Saturday we were invited by Alfredo to join him and Pietro's family for lunch at their agriturismo Il Podere S. Alessandro near Castello San Gimignanello.  I was excited to finally be visiting a villa in the countryside and having lunch with Pietro's family.

The directions on the website of S. Alessandro were not the best and needless to say we got very lost off a dirt road in the middle of the Tuscan countryside.  Not a horrible thing to happen but when you are hungry and running late it wasn't exactly great.

I finally gave in and called Indah who was also lost and after a bit more driving around I finally found the agriturismo on the road just after the Castello San Gimignanello. 

It was like a scene out of the movie Stealing Beauty.  It was quiet with the wind lightly swaying the green grass on the rolling hills, the sun was shining and it was blissfully warm, everyone was lazing around in different parts of the property, it was heaven in Toscana!

We were warmly welcomed by Alfredo, and Pietro and soon met Zio Carlo, Pietro's sisters, mother and nonna and some other visitors who were staying at the agriturismo.

Sandy became fast friends with Napoleon, the giant fuzzy dog that was also lazing in the sun.

The property was amazing, the views in every direction made you feel as if you had entered a fairy tale where there is only gentle rolling hills and blue blue skies. 

The reason we had been invited was for lunch, as the visitors who were staying at S'Alessandro had taken a cooking class and we had the rough job of eating all the left over pasta.  What a sacrifice we will make for new friends!

The tables were set outside under canopies with the amazing view of the countryside, I couldn't have asked for a more spectacular setting.  I have say I kept feeling like I needed to pinch myself to make sure it was real and not a movie I was watching, it was just so beautiful and peaceful.

Lunch was amazing and we felt so warmly welcomed by Pietro's family. 

Alessandra, Pietro's sister had done most of the cooking and the pasta was to die for, as you can see :)  We were drinking wine made from the vines on the property and everyone just languidly ate and chatted and enjoyed.

I'm so touched and grateful by everyone I have met and am becoming friends with here in Italy, especially Alessandra (in Cortona) and Alfredo.  There are so many generous people who just simply reach out and warmly welcome you into their circle of family and friends.  I know I was very guarded in the states and sometimes now I catch myself wondering what these people might want from me, as I'm not used to new people making such an effort in wanting to be my friend.

After lunch all we could do was laze around in the hot Tuscan sun, it was like a dream come true.  Eat, eat some more, eat a bit too much, drink wine, sleep.

Rough.

The pool was so inviting but also oh so cold!  I lazed around next to it working on my tan and just being hypnotized by the lapping waters and hot sun.

I could have stayed here for days blissfully napping.

I think it was a common thing shared by everyone with music playing softly in the background.

Here is the view of San Gimignanello from S'Alessandro.

Alfredo took us on a tour of the property which has olive trees, gardens and a vineyard.

The olive trees were over 50 years old.  They used the olive oil daily made from these trees.

Every part of the property had beautiful views.

The vineyard produced the vino da tavola we had with lunch

I made good use of every space there was to laze in.  My tummy was VERY busy digesting.

As it became later, the colors continued to change as the sun turned to a golden color.

This was another one of the furry friends who kept us company throughout the afternoon.

Sandy and I had an absolutely FANTASTIC time and were heartly encouraged by all of the family to come visit again sometime soon.  I told them it would be a definite YES!

Before we left Alfredo took us for a little drive to a ranch nearby that offered horseback riding. 

It was too late to go riding but we made friends with all of the animals including this obstinate donkey who kept braying quite loudly.

This little fellow was adorable and quite new.

Sandy was quite taken with him.............as well as the other horses.

We left very happy and contented.  What an absolutely lovely day!

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