Lazy Day

If you are as addicted to 'the move to Tuscany' blog as I am, you may have been alarmed to hear that Stuart and Helen were going away for a week. Although I can't possibly attempt to enlighten you about the highs and lows of carving out a new life in Italy, I do hope to post something about what it's like staying at Numero 182 over the next few days. Yes, as well as house and cat-sitting, I've become a guest blogger!

Last night was a late one as we sat up with Helen and Stuart until it was time for them to leave for the airport, which was about 1.30am. This morning was, therefore, a rather lazy affair - a long lie-in, followed by tea and toast on the terrace with my book, intermittently joined by either Florence or Lucca. I'm reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - recommended by a friend who read it on holiday last month and she found it so engrossing that she says she resented the slightest interruption. I'm really enjoying it too but, fortunately, haven't quite reached that stage.

I was therefore happy to set out in the early afternoon for Collodi, a town really nearby that I know has been mentioned here before. The writer Carlo Lorenzini visited the town a lot as a child because his uncle lived in the large Villa Garzoni.  Carlo went on to write Pinocchio under the pen name Collodi and now the town has gone Pinocchio-mad, with a children's play park themed around the small wooden character and a large cluster of shops selling versions of him in every shape and size.

The very private Villa Garzoni

Villa Garzoni can be seen from miles away as its impressive, pale yellow facade sits at the base of a hill, from which houses stretch behind, and upwards. We set about stretching our legs (and lungs) by climbing the narrow cobbled lanes behind the Villa. I'm not sure if the gradient can be fully appreciated in a photo but hopefully the size of the blocks on which the downhill legs of this bench are mounted give you an idea how steep the street was.

We enjoyed wonderful views from a bench at the top before heading down, guided by our rumbling tummies. We were soon in the Villa Garzoni restaurant where we instantly felt very much on holiday. The owners were clearly very keen on music from the 1950s. Surrounding the outside seating areas were concealed speakers playing what I can best describe as Dean Martin-meets-Mambo and each of the set menus was named after a singer. I instantly conjured up an image of Audrey Hepburn on her scooter in Roman Holiday as I tapped my foot and awaited my platter of tomato and mozzarella starter. The music moved onto Aretha Franklin and we were fast-forwarded to the '80s as our main courses arrived, putting us in even better moods.

With our now full bellies we took a stroll around the lower parts of the town, which was beginning to wake-up after siesta time, before heading back to Pescia to pick up a few snacks to enjoy back at the lovely Numero 182.

As we came up the driveway we encountered a beautiful pair of deer, reminding us of our proximity to nature - as if the sound of the racing stream enjoyed from wherever you are isn't reminder enough. The cats seems somewhat non-plused to see us and this time didn't join me on the terrace for a few more chapters. However, once the light began to fade and we'd fulfilled our duties on checking the guest apartment, they seemed to instinctively know it was dinner time and came running. Now suitably fed and watered they are taking up their favourite posts for the evening - I say that, but Florence seemed to want a lap but with it already occupied with a laptop as I write this, she has mooched off somewhere, no doubt to return soon.

So, as we settle down to a movie, keeping watch over Helen and Stuart's little slice of Italy, we couldn't be more relaxed. A wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life - I can't recommend it enough!