Sunday May 19, Near Empoli

May 19, 2019

Sunday May 19, Near Empoli

We have arrived in Tuscany....with some very
ominous looking weather.

And another wet day, although not the torrential rain of yesterday, but just a constant drizzle. We were commenting that this is the fourth trip we have made to Europe in Ruakiwi and have never had so much rain, and considering this is Italy where it is not supposed to rain!!! Lots of pouring over maps and weather forecasts last night and decided to head out of Florence a little and just wait and see.

Knew it was going to be a bit longer drive today so set off at 9, and Jilly behaved and took us on a very sensible way out of town, goodness knows what happened yesterday with her directions. The direction was to Florence, or Firenze as the Italians say, and the best route was over the mountains on Route SS67 from Forli. Felt sad that it was so misty and drizzly but it still was a very pretty drive, passing through very small villages, and very narrow roads then up through a multitude of hairpin bends to the top, before a steep descent and more hairpin bends. So glad that Ian was driving, and I could put on the extra pair of brakes!

We had not used a toll road in Italy but decided that it was a good option today to get around the city of Florence, and it cost all of €1.40!! This time we made sure and went through the correct booth to get a ticket when we entered, not like the debacle we had in Spain last year!

I had found an Agritourism camping spot just out of Empoli on Park4Night that had good reviews with parking in the olives and views out over the hills. Also read that the drive up was “interesting” and with the rain were so pleased that we had rear wheel drive, Ian decided that front wheel drive would not have made it. What a very peaceful spot with views for miles….once the rain cleared and the sun finally came out. Really feel that we have reached Tuscany.

This little farm grows grapes and olives and of course we went in for a tasting. Delightful. Daniela and her husband couldn’t speak English but with Google translate we managed really well. Their Chianti was very good and also got to try some grappa, which is a traditional Italian liquor made from Pomace, the discarded grape seeds, stalks and stems that are a by-product of the wine making. And it was very good.

We thought we could catch the train from Empoli into Florence tomorrow but the forecast is once again very bad with heavy rain for much of the day, hard to imagine as the sun is shining and it is pleasantly warm as I write this. I think though we are going to have to give it a miss, and hopefully by mid week we will get some better weather.