Day 15: Montespertoli and Pisa

We were exhausted and a tad cranky when we arrived at our Italian AirBnB in Montespertoli late Monday night.  Walking into the space, you could feel everybody's spirits lighten.  The home was beautiful--modern, clean, and spacious.  We felt like we'd won the lottery as we collapsed into our comfy beds.  In the morning we realized that our fortune was even better than we realized as we took a look at the views.

For $99 a night, this "Tuscan Penthouse" was exactly that--the entire top floor of an apartment building with a balcony spreading the whole way around.

Annika loved riding her trike round and round the circuit.

I can see the Utah Capitol while I do dishes at home, but I'd be willing to swap for views of the vineyards.

Here are Brooklyn and Eli enjoying the August morning.

Both Jason and I decided to go for a run while the kids relaxed.  I always enjoy going on a jog to explore a new place.  I spotted a turret in the distance and headed that direction.

The Italian countryside is enchanting. 

Montespertoli is known as the Citta del Vino. I don't actually wish I drank wine, but Tuscany makes the idea of drinking wine feel so very romantic. The good news is that the area is also know for its olive oil. Count me in.

Meanwhile, Jason headed out on a far more intense run on the Trail del Mulinaccio.  Apparently they have an annual trail race here.  And apparently it's crazy tough!  Quite overgrown with lots of elevation gain, Jason found himself bushwhacking his way through Italy.

But hey, at least he came home with all sorts of pretty pictures.  (Because, you know, we don't really have enough photos.)

He also found "Il Mulinaccio."  In Italian, mulinare means to mill, so I'm guessing this is an old water mill.  It was so intriguing that we brought the family back later in the day.

Jason also found this on a water tank, showing whether it's vuoto (empty) or pieno (full.)  As Mayor of Hyde Park during a water shortage, I think Grandpa Charles would agree that their town could use one as well.

While Jason was out running, the kids and I explored Montespertoli's market, just a couple blocks from the house.  I picked up a polka-dot dress for ten euros that I liked so much that I wore it the rest of the day.

We tried to go to a recommended restaurant, Lo Spigo, for lunch, but it was closed so we hopped in the car and drove to Pisa instead.

While there we took a few First Day of Un-School pictures.  (The kids should have been hopping on a school bus right around now.)   You may notice Annika is missing from the pictures.  She was having a moment.  Posing for a camera was definitely not part of the moment.  I think she was just hangry since she perked up once we got a sandwich into her.

When Jason and I were on our honeymoon, we came to Pisa and climbed the tower.  We lost our camera with all the pictures, so I'm glad we could relive the romance.

Eighteen and a half years, and I love him more than ever.  Forget the AirBnB, marrying Jason was when I really won the lottery.

We would have liked to climb all the stairs up the tower of Pisa.  Jason and I remember it being a really fun and trippy experience as they tilt this way and that.  Unfortunately they were charging 27 euros per person with no price reduction for kids.  Ouch!  We decided we'd rather splurge on a nice meal out.

Naturally the kids insisted that we take the stereotypical leaning tower picture.  Brooklyn's face is a little funny in this one, but what's really hilarious is the lady in the background.  Oops!

Even better than the tower pictures were the angels graffitied on the wall.  I adore these munchkins!

Pisa's cathedral often gets overshadowed by its tipsy counterpoint, but it's a pretty remarkable structure as well.  Add in some gelato, and it was a great afternoon in Pisa.

Back in Montespertoli, we took the kids on a brief hike to Il Mulinaccio.  The weather smiled on us during our entire vacation, but the rainbow was particularly appreciated.

Exploring the ruins.

It looks like Annika is about to plummet to her death, but the reality wasn't quite as drastic as the photo makes it seem.

See, she lived.

Rather famished, we then headed back to Lo Spigo at 7:00 because that's when their sign said they opened.  We were welcome for drinks then, but it turns out they don't serve dinner until 7:30.  Here we are killing time as we wait.

Oh, the anticipation!  At least we had a pretty view.

Dinner was totally worth hanging around for, even if Jason's four ingredient pizza came served with a separate ingredient on each quadrant.  Tee hee.  Oh, and I think I ordered anchovies for Eli on accident.  Oops!  He was a great sport and there was plenty of pizza to go around.

The best entree was my fish with roasted vegetables.  They brought the fish out whole and then delicately carved it off the bone for me.  A-ma-zing!  Are you all taking notes?  You should be.  Go to Montespertoli.  Sleep at the Tuscan Penthouse.  And eat at Lo Spigo.  You'll be glad you did.

And ta da.  The ridiculously-too-perfect vacation saga logs another delightful day.  As the Sufist wisdom goes, remember that this too shall pass.  It gives hope in hard times and keeps you humble when life is going well.