Leaving Florence for the Tuscan countryside - June 8

Corey and I went on our first run together this morning!  So nice to have Uncle Troy and Carolyn here...for many reasons, but sneaking out while the kids were asleep was a nice treat.  Our first stop was for an espresso macchiato :)

We circled the Duomo and then headed over the Ponte Vecchio bridge to say our farewells to this stunningly beautiful city.  The morning light and quiet streets make it extra beautiful!

Here is a final peak at the street from our front door.

 Here is looking down from the kitchen.

The vendors beginning to roll in their wares. 

I don't think I remembered to take photos of the apartment when we arrived, so here are a few...

Goofy children, biding their time while we pack up.

We did a family run over to the Menajerie coffee shop Lily and I have been wanting to get to all week.  It is a coffee shop / kitchen store / music venue / flower shop, etc. - basically any gorgeously combined thing you can imagine.  And the croissants won best of Florence from our critical review!

My little coffee drinker -

Also grateful to have Troy and Carolyn to help schlep our luggage through the streets to the car rental place.  It was a long 1.5 mile slog, but we made it!  Loved the line up of scooters while we waited.

Check-in time at our country house was not until 3PM, so we decided to head towards Lucca at the recommendation of some of my students from Cattolica.  It was a highlight of the trip so far, which really is saying a lot!

 This wine is from grapes grown right here on the property.

 The kids out exploring.

The rain storm rolling in... 

 Our lunch.

 Raspberry juice (up) / Blueberry juice (down)

My salad of apricots, nuts and cheese.

 A rainstorm came in, and our server continued to serve us using an umbrella, as we sat under large umbrellas on the patio.

The kids made a new friend.  Her name is "Chloe-Slowy-Snail". Apparently she loves pasta.  Not surprising, seeing as how she's Italian and all.

 My future house.

It took about 75 minutes to arrive at our next house in the country.  Many photos below to capture how great it looks before we mess it up :)  As the kids sing when we get to a house they like, "I think I'm gonna like it heee-eee-ere (the here goes up and down and active twice, in case you want to sing along!)

BTW, Terranuova Brocciolini, which translates to newfound arms, has about 12,000 residents and is in the Arezzo Province of Tuscany.  Perfectly positioned to get to many of the best Tuscan towns in about 45 minutes.

We headed out for some groceries, as nothing is at our doorstep anymore!  The only downside.  A beautiful grocery store with many markets within is 3km away.

Lily is pushing hard to buy some octopus.  Stay tuned to see if she wins out over the next week!

We had to try this.  2.29?!?  

Cool escalator for the cart incline.  The wheels locked in to place.

Night swim, finally, after the storms passed.