Cinghiale

Our last day in this glorious, glorious place. (Sob!)

We lazed about most of the morning, soaking up the sun, admiring a particularly handsome lizard who appears to live in the stone wall near our barbecue, and sighing wistfully over the fact that our lovely vacation is drawing to a close.

At lunch time, we pulled ourselves together, and drove into San Casciano for a delicious meal al fresco at one of the little trattorias in the center of town. Then off to Greve in Chianti, over the winding hills dotted with olive groves and vineyards.

This Cinghiale (wild boar) is my new boyfriend. He's awfully cute, isn't he! He is strategically placed outside the magical butcher shop called Falorni on the piazza in Greve. Oh, my goodness! When you enter the shop, there is ham and sausage and all parts-0f-pig hanging from the rafters, and piled on the shelves along with all manner of tempting cheeses and other things deliciously Tuscan. What a paradise for photographers as well as gourmands!

We also bought some beautiful hand-embroidered linens from a lovely shop, Grazia Giachi, along with a very cute "Cinque Cento" T-shirt for our grandson. We were then revived by a gorgeous glass of Chianti Classico Riserva at a wine bar, where we could sit outdoors and watch the world pass by. Oh, how I do love this way of life!

I will be weeping tomorrow morning when we have to say Arrivederci! ... See you on the other side of the pond.