The streets of Tuscany( courtesy Keith Levit)
si, toscana
By Sylvia Jansen, Sommelier( ISG, CMS), CSW
It can be hot in Tuscany during summer. Very hot. So hot that you can convince yourself that eating gelati once, twice, even three times a day is crucial to prevent heat stroke. So as we sat in the shade at the trattoria l’ Oste di Borgo, inside the old walls of Colle di Val d’ Elsa, even the fresh salads needed a finisher.
The quiet was broken by the footsteps of local business people in dark suits and silk ties, and of workers in overalls. They disappeared into a door and emerged eating gelati. When we entered a few moments later, twenty glistening mounds of Italian ice cream beckoned. We ordered our desserts and ate inside, the air conditioner bravely humming.
That hot afternoon was a treasure of Tuscany: a place where walls of old towns stand in testament to ancient struggles between medieval city-states. Anchored by
Siena, Florence and the sea, Tuscany has history that predates the Roman Empire; a noble wine heritage; castles and basilicas; and inspiring cuisine. One could spend weeks in Tuscany and barely scratch the surface. But a few moments of being there is enough to fall in love.
Any good love affair includes a portion of both si e no: the contrast of yes and no. Si, ensure you leave time to relax in a small town and sample the espresso or gelati that locals love. No, do not shy from visiting famous sights, just because they are crowded. Si, live among
34 www. banvilleandjones. com