Pictures from our New Year's Week in Tuscany
 

Good morning

We just spent another week in Val d'Orcia over the New Year's week. Stayed in Montepulciano and had some lovely, if a bit foggy, weather.

There are always questions about what Tuscany looks like in the winter so I thought I would post our pics.

The first 67 pictures are from this New Year's (2015/2016) and the rest are from our first trip at New Year's 2013/2014.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57639164500734

Happy New Year's everyone!

Always fabulous photos. I love it when you two do another trip, get to travel vicariously again.
You were part of my motivation for a Dolomiti trip this year. Hope my photos are as good as yours....

Love, love, love these! Where is that pool with the stone wall around it? I know I've been there.

The dawn and fog pictures remind me of where we live now - just spectacular, every day.

What a nice start to my day here in the Utah mountains! Grazie Mille Jamikins! Your food pictures even made me hungry during breakfast.

PS, I lost my old Black pug Yoda last summer. He had a very long and wonderful life. Now I have two new Rescue pugs, both fawn, and they are settling very well! Teddy and Ping. :-)

Happy new year!

Did you stay at Sant Antonio once again? Is a trip report forthcoming?

Wonderful, thank you.

nice photos, takes me back, and they say Germans like eating pig ;-)

Stunning photos! Definitely makes the idea of winter/offseason in Tuscany very appealing!

Love Montepulciano. Once went in March and loved the empty streets, however that was 10 years ago so probably more year round tourists now. I don't think there is a bad time to go, summer with the crowds can be fun too. Amazing pictures. Thank You.

Gorgeous photos! Wonderful landscapes, stunning sunsets and some of the most luscious food pictures I've seen! You have shots of the sexiest slabs of meat ever (food pix, that is!).

Thanks for posting -
Paule

Great photos! Thank you for sharing. I am inspired now to plan another trip to the area and I think I'll make my version of Pici con Cinghiale for dinner tonight.

Fabulous pictures!

Lee Ann

Loved your photos. Makes me wish I still took pictures but I gave up years ago. ;)

Beautiful photos! And I hope you'll write a trip report, as I always enjoy reading of your travels.

Simply stunning! You really do have a good eye. I always enjoy your trip reports and your pictures. Thanks!

Thanks everyone! So glad you enjoyed them.

St Cirq - that is Bagno Vignoni, an old Roman (I think) thermal spa. Just lovely!

No trip report this time, we have kind of given up on them. I'll continue to post pics but we got tired of justifying our travel decisions to some posters...just got too tedious and wasn't fun anymore!

Dayle - so sorry to hear about Yoda, glad you have a couple rescue pugs to spoil! Aren't pugs just the best!

Wesleymarsh - this time we stayed in Montepulciano as we were with my family and it made it easier.

Happy to answer any questions!

Thanks, Jamikins. So it is. You'd think I would have remembered the name - it's my profile picture!

Bