A diary of an Irishman in Volterra, Tuscany
Well, we screwed this one up big-time. Pro-tip 1: if you ever want to go to one of the free beaches in August in Tuscany, then you *must* get up and leave for it at sparrowfart. We didn’t. We headed towards the Gulf of Baratti, and I’m pretty sure we didn’t get there until about …
Continue reading “To the Beach and Casale Marittimo! (12/08/2021)”
And with that little cliché, I would like to announce that I am both proud and delighted to have won the Michael Mullan Writing Competition in the micro-fiction category. It’s a very worthy cause, and I will continue to support it in the coming years. Please feel free to click the link below to read …
Today was the day we wanted to go visit a good-sized mall, to shop (of course), but also to see what they’re like over here. After exploring the map, I came to the conclusion that Prato seems to be ground-zero for malls. There are 3 in the vicinity, and it looked like I Gigli was …
We had a lazy morning – I didn’t even walk. For shame! We had decided to go to Mazzolla for lunch, to Trattoria Albana. Niamh and I had eaten there before, so we wanted to show her sister what a Tuscan lunch in middle of nowhere (or a small hamlet!) would be like. The food …
Niamh’s sister had friends who said that if they had the resources, they’d buy a place in Massa Marittima, and so her interest was piqued. Happily, this town is also one of my and Niamh’s favourites: it’s main square is beautiful, and is worth checking out if you happen to be in the Maremma. You …
Continue reading “Massa Marittima and a nice Night Walk (09/08/2021)”
This morning’s walk took me through the Porta alla Fiorentina, past the new archaeological dig for the recently discovered Roman amphiteatre, past the cemetary and out of the town limts to visit a couple of Etruscan tombs. Here’s a video of my trip: The walk back is the trickiest part, as it is all uphill …
Continue reading “Etruscan Tombs and Another Day in Volterra (08/08/2021)”
Well, I got up and left the trash out (organico, aka compostable bio waste on Saturdays). Bio waste always has to be taken out, as things get stinky in 35+ degree heat! I was on my own for the walk, so I decide to go anti-clockwise around the outside of the walls. On the way, …
My 100th blog! Niamh’s sister had never been in Siena before, so after we’d been up a couple of hours, we drove to our usual go-to carpark: Parcheggio San Francesco. We got there handily enough, and queued for maybe 2 minutes before we were let in. Once there, it’s a 500 meter walk (if that) …
Continue reading “#100! Siena, Monteriggioni and A Golden Hour Walk (06/08/2021)”
As it was just after our first night, we had no trash to take down, so I could afford to take my time. I still had to move the car by 08:00, though. I grabbed my phone, grip and mic and headed to the carpark. I got in and drove down to the free carpark, …
Continue reading “Long and Lovely Lunch at Terra di Mezzo (05/08/2021)”
We had a short holiday in the West of Ireland back in June, and then decided to pick our date for our return to Volterra. Looking at the vaccination schedule and cycles and waves of Covid, we made our move to book a couple of weeks in August. This time with guests: Niamh’s sister for …
