Peacocks and the Perseid meteor shower

Just realised after putting the kids to bed that I forgot the driving surprise that we had.

Peacocks!  It was odd seeing them but amazing as well!  Anyway the children are in bed after being allowed to stay up for the Perseid meteor shower.  Peace at last!

Borgomela, Tavernacce

Today we went to the market in Umbertide.  We had aimed to do so last week but arrived too late to experience it fully.

This time after my wife dragged me out of bed we all went into town and saw what it had to offer.  My Mother-in-law has given the kids some spending money which they put to use there.  After that it was a trip back to Santa Chiara for some time in the pool and a few hours later a trip to Perugia to see if we could find some Mustard Essence.

We had no luck finding this but as you can see the drive had some spectacular views.  Afterwards it was a trip to Tavernacce to eat at a restaurant that has been recommended here and it lived up to the billing.  Despite being down a residential road and being besides a railway track, we thought the place was amazing.  Warm service with good food, we may return this holiday.  Anyway we are now going to see if we can watch the Perseids Meteor shower!

Ranco Nuovo Ristorante

Today was a relaxing day spent at the pool and later watching Mrs Doubtfire.  It was only later that I realised that Robin Wilłiams died a year ago.  Needless to say both the children loved the film and both were touched by the stories of kindness that my wife and I remembered about him.  It was truly sad that he died.  Death comes to us all but for some it can appear to others to come too soon.  I do hope that he is now at peace.

 Later it was a meal out.  Interesting as our starters came at the same time as our main course and our bill was wrong, though that did not detract from a good meal otherwise.  We did however possibly have our best desserts in Italy here and may return.

The Golden Saloon in Umbertide and the Chocolate factory in Perugia

Today we went to Perugia aiming to visit the city itself as well as visiting the chocolate factory there.  My kids know my views on Nestle but while I have told them about them I have also said what great chocolate they make.  The company Perugina was formed in 1907 and originally was in another part of Perugia, but over time it grew and had to change location and was sold to Nestle.  We were lucky as the couple who run the villa we are staying in made a reservation for us and even making a shopping diversion we arrived in good time.

The tour was good with an excellent guide who coped well with many children making a lot of noise and our kids were both great at being well behaved as well as being disappointed that they did not get to experience the chocolate kitchen.  From a previous trip to Cadbury World they were not expecting any chocolate waterfalls nor glass lifts and they loved the samples that were given out.

By the time we got out the heavens had opened and it rained and rained and rained.  It was exciting for the two children but an experience for my wife and I who ended up taking them to McDonalds for lunch.  Not what we originally planned which was to explore the city and its history.  When we finally arrived back after a rest, it was out for dinner though that was interesting as many places were closed. We did find one place open that did not look amazing but we loved it as we were served the biggest pizzas we have had in a long time.  Even if we had ordered two, we would have had food left over!  Folłowing this was a walk around the castle in Umbertide.

Now we have to make plans for tomorrow and hope that the weather is good.

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.