Le Forchette del Chianti, Radda in Chianti

Today was a day trip to experience the better parts of memory lane.  We travelled to have lunch at Le Forchette del Chianti, in Radda in Chianti.  The children were very patient and understanding as this involved a two hour drive there and the same back.  However unlike our trip to Ristorante le Vigne this one was worth the time taken to get there and the money spent on the meal.

In case you have not read my post on the 6th of August, then we returned to an old haunt where we had eaten more than one meal in 2002 and liked it so much that we stayed there in 2003 with a friend, Tony (who was one of the four of us in 2002).  Unfortunately while the view there was amazing the food was not what we remembered but on getting back to Santa Chiara my wife found out that the people we had got to know (despite language issues) now had another restaurant in Radda in Chianti itself!  I had wanted to return sooner but my wife pointed out how unfair it would be on the children considering that the holiday is for all of us.  Anyway the food was amazing and this was possibly the best meal that we have had this holiday.  We were recognised and had as much of a chat as time allowed and had great food.  I would have taken a photograph of the view but by the time we finished our meal it was raining so I did not want to risk damage to my camera phone.  Although the kids did not have time in the pool thanks to the storm that covered both Umbria and Tuscany, I think that the time to do nothing has actually helped them.  Hopefully we will get time to swim and play in the pool tomorrow. 

The last two photos are of one of the two cats here which was catnapping on our sun lounger this morning and the other is of a Porsche that held up our one litre Lancia on the way uphill in Chianti. 

Lake Trasimeno

I did not have the energy to make a post yesterday which was a bit sad of me really. But we had a great day.  Our plan was to go to Umbertide in the morning and see what the ice cream was like there, have a trip to taste wine and olive oil and then return for lunch and spend the day in the pool before going out for dinner.  But when we arrived at Ristorante I Girasoli di Sant' Andrea we found the tasting had closed but was to open again about an hour later.  So faced with the option of going back on the road again and returning and delaying lunch or staying and eating, we ate.

The meal was great and so far has been possibly the best meal that we have had this holiday, though for the moment the best (just) in Umbria.  The children played in the playground but it was aimed at smaller children and it was very hot.  The wine tasting afterwards was good.  There was no olive oil to taste and at the time I did not like the wine but my wife did and coming back to the villa later on after getting pizza in Tavernacce (at the oddly named Tabbachi Jazz which I and in fact we would recommend) I realised it was good!  Between lunch (or rather the wine tasting) and dinner it was fun in the pool again though the kids were overtired and ratty with each other afterwards until we forced them to have a timeout.

Today we have been out to Lake Trasimeno and although we did not get to spend time on the beach there or explore the island that we took the ferry to, it was a relaxing day.  No time in the pool today but we are hoping to have time tomorrow when we return to Radda in Chianti to find our favourite Tuscan chef.

Chianti and shopping

Today was a day spent on the road.  We took the kids shopping and also to an old haunt of ours. It was a great drive through Umbria and Tuscany to get from where we are staying to Montevarchi which is near to where we first stayed the first time we came to Tuscany in 2002.  Back then we had no children and visited with two friends. Sadly due to an issue with my driving on that holiday we had a major falling out with one and no longer see her, but the other we keep in touch with a lot.  Anyway then we went to the outlet stores and back then there were bargains to be had.  To be fair we have not been back at the same time of year but the outlets have changed a lot, which is good for them and great for those who can afford to shop in them now but is not as good for us!

We went to another old haunt, Ristorante le Vigne near Radda in Chianti a place we visited more than once in 2002 and liked it so much we stayed there in 2003.  We did return with our daughter in 2006 and the staff recognised us and took great care of our little one.  Coming back here was great and not so great.  The views are amazing and the memories are to be treasured but it is under new management and we appeared to be unlucky.  Our waitress when we arrived was abrupt and a touch rude but the others who served us were great and in keeping with the reviews on TripAdvisor but our food was nothing compared to that of our memories but more importantly not up to the standards of the food we have had so far.  It was much better than our mediocre lunch in Gubbio but I doubt we will return.  My wife though has found out that the chef that used to work there is elsewhere and we may visit during this holiday.

Anyway a bit more shopping and back to Santa Chiara for a much needed rest for us all.

Montone

Just a quick post.  Today we went to Montone a beautiful town in Umbria.  We were hoping to make it to the market in Umbertide but left things too late and arrived as it was closing up.  So we continued in the car and went for a little adventure.

