Italia, pt. VII

Admittedly, that post-title is somewhat misleading.  In truth, I'm all out of Italy pictures, but after dropping Tania at the airport in Perugia & driving for hours & hours & hours, we did stop over in a lovely French town called Colmar on our way back to Calais. 

Colmar's an Alsace town on the German border, so much of it has a charming Deutsch feel.

Except the pastries, which were decidedly French & all the more delicious for it.

 A few other photos from our morning stroll.

Check the lookout sculpture on this place, above the third-story window on the left.

After a long couple of days on the road, we finally made it back to Calais, where we unloaded an ungodly amount of crap from the Mercedes & tried as best we could to shlep it onto the Eurostar--that is, not before stopping for one last vacation cocktail.

Nothing says relaxation like Campari sipped from a plastic cup while crouched in the ass-end of a rental car.  After a short sit in the train station, we were on our way back to the Big Smoke.

Thanks for showing me the continent, ladies.  I had a fantastic time!

Ciao!

Italia, pt. VI

DAY 9

After only seeing Montepulciano at night a few days previous, we decided to return during the daytime for a closer look.  Here's a shot from a distance outside the old city wall.

Colonna del Marzocco.

 Buccelli Palace, the facade of which is adorned with Roman & Etruscan stone carvings.  Very, very cool.

Inside Chiesa di Sant'Agostino.

The Torre di Pulcinella, a medieval clock tower.  The 17th century metallic Punch statue on top actually strikes that bell on the hour.

Palio flags.

The Medici were here (too).

A few of the Moorings.

A Madonna.

Look closely at the underside of this arch, & you'll see the remnants of a painting.

Another breath-taking Tuscan vista.

If I recall correctly, there was a bit of property prospecting going on at this overlook.  Some parts of Tuscany have quite a few houses in shambles, perhaps lying in wait for the (rich) English to come build them back up.

A woman and her ape.  I mean, Ape.

A few more shots from around town.

Mmmm... birra.

Back to the Montepulciano photos..

....& I'm spent.  Hope you enjoyed much as I did.