En route to Roma

Our plan was to go straight from Firenze to a campsite in Siena. A decade ago when I was in Italy, Siena was among my favorite places so I was really geeked to go back. Unfortunately the weather did not agree with us and it was to be relatively cold and rainy in Siena and the surrounding area into the week. So, we had decided to go straight into Rome. While in Firenze, we met a new friend named Johannes from Munich. It just so happened that Johannes was driving to Rome but didn't want to leave before seeing more of Tuscany. So, Johannes offered to drive us through Chianti and Siena and right on into our mutual destination of Rome, and we jumped at the chance.

Just as the weather report promised, the rain was unrelenting. Yet, even in the rain and mist the Tuscan countryside was breathtaking with it's rolling hills and towering pine trees all surrounded by mountains. I didn't get many photos, but we got to see the countryside from all angles as we drove in and around the mountains. As the road was winding up and down, I was starting to feel car sick until Johannes had the great idea to stop at one of the vineyards in Chianti and try some of the region's famous Chianti wine. It was a delicious and  much needed stop. From there, we stopped off in Siena only for an hour, saw the major sites, and then each of us vowed to come back when there was more time to see everything. We ended up safely in Rome that night and got a fresh start to see the city in the morning. 

It has been amazing how many great connections we've made with people thus far. It's been so long since I've been travelling that I forgot about the community that it creates. It's like an open forum each time you meet a fellow traveller for sharing information on the best deals, the coolest sights, recommending restaurants and future accommodations, and anything else under the sun. Each introduction with a new person comes a new perspective on why and how they are travelling and almost instantly creates a a camaraderie based on one common interest: seeing the world. We've met a wide range of people from the U.S. to Singapore to France to England to Australia to Canadian (we have met TONS of Canadians) travelling for all different reasons. I hope we find no shortage of connections as we continue our travels!