I didn’t sleep much last night. It was too warm until I moved the fan from the kids’ room. I got stomach sick. And then the kids woke up three separate times screaming for me (water, pee, spooky). Ugh. I am exhausted.

//Grandpa notes> So I try getting up to comfort Oly when he starts crying in the middle of the night.  Unfortunately it just makes him mad that i am not Momma.  Let’s me know where I stand.

We have breakfast here at the house, huddled around the small table in the kitchen. The table in the yard is amazing, but it’s not easy to get out there. We also discover the internet doesn’t really work here. They mentioned that because it’s satellite, it won’t work in the evenings as well as the mornings. But it’s not working at all. I’m supposed to have a call for work, and it’s impossible. What a pain. But then again, this is the place for true vacation removed from all distractions.

//Grandpa notes> It really does not work to be completely offline.  Missed too much work, news and Olympics.

//Stefan Note: grandpa missed mainly researching how to defunct the liberal media with stone cold facts from conservative things.

We have lunch out on the lawn, and Stefan makes an awesome caprese salad. It really feels like we are in Italy.

We are excited to get out and explore Chianti. We start with a tour and tasting at Castello di Volpaia in Radda in Chianti. We booked ahead that morning for the English tour for the day. It’s an old fort at the top of the hill. A wealthy family purchased three-fourths of the town and installed a winery in it. It’s pretty, and it’s interesting to hear how they build the large wine barrels in the rooms because the doors are too small and that every two years they install new tanks by taking off the entire historic roof and replacing it.

We go into the tasting room with the rest of our group (around 10 people). Our guide is very nice and knowledgable. The wines are pretty good, but I think we are all having a hard time transitioning from Barolo. If you were visiting both regions in one trip, I’d recommend Chianti first and then Barolo. Chianti is an easier wine to drink—lighter and meant to be enjoyed younger. This is the first winery where we don’t buy anything after the tour and tasting.

//Grandpa notes> The wine may be the best of the chiantis that I tasted, but we can buy this wine in the states and I am already carrying enough wine back.  The education was great and we learned that only true Chianti Classico can be marked with the Black Rooster.

We drive down the hill and head to a nearby winery, Castello di Radda. We just go to the tasting room, but the hostess there is very nice and explains the wines well. They taste really good too. This is a commercial place, and we prefer the smaller wineries. Still, I’d recommend buying a glass of wine and sitting under the vines on the patio. There is another group of people there, and it looks enchanting. While we are tasting, the kids play on the large patio outside. They are incredible to watch. 

We are getting hungry and don’t want to drive all the way home, so we decide to stop at the other pizza place our Airbnb hosts recommended. It’s their favorite pizza spot, La Cantoniera. We are one of the first families to fill the patio. It has a nice space for the kids to run around (though they don’t take advantage of it until after our meal) and a bit of a view. There’s one guy working the pizza oven and one guy serving the tables. They work so hard. And the pizzas are really great. I’m not sure I like them more than the other pizza place; it’s all so good.

One thing about restaurants in Italy is that they all seem understaffed and in no real hurry to get you out of there. We always have to hunt down the server to ask for the check, and often we all leave the table while one person stays behind to beg to pay. It’s ridiculous. But my dad comments that it’s nice that the expectation is for you to stay all night. I’ll admit it’s relaxing, but it gets annoying when your kids get super tired and you really need to leave asap before it all falls apart in a very ugly way.

//Grandpa notes> My experience with the service has been consistent from Lyon to Tuscany.  They are in no hurry to serve you when you arrive and are in no hurry for you to leave when done.  It does make me anxious, but i try my best to relax and better enjoy the dining experience.  At least many of the places have wifi that works.
The house is cooler tonight, so I’m hoping it’ll be a better night’s sleep.

//Grandpa notes> Grandpa sits down below on the lawn drinking fine wine, smoking a cuban cigar, watching his iPad (downloads only since there is no internet) and gazing up at the stars.  It’s really pretty.