Sienna – Cortona - Montalcino
Ruby has proved she too can do hills, including the Alps. This task sometimes needs a little encouragement though – especially when there are these crazy Italian drivers behind you. Even if there are painted solid lines they are ready to overtake you. (We've decided that as they have no lines on a lot of the roads, the roads fund decided to just leave them off and save money because even if the lines are visible – no one obeys to the rules anyway! Cutting corners is a natural pass time.) Anyway, back to Ruby... she managed to get half way up the incredibly steep hills of Cortona. We decided to walk the rest and give her a break.
Cortona is where the filmed “Under the Tuscan Sun”. It is very touristy. You almost feel that some of the American cast or crew were left behind with their accent permeating through the streets. Never the less, they did not make the movie here because it was an ugly place, it is beautiful. A wonderful place to wander through the streets, take photo's from high viewpoints and enjoy a heavenly gelati decorated with bits of tinsel and all sorts.
Stopped and had lunch along the road with our new favourite, dipped bread in olive oil and balsamic. Some cyclists went by in the burning heat up the hill and still managed a kind “bon appetito”.
Montalcino was minutes away.
It is very well known for its wine, Rossi di Montalcino. At 28 Euro's a bottle we decided to leave it and enjoy our normal favourites. The views were amazing with the entire city built on the cliffs. It is a medieval town which is more of retirement village. We couldn't believe the old people would want to live here – as we could barely walk these steep hillscapes ourselves.
Upon arrival at the free camp – we came across a weird, strange, precarious looking dude in an old 19 voetsek Mazda. He was washing himself under the tap violently. And I swear, I sore some dark liquid trickling down his forearms. He wiped the inside of the car down next. Then picked up a call arguing with someone and recklessly drove away. Immediately I decided to put on my Inspector Gadget hat and take a snoop. Had he killed someone? Or was it Colonel Mustard with a spade in the car park.
Cautiously, with tissue in hands, as not to disrupt the evidence, I opened the bin. There it was - a very strange set of rubber gloves – just left there. Detective Nick then promptly told me that rubber gloves are a very handy tool when removing unhygienic portaloo's. Then, I asked, what was the liquid running down his arm? It could of only been one thing – blood.
It seems towns like these offer free camps quite readily. We found one up on yet another hill. Every city or town in the country is on a hill. We parked Ruby there for 5 Euro's for 24 hours. These camper service parks usually offer fresh water – but not much else. Once settled we went to the fort in town, took a walk around in the cooler evening air and then marched up the slope back to Ruby.
Once we returned – we were in great dismay. Our suspect was back at the crime scene. He was hunched over his steering wheel, totally stationery. Was he dead? Detective Nick went to fill our dish bucket with water (and check if he was alive). The tap was located alongside the suspect (or potential victims) vehicle. Then – all of a sudden... He heard Nick approaching and the suspect jumped up – with a really goofy smile - he said “Bonjourno”! And continued to fix his radio. Nick said the dark trickle on his arms was obviously from servicing his car. If you don't have your own garage, a camper service park is ideal. As we learnt with Ruby.
We enjoyed a body wash down from our dishes bucket. TIP: that was it. When you have no bath, make one. Then bed...
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