BACK TO TUSCANY ONCE AGAIN

MAIN ENTRANCE TO IL MOLINO

In just a few short days we will be driving on this gravel road to our paradise in Tuscany.  We fly into Rome on September 15, 2015 and get our rental car and, once again, attempt the drive to IL MOLINO DI BORDONE, a beautiful slice of paradise located in the shadow of the Tuscan hills just below the hill city of Cortona.  Perhaps you read Under the Tuscan Sun.  Well, the story takes place not far from IL MOLINO.  We are looking forward to seeing Caroline and Pino and the rest of our adopted family in Italy.  We only get to see Caroline and Pino for a day or two because they will be off to Sicily for four or five weeks operating their walking tours.  We will be there to take care of things while they are away.  Caroline and Pino will be back just in time for the olive harvest.  I plan to help with the harvest and Brenda helps with the cooking.  Yes, we do stop for a lunch break even though Pino is up there cracking the whip.  Just kidding about the whip.  We have a lot of fun, a lot of conversation, a lot of work, and a lot of food.  Food seems to be the common denominator in Tuscany.  Yep, I am already thinking about the pasta, the wine, the wild boar, the wine, the lasagna, the wine, the rabbit, the wine and even the wine.

 So here we are eating lunch during one of our lunch breaks back in the Fall of 2013.  From left to right is Pino, Caroline, and Nona (Anna, Pino's mother).  Everybody is involved in the harvest, like it or not.  Unfortunately there was no harvest in 2014 because of the fruit fly that ruined all the olives in most of Tuscany and other parts of Italy.  Now you know why the good olive oil is so expensive in the market.  We are hoping the problem does not repeat itself again this year. Keep your fingers crossed.

PINO LAYING THE NET DOWN

 Here are some pictures of the 2013 harvest.  That guy to the left, who looks like he just did something wrong with that "Cheshire cat" look on his face, is getting the first of the olive oil.  Don't worry, it was OK to do that.  They provide small spoons to do just that.  You get the opportunity to have the first taste of the oil.  This particular oil was considered extra virgin oil because of its low acid content.  We began by picking the olives, putting them in containers that we lugged down the hill  and loaded them into Pino's van, then drove to the olive press a few kilometers away.  Oh, did I mention that there are over 300 olives trees on the property. We picked all the olives by hand.  By the way, you do sleep good at night once you take something for your back pain.  Well, at least some of us needed that relief.  Especially the older ones like me.

All of us are waiting for a taste from the first cold press of the oil.  Caroline graciously brought some crusty Tuscan bread, fresh salami, and, of course, local wine to go with the tasting of the oil.  It was great.  I wish some of you can join us this year.  I am sure you will have a good time.  Let me know if you would like to come to Tuscany.  Check out the web site: www.caspin.com.  The self catering apartments are well appointed with typical Tuscan furniture and very clean and comfortable.  Just twenty minutes away is a train station where you can get a train to just about anywhere in Italy. 

This year Brenda and I plan to travel to either Amalfi or Cinque Terre while in Italy.  Or maybe both places.  We are lucky this year because Alessandro will be there during our stay.  He is Caroline and Pino's youngest son.  Alessandro is almost 19 years old and can stand guard while we are gone for a couple of days at a time. He works close by so it will not be a problem.  Alessandro, by the way, is a great musician.  You can listen to him play the piano for hours at a time. I believe he is planning to go to college and pursue a musical career. He is quite talented and I am sure he will do well.

Stay tuned for more blogs.  This year I plan to take more pictures.  I will try to send you more of the local flavor in pictures and text.  And, of course, pictures and history of either Amalfi or Cinque Terre or both.  My next blog will be from Italy.  See you then.