Waiting for our tour

Under the Tuscan Sun

Streets of Cortona

We enjoyed a full day excursion to Arezzo and Cortona today. We explored Arezzo and Cortona, made famous from the book/movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” It is a charming town enclosed by stone walls dating from Roman times

Picture this Janice and Susan

Chef Laura selected the fresh ingredients for today’s cooking class. In Laura’s home on the Querceto Wine Estate we cooked up a storm and enjoyed a grand luncheon. Laura shared her recipes so we can enjoy a Tuscan meal at home.  In the afternoon, we visited the Castle of Volpaia for a wine tasting and tour of the cellars. The village of Volpaia is dedicated to the arts and to winemaking

Today we headed for the village of San Gimignano.  Wow! Walked the narrow streets and window shopped.  Checking out the gifts we want to bring back home.  Our first wine tasting at Fattoria San Donato.  We tasted Vernaccia Di San Gimignano white wine which is a white wine that tasted red.  We all just loved it.  Many bottle of it and virgin olive oil will be coming home.  We had a Tuscany light lunch.  It was just perfect.   Later in the day we visit Siena including Cathedral Complex, Piazza del Campo, a Contrada Museum and San Domenico Church.   Then the shopping began.  Leather jacket and purses was the top of everyone’s list.

We arrived in Florence and will drive to Chianti. We set off for the village of Radda in Chianti where we will stay for 6 blissful nights. The view from the hotel stretches out over the vineyards. We are ready to explore Tuscany.

Out welcome dinner at Ristorante La Perla del Palzzo was outstanding.  Very tasty.  Tired and ready for bed.  Good Night.   We are all looking forward to starting the tour.

Friday, June 10: Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon
Today we explore the town of Reykjavik. We start at the Pearl where the viewing platform provides excellent views of the entire city, then continue to the Hallgrimskirkja Church, the beautiful new Harpa concert hall by the old harbor, the Parliament and Cathedral on the main square and other main landmarks. In the afternoon we drove to the famous Blue Lagoon spa. Enjoy the aqua-blue, warm waters famous for their healing powers. We return to Reykjavik in the late afternoon and celebrate with a farewell dinner this evening.

Thursday, June 9: Westman Islands

This morning we take car ferry to Heimaey, one of the Westman Islands just off the south coast of Iceland. Heimaey was the site of a massive volcanic eruption in 1973 that buried almost a third of the town under lava and the rest under ash and pumice. It has since recovered and is now one of Iceland’s most successful fishing ports. Heimaey is also one of the largest nesting grounds of the North-Atlantic puffin. We’ll explore the beautiful island including going on an easy hike up to the top of Mt Eldfjall (Fire mountain): the mountain that was born after volcanic eruption of 1973. The lava rocks at the top are still steaming. We return to the mainland in the late afternoon and arrive in Reykjavik at the end of the day.  We wanted to stay longer  in fact overnight, it was a great place to visit. 

Wednesday, June 8: South Coast and Glacier Hike
After breakfast, we start our adventure along the south coast of Iceland. Enjoy the dramatic landscape with glacier-tipped volcanoes and cascading waterfalls on one side and the black-sand beaches on the other. First we stop at beautiful Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where we can walk behind the waterfall. Then it’s on to Sólheimajökull glacier where we go on a glacier hike adventure. We don crampons and other glacier gear and set off on a hike with an experienced glacier guide. On the ice we can see some amazing terrain with crevasse, sink holes and ice ridges.
Photo credit: Cathy Morley

Overnight: Hotel Stracta

Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss

Today we make our way to the south coast of Iceland. On the way we visit Thingvellir National Park, located in the dramatic rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart, clearly visible at the great Almannagjá or Everyman’s Gorge. We saw where they film Games of Thrones. Exciting.

A scenic drive through classic Icelandic farmland. Lots of sheep with their babies and Iceland horses.

Gullfoss, or Gold Falls, Iceland’s most famous waterfall. Hey I thought that Niagara Fall was amazing

Our next stop was at Geysir, the place giving its name to the phenomenon worldwide.

Mt Hekla, one of Iceland’s most famous volcanoes.

Monday, June 6: Snæfellsnes Peninsula South Shore

Today we explore the south side of the peninsula and the area south

of Snæfellsjokull volcano. We walk the scenic trail from Hellnar, the

home of Bardur the guardian spirit of Snaefellsnes, to Arnarstapi

and see a variety of geological formations. Here the beaches are

golden, black or pebbled and many are favored by seals. We

visit Vatnshellir cave, a very large lavatube located underneath

Snæfellsjokull glacier our  own journey into the earth.

We hiked along the shore and the landscape was breathtaking.

Climbed waterfalls.