Moving Day

Today was moving day from our Monastery at San Gimignano to the Convent in Siena. Our luggage was moved by the Tour Company and we moved the bikes.

These guys that make up the routes have a sense of humor I think because it was another day that started with a couple of kilometers of hills..........up hills! Now I love this and think it is the only way to start but some of our fellow riders are not so sure. Oh and by the way my bike friends will understand how big these hills are when I say that I am actually using my small chainring, a lot!
Anyway we had a great ride, there is not a moment that we are not surrounded by perfect picture post card views and there were some incredible, long downhills with some really nice switchbacks so I am very happy.

Always time to stop and enjoy a caffe latte

...and to take a rest

Our lunch stop was at another classic walled in town that dated back to the medieval times with a town square and cobbled streets. Monteriggioni is the smallest town that we have visited but it was nice for a bit of exploring and shopping plus there was good pizza and of course, gelato.

Our lunch stop

After lunch, it was on to Siena and our new home for the next two nights.here we are staying in The
Chiostro del Carrmine, A converted Carmelite Convent from the 17th century.
Our ride to Siena was more of the same, fantastic views of the hills and valleys of Tuscany. One thing that we noticed in addition to the usual grape and olive farms were a number of sheep farms, the first livestock that we had noticed.


Once we reached Siena, we entered through the north gate of the walled city and proceeded to get very loslt. Siena is a city of very narrow cobbled streets that are built like a maze. What should have been a fairly short 2 kilometer walk to the hotel became 45 minutes of wandering before a kind man walked us to the hotel entrance which in itself was not really evident.

The very non descript entrance

Narrow streets are the norm

Nice courtyard inside the walls of the hotel

The Hotel

This hotel is quite different from the last two in that it seems to be in transition from the convent to hotel. Many of the rooms seem to be as they might have been when it was a convent, with upgrades done to bathrooms. It is quite nice but a bit plain.

After settling in we decided to do a little exploring  (can you say bike shop?) then gathered for yet another of those late night, long and lazy 3 course meals at a local restaurant.

Tomorrow will be another day of riding and exploring a new and different part of  Tuscany, around Siena and later some time to explore the sights of the City of Siena.

This is what we see all day on the bikes