I have noticed doing research on tourism in Montepulciano that the photos of the city are often of the main piazza, which features the Medici coat of arms, the town well, the palazzo communale:
What is impossible to photograph is the elevation of the city, how it perches regally, looking out over the Val d'Orcia and the Val di Chiana. A steep, steep, medieval hilltop city, it will have you burning calories and going anaerobic all day. Up, down, up, down. Regardless, it draws me back almost every summer. The school is just marvelous, with wonderful teachers who are enthusiastic, patient and kind.
And the friends I make.... many Europeans wanting to add to their language count. Most seem to speak about 3 or 4. So many different lives I get to learn about. Kindness. From asking me to join them for a coffee or even lunch. I have made friends, as always. And thanks to WhatsApp, I still keep in touch with people I met years ago.
I went to Porto di Bacco with Alix, a retired nurse from Philadelphia. I had roast duck with potatoes and oranges, and a large serving of sauteed spinach (my favorite contorno). A glass of Rosso, a helping of panacotta, a caffe. Two hours of conversation. Home to do schoolwork, read, daydream. What is this magical life of mine?
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