My venture

So....another year has passed and it's once again time for Christmas.....last year we went to the Montepulciano Christmas market at night....this year we wanted to go during the day...well, in the afternoon.  So today, the first advent (Sunday) we thought it was a good day to go...beautiful day...sun was out and it was quite warm....however...a lot of fog down...let me share some pics  Beautiful view from Montepulciano Beautiful view from Montepulciano When we arrived....wow....it had A LOT of people....but all good....we strolled, and found some beautiful Christmas decor stalls....where we bought some typical Christmas tree ornaments, from fabric to wood to ceramic and even terra-cotta. We also managed to find our friends, the ones who own the coffee shop in Montepulciano, who had a chocolate store, a Venchi chocolate store...yummie....and guess what....Sofia got spoilt with a chocolate lollipop....let me share some pics..   Sofia receiving the chocola...

Another festival....happening the second and third weekend in November in San Giovanni d'Asso....tartufo bianco....i was quite excited. View from San Giovanni d'Asso So the first weekend on Sunday we decided to visit....and I was pleasantly surprised....as we arrived we were invited for a cappuccino at the Castle restaurant (they recognised us and said come in for a cappuccino). We received a cappuccino and some jam tart....the cappuccini they need to practice a little bit...the coffee was weak (way too milky) and the foam non existent and the little but that existed disappeared almost immediately....way too airy.....the tart....wow...sooooo sweet....in fact too sweet...but a nice gesture nonetheless. Let me share a pic... Cappuccino and sweet After that we started wondering through the village inspecting all the various stands...from wooden children toys to pecorino cheese to antiques to chocolate from Perugia and of course...olive oils....AND tartufo bian...

So....this was a pamphlet which I had picked up quite some time ago while walking in Siena and somehow while cleaning...I found it again....I then booked for mom, Mutti and dad as a Christmas present and they LOVED it. They said they had a Finnish lady who was the teacher, named Riikka Sofia and she was brilliant, passionate and knowledgable....so guess what...Kim and I decided we need to also attend this....but again...time was running out before Kim went to the ship...but we managed to squeeze it in....and here is my verdict.... We arrived in the small shop with a few tables at the back...and everything was beautifully prepared....the place matts with the information, the Powerpoint was up and running....bread sprinkled with magic salt and olive oil...and three glasses for tasting (we would be tasting 5 wines).....and a small platter with a few pieces of cheese....I was so excited....let me share some pics of the set up... Original  Set-up Set-up without serviette ...

Before Kim departed for the ship we wanted to do a day trip going to Mont Amiata with the bike....we were running out of time before Kim was going to the ship...so the day we chose was quite a grey and rainy day...oh well...our gear was waterproof, and thus we thought why not....we left around 10 and at least it was not raining then. First we made our way towards Montepulciano and then towards Radicofani. Kim had read a little bit about Radicofani.... The main landmark of Radicofani is its  Rocca  (Castle), of  Carolingian  origin and documented since 978 as Castle of  Ghino di Tacco . Occupying the highest point of a hill, at 896 metres, it was restored after the conquest from the  Grand Duchy of Tuscany  (1560–67). It has two lines of walls: the external one has a pentagonal shape, while the inner one is triangular, with three ruined towers at each corner and a  cassero  ( donjon ) which can be visited. The most famous personality of Rad...

So....before Kim left for the ship we decided to have a pre-birthday celebration. Some say it is bad luck but we believed that it would be nice for Kim to celebrate a little bit before departing for the ship. So of course it all started with the baking of a cake...and of course Kim's almost favourite (after banana marzipan cream pie), the good old carrot cake....of course with marzipan. Mom bought this new gadget to make a cake...and I must admit it looked rather fabulous. She saw it on the show "in der Hoelle des Loewen" and ordered it online...this was all accompanied with a Champagne...yes, real Champagne....enough said...let me share a pic... Carrot cake In the evening it was Kim's wish to go out for dinner...to try a new place...called Conte Matto in Trequanda. When we arrived we were the only table...so we had a lot of space, which was great because Sofia could roam around and enjoy herself. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco and a bottle of Vino Nobile...