Try this morning on for size: We awoke at 7:30 after a wonderful, quiet night’s sleep. Unlike some others we have had recently. Ann got up from the bed and opened the bedroom full height window-doors to let in the Tuscan countryside. Being at the highest point of this hill town makes for beautiful unobstructed views over the countryside. It is raining lightly – like Seattle - and puffs of fog hang like clouds on some of the distant hills. Ann made an espresso for us and brought in the croissant and cheese roll we bought in Ljubljana for breakfast. Realizing we only have 27 more days of this makes us laugh.

Ah, the apartment. It is a two bedroom flat with full kitchen and separate laundry room/bathroom. The kitchen and living room are combined but small. There is a fireplace for when it gets colder in October. The kitchen has almost all of the little staples Ann requires. There was left by previous renters, olive oil, coffee, salt, pepper and some spices. Ann though is such a cooking geek. She brought her own favorite knife from home. Every piece of online generated and printed information brought by previous renters has been left as a huge volume of information about everything Tuscan and Umbrian a tourist should know. It seems everyone has found this apartment online and used a computer to collate information – just like we did. In the guest book the previous renters were from Gig Harbor, Washington.

I am sitting in the second bedroom which I have made into Bob’s Electronic World. My computer stuff is on a writing table, my camera stuff and all charging equipment is here. I am sitting in a comfortable chair typing this while looking out to the countryside dotted with farmhouses, grapevines galore and olive orchards. The full length windows are open to the rain and breeze. Just Wow!

The rest of our day was spent relaxing and getting to know the town. We splurged and went to a bar type restaurant for lunch and to a real white tablecloth restaurant for dinner. The food was very good as I have heard it is difficult to find a poor restaurant on Tuscany.

For once we went to sleep NOT exhausted.

Lesson for Day 13: Montepulciano is not only a hill town but a STEEP hill town.