MONTALCINO A TUSCANY CASTLE

Heading out to visit Montalcino, the Tuscany Castle and its vineyard was a little sad.

It was one of the last drives for us through the Tuscan Hills. So we had our cameras in hand to take some last pictures of the landscape and scenery.

Approaching Montalcino looking down on the vineyard was the perfect last place to visit.

At the end of the rows of the grape trees were huge beautiful rose bushes.

White, red, and pink. Just gorgeous.

We soon found out that the color of the roses distinguished the grape.

Montalcino is on top of a hill. The highest point is the Fortezza. Inside there is a Enoteca (wine shop) with a seating area to have a glass of wine.

You can go up and walk the Fortezza. The view once again was just breathtaking.

Walking through town on your way to a flea market, you will pass a monastery of Saint Agostino. There is a rose on the window.

At the base of the Fortezza is a larger wine shop that had seating inside and out. You can purchase any of their wines and have them shipped home. They were very gracious and helpful.

My personal item when I have traveled is to buy myself local perfume.I finally found the perfect bottle in a farmacia. The choices were unlimited.

Montalcino was a sweet little town. It has very high end shopping on one side. The flea market with the local vendors on another. It was a lasting experience.

We met up with Max for our last return to the villa.

He pulled me aside and gave me this smile. He had talked to my husbands sister to explain what was on the adoption papers. They were trying to get us together.

Our last night at the villa.

Lots of packing. We got all of that out of the way so we could enjoy our last meal, swim, conversations, and the last hearing of all the local church bells and our final Tuscan sunset.

Writing this brings me back. Makes my heart ache for the sights and sounds.

It was such an amazing time.

The history, the beauty of the art, the land, the people. I will never forget any of it.

Spending the time with your family in such a relaxing, warm atmosphere was the best.

We stayed up pretty late discussing where we would like to go when we could all return.

Max arrived at about 4:30 a.m. So did the owners of the villa to bid us goodbye.

While he was loading the bus with all of our luggage, he pulled me aside once again and had that smile. Only this time it was bigger.

My husbands sister and her family were going to be at the airport in Rome to meet us.

A trip of a lifetime.

An ending of a lifetime. And a new beginning.