The hilltop villages

Besides the beautiful countryside, Euro bike does an excellent job breaking up the riding day with interesting stops along the way. The first day of riding took us through the Chianti region. Every place that you stop your bike, someone hands you a glass of Chianti Classico to sample. Well almost. They were very proud of their wines at all of the wineries that I visited, as well they should be. And the good news for all of you Monday nighters, they do ship to the states.





After a day of riding we arrived at another old world hotel in Siena, the Grand Hotel Villa Patrizia. We did a short ride in the morning and that left the afternoon and evening for Siena. What a wonderful place. The walls around the city are still intact with narrow winding streets and tall buildings and towers. It's easy& fun to get lost in the city, it's a huge labrynth.





Tuscany is dotted with these magical hilltop villages. We visited Chiusure one day for lunch. The major business in this village is a tiny convenience store. If you call ahead, the woman who owns this store will make a wonderful family style lunch for you in the room above her store. During lunch we listened to group of school children laughing and teasing each other on the cobbled street below. This is the real Italy, not some touristy guidebook version.






We also visited Monteriggioni and Colle Val d'Elsa. Colle Val d'Elsa was my favorite on the road since recent residents installed an elevator to get you from the lower town to the upper town. And my bike fit in the elevator, thus avoiding the very steep cobble stoned hill of death.






My favorite city on a hill was San Gimignano. Riding along the roads through Tuscany and you first see San Gimignano in the distance you know that what's ahead is a very special place. Winding streets, shops, cafes, and amazing views of the countryside in every direction