later . . .