Off to my favorite ruins
A few years ago when Arnie and I first scouted this part of Tuscany for our workshop, we came upon a dirt road with fields beyond that looked interesting me. Now understand that Arnie was sophisticated and grew up on the paved streets of Chicago, while I was the country bumpkin who learned to drive on back dirt roads, sometimes no more than two tracks.
“You want me to turn down there?” Arnie exclaimed with a few other choice phrases.
“Yes. Clearly it is used a lot.”
“But by what, and where will we turn around?”
“If the farm trucks can get back out, I am sure we can. Besides, you’re an excellent driver. You’ll manage just fine.”
So, challenged and very begrudgingly, he turned down the two-track lane. We crested a hill, and came upon beautiful ruins in the midst of wheat fields. Over the years with crop rotation, the fields have changed color and texture, but the location, the ruins, and the views remain.
Arnie was hooked, and we spent a long afternoon photographing there. Each year we return, and it is one of the first places Arnie wants to take our groups.
To get to this area from our borgo, there are a lot of twisty roads. It reminded me of the some of the roads on Mt. Etna in Sicily but with a far different landscape.
Some of our group wanted to learn how to do panoramas, and I have a favorite spot for them in this location. The light wasn’t right yet, so we did other shots. I always like this scene. Every year, the hills look different, and the patterns of the tractors change.
The light was getting better, but still not yet quite right for our panoramas. The red clover, however, glowed in the foreground.
Finally, the lowering sun started to give real definition to the undulations of the hills. We reviewed the steps for making a successful panorama, and click, click, click … was the sound we made. Click …
The light was getting really low, and we needed to get back to find some dinner. It would take us a while to walk back to the cars and the others, then drive those same twisty roads, something I didn’t really want to do in total dark.
But dark did fall once we were on the road. Around one turn, I jammed on the brakes. Two dark, wild boar crossed the road. What a treat. Unfortunately, the second car did not get to see them.
We found a wonderful and new-to-us restaurant right near our borgo, and we savored dinner. We did cell phone shots that we will eventually post, but no time now during the workshop.
The Wi-Fi is iffy at times, and the cell phones are definitely not happy unless we are out in a common room.
We got back late and collapsed into our beds. Everyone thought it was a great day ending with a great meal.
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those shots alone would be worth the trip to Tuscany! Continue to enjoy your experiences from afar….
Eileen,
Tuscany indeed, is a romantic, magical place. So glad you are enjoying it vicariously!
Take care,
TBC