Where is winter? Today it was again close to sixty degrees. Just like yesterday when Carmela, Eugenio and I took a long drive in the country, through the secret valleys in the mountains, the south side of Monte Amiata. We went to a furniture outlet to browse and then had lunch in Castell'azzara in Grossetto province, the high country of the Maremma. La Tana dell'Orso (Cave of the Bear) is a tiny trattoria with wonderful food- the pasta, bread, etc. all made on premises, run by a young couple. The three course meal with wine and coffee came to under fifteen euro per person. The town has a wonderful ancient center with tiny alleys, arches and bridges over streets and a view of the southern end of the Val d'Orcia including the south side of Radicofani.



We continued back through Vivo d'Orcia where we turned left instead of right and went to the Amiatafunghi factory where we loaded up on all kinds of mushroom, vegetable and fruit preserves and sauces. Arriving home by sunset, cursing myself for not having brought my camera, I was still saying, "Where's winter?"

posted by Joanna @ 1/13/2007 05:49:00 PM