I'm a Countess!

Tuesday, May 27

We successfully arrive in Montepulciano, our home base for Tuscany. We are 
staying in a medieval building that was renovated and expanded into a grand 
palazzo in the 1700's. Our "hotel" is the second floor, with five rooms and a 
grand lobby. The hotel showcases the original frescoes from the 1700's on walls 
and ceilings (that's older than our country!!)?  I stand in awe as I enter these 
rooms. Larry and I are staying in the count's room and I am feeling like a 
countess. John and Jacque are staying in a suite with a beautiful view of the 
Tuscan valley. 

 the beautiful fresco on our bedroom ceiling

 the countess' sleeping quarters

the gorgeous view from John and Jacque's balcony

the shared living quarters of our five room hotel, Palazzo Carletti


The views are so gorgeous that I find myself repeatedly sighing. Jacque, on the 
other hand, keeps saying, " It's not real...it's just a mural!"  And when we walk 
down the curved cobblestone streets, she says, "It's not real...we're in 
Disneyland!"
 
We walk the streets of this charming town and find we have to stop every five 
feet for another photo op. Then we eat dinner in a wine shop/restaurant where 
they have wine tasting machines with over 60 wines of the region. Dangerous

place for us! 

Tomorrow morning is our cooking class!  Can't wait!