Montone is a town full of history and character.  The children were taken by the square that we entered and loved the ice cream that we ate at the Gelateria in the Square.  We ate just outside Umbertide at Ristoro in Campagna, a place with no fixed menu.  I liked lunch but I am very glad that my wife was there as they speak a bit of English but I would have been very lost without her.  I would consider returning but would recommend it to others to try.

A trip to the pool when we were back followed by Pizza Night with a show by the children at the end.  All in all, a good day.

I have looked up Lancia jokes and I have realised that the jokes are the cars

Okay, I am grateful that our car works, but it is a terrible car.  It has awful acceleration and in addition Europcar gave us a Lancia with no washer fluid in it.  And in case it has not been noted before it has a radio but no functionality for our iPod as in no USB port or, which is present more often, an audio jack.

 

Tuesday is Market Day in Gubbio which is great to browse in and overall visiting the town we had a great day, the only downside being lunch.  We browsed a bit in the market before heading into the historical part of the town.  I have to admit that we missed out on all the market had to offer, which included lunch, a point that we regretted later in the day.  Gubbio is a beautiful town, like so many in Umbria, full of history and beauty.  It was baking hot and we all were grateful that the policeman my wife talked to told us about the lifts that allowed us to go up in the world to overlook the town.  I was embarrassed at the ability of my wife in speaking Italian and we were all put to shame with his excellent use of the English in comparison to my terrible Italian.  Walking up and down the town would have been fun for me but not for both our children.  The museum at the top was fascinating, though my son found it a bit boring at times.  Lunch was in a tourist trap and was not up to the quality we now expect in Italy, however dessert, which was an Italian ice-cream was to quote my kids spectacular, though we had it closer to the square of 40 martyrs.  Some of the pictures are from the museum at the top of the town.

Back at Santa Chiara we got to enjoy the pool that the children has been looking forwards to.  As you can see from these and previous pictures the view is amazing and to describe the place as relaxing is an understatement.

Amid the transfer rumours Jack Wilshere hopes Wenger brings players into Arsenal during the summer. Or Marlboro. Or B&H. He is not fussy

Just a quick one really. First was that I was amazed to hear that Arsenal beat Chelski in the Charity Shield yesterday.  I was dreading the game and fully expected the record that Wenger had against Mourinho to continue so I was surprised to hear that we won!  Not that it counts for much but it helps that we have overcome one psychological barrier.

As you can see, it is blue skies here and today we all just relaxed.  We went out for breakfast as we had no food (other than the left over lasagna) and ate in Umbertide which is not far from here.  It was a trip to the supermarket afterwards and then home for unpacking and preparation for lunch.  Once that was out of the way it was a trip to the pool.  The kids have made a friend and overall, other than forgetting how to turn the oven on, it was a great and relaxing day.  As you can also seen from the picture, one with a great view!

We have arrived, and while I may grow to hate our Lancia...

We are in Italy!  For my wife and I, it is back in Italy.  My daughter has been in Italy before, but as she was not even two, it is a bit much to expect her to remember anything.  So really it is the first time for both to be here. It was a very early morning trip here and we arrived in Pisa in good time.  The only downside was the wait for the car.  As you can see, some companies are more popular than others when booking online and that means the people who book with the other companies get quicker service and get their car sooner.  It was not bad service just popular and slow.  The worst service we had was from GoldCar two years ago when in Portugal, slow and a constant barrage of selling for additional perks.  We were lucky as others had service to really complain about.  We ended up with a nice car then so it was not too bad.

And the car itself.  I guess we have been spoiled in the past with cars, a Focus in Jersey and a Peugeot when in Portugal two years ago are just two of cars that we have driven when on holiday. It is sad but we now expect things like being able to listen to music other than that on a CD or on the radio and are disappointed when there is no USB port in car or jack to allow us to listen to music using our iPhone.  I am not sure if that is because we have a Lancia but this car has not lived up to the standards of our previous hire cars.

Anyway we have visited one old haunt, this being a restaurant that we used to visit when here in the past, BC or Before Children. Ristorante Il Cipresso in Loro Ciuffenna.  We had been here in 2002 and 2003 and the food and service was as good as we remembered.  It was a nice touch that the man who served us said he remembered us, but that might have just been patter.  We did not get to show the kids the rest of the town properly as it was shut, this being Sunday afternoon but it was nice to return to an old haunt.

Now we are in our villa, Santa Chiara, a self catering apartment in Umbria. We have had a very warm welcome and the food which we had arranged in advance was great. I am now to put the lasagna away as it was great and we may have some more tomorrow. Anyway goodnight all!