My story;
It all started the Summer of 2005 -------------
When I planned a trip alone to Tuscany!
From my dream to reality took me about two months of planning and searching, when my friend insisted to go with me, ruined my dream and left me on the third day In Rome.
I was alone with grief in a foreign country, Ultimately the morning after, I heard a voice through the sun light that welcomed and uplifted me to hope and happiness, Then I attracted back to my dream. My trip started The morning after she left and I made such a memorable trip and keep going back every year-----------
I believe in that what ever happen it’s for good reason. The day she left, when i was visiting a church, an old man pointed my shoulder and said: you will come back here again and again--------------- What did he just said!. When i turned around i didn’t see him.
I had wonderful time, memory and experience and would love to share it with others.
Italian say “La vita e L’ arte dell incontro” Life is art of meeting.
In my second trip to Italy I stopped by in Cortona for two days, unexpectedly I found a charming apartment and and decided to rent it for a month for the next year, I talked to the owner and it got all set.
I planned to go to school and learn the language.
Living in Cortona was one of my best experience. Getting up every morning, walking to top of the hill and walking down from the the other side which led me to the center of town, Buying some fresh pieces of bread and come home get ready for breakfast; In Italy buying bread in piece is common, Going to school, meeting friends for cappuccino and some days school takes us to trip to olive grove and learningTuscan cooking.It was the best experience and journey of my life.
Florence train station
The town of Cortona can be reachable by train from Florence;
A pleasant 1 1/2 hour train ride ( 9 Euro for first class & 6 for second ).
Camucia is the station for Cortona, then you can take a bus which runs and It takes you to Cortona central. Cortona is a charming, cultural and artistically hill town on the edge of Tuscany and is one of the oldest cities in Italy and it’s been called Grand mother of Rome,
was founded by Etruscans about three thousand years. 
Piazza Garibaldi
Favorite travel links
✰ Cooking course in Tuscany
✰ Wine tasting in Tuscany
✰ Learn Italian Language in Tuscany
Market day in Cortona;
Is one of the joyful event for visiting Cortona. To see the Sunday market which held in multiple venders. There is a market held every day of the week somewhere, and people travel from town to town to sell their home-grown vegetables and fruits.
Market day at Cortona, every Saturday morning (Friday in case of a holiday).
Market day at Camucia, every Thursday (Wednesday in case of a holiday).
Market day at Terontola, every Tuesday morning (Monday in case of a holiday).
Day trip to Lake Trasimeno;
The Lake can be seen from Piazza Garibaldi in Cortona, It is the fifth largest lake in Italy, being slightly smaller than Lake Como. The lake has three islands. Driving 30 minutes will take you there. It is perfect place walking by the Lake and passing by the market. Drive around the lake makes an excellent one day excursion.
Market day at Terontola, every Tuesday morning (Monday in case of a holiday).
Day trip to Lake Trasimeno;
The Lake can be seen from Piazza Garibaldi in Cortona, It is the fifth largest lake in Italy, being slightly smaller than Lake Como. The lake has three islands. Driving 30 minutes will take you there. It is perfect place walking by the Lake and passing by the market. Drive around the lake makes an excellent one day excursion.
LakeTrasimeno
Cooking lessons;
If you are visiting Tuscany, don't miss out on a chance to increase your experience of Tuscan cookery by taking at least 2 days cooking class. There are many local school they offer even one day cooking lesson.Your day of endless new tastes, smells and flavors begins when you take cooking course.
My favorite recipe;
Penne La Prima Vera, (Penne pasta with eggplant,and tomato)
Ingredients:
- 2 med eggplants
- 1can 16 oz peeled plum tomato
- 1 box penne pasta
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large chopped onion
- 3 minced cloves garlic
- 3 stems of basil
- Olive oil, Salt & pepper
- Pinch of hot red pepper
- ( optional)
Serving: 6
Cooking time: 45 min
- Cut the eggplants in one inch square (with skin).
- Prepare pot of water to boil for pasta.
- Saute onion for 3-4 min with some olive oil in a large pot.
- Add some salt, pepper and red pepper, add garlic then eggplants, and more salt and pepper, saute until golden.
- In a separate bowl Pour tomato can crush the tomato with spoon, then add to the pot.
- Bring it to boil in medium low heat, cut basil in pieces and add to the mixture. Let it cook for 30 min.
- Add half of cheese to the pot, stir few times slowly.
- Add enough salt to boiled water, add pasta and stir 2 times and let it cook for 8 min. Save cup of pasta water for eggplant mix in case you need to loosen it.
- Strain pasta in calendar, add pasta in the mixture, Mixed and pour it in serving dish, add rest of cheese and garnish with basil and serve it.
One of those days;
wine tasting and winery tour;
A very enjoyable part of my vacation in Tuscany was wine tasting at the wineries that actually produce wine.While i was in Siena for few days I planned togo for wine tasting. The quickest and less expensive way was bus ride, 6 Euro to bout an hour ride to san Gimignano. after pleasant ride I got off and walking towards the wineries. A charming narrow Avenue which holds many entrances to wine tasting. Keep tasting wine and walking safely from one winery to the next. And most of them serve you cheese and bread with wine.
A very enjoyable part of my vacation in Tuscany was wine tasting at the wineries that actually produce wine.While i was in Siena for few days I planned togo for wine tasting. The quickest and less expensive way was bus ride, 6 Euro to bout an hour ride to san Gimignano. after pleasant ride I got off and walking towards the wineries. A charming narrow Avenue which holds many entrances to wine tasting. Keep tasting wine and walking safely from one winery to the next. And most of them serve you cheese and bread with wine.
There are buses to go to wineries, or other option is hiring a car with a driver guide for a whole day. Your hotel can arrange a privet car or inform you with transportation guide.Your driver should be able to suggest suitable itineraries, including lunch stops, and be willing to make certain that the wineries that you will visit are open and receiving visitors at the time you plan to be there. These wineries;
These wineries; san Gimignano Chianti, Montalcino and Montepulciano, in Tuscany are great for visiting and wine tasting.
In all three of these wine districts, the dominating grape is Sangiovese- not named after a saint called "San Giovese" as some might think, but meaning "blood of Jupiter" or "blood of Jove", because of its characteristic color.
Montepulciano is in south of Tuscany and shorter ride from Cortona, The main street of the town was many stores which had wine tasting and some olive tasting. I spend whole day keep drinking and having bread, cheese,wine and olive. I don’t remember having other food.
