Thomas Wolfe was right. June 4th.

We awoke this morning to the sound of horses outside our windows. Nice way to see the town and country side.

"You can't go home again."  Thomas Wolfe.  Well it looks like the same thing applies to Chiusi, Italy.  We started our adventure with Linda on a side trip to Chuisi visiting Etruscan relics and eating great food. We missed the Etruscan tombs so we were determined to return on the end of the trip. Sort of a big circle.
Today we drove to Chiusi to eat and tomb.  The country side was still lovely and the weather fine if not a bit too hot. Let me just say that the lunch at the same restuarant was not as good as two weeks ago. Maybe our palates have sharpened, but anyway we left a bit disappointed.
Outside the restaurant at Noon.
Chiusi side street. Touch to see Video

Its still fun to drive in the hilltowns when you can.
Driving in Chiusi. Touch for Video

And now on to see the tombs. Last time we rushed to the tombs to be there before they closed at 4:00PM, only to find they had left early. Or so we thought. Today I went to the museum in town to get tickets for today, making sure we were there well before 4:00PM. It was only 2 o'clock. This time they explained to me that the tomb tours START at 4:00.  To see them we would have to wait 2 more hours.
So it was on to the hill town of Montepulciano.
We parked at a random spot, and walked up through one of the walls gates?

A Gate into the City

 Remember that most hill towns restrict car traffic greatly, making them pedestrian zones for the most part. We walk not 5 meters in and see the exact same wine shop where we had purchased wine over 20 years earlier. Had to buy some wine, though God knows we don't need any more. And of course we go down into the caves beneath the shop that we had explored so many years ago.

 They also store Olive Oil in the Caves

One thing we did notice on this trip. The hills are a lot steeper than they were 20 years ago. Wonder how that happened.
Gelato near the top of the town, then back to the car, drive home and a long nap. Tonight we pack to drive Linda to Rome, and us to just outside the airport where we pick up a bigger car, and start another adventure with Kathy, Patty, and Amanda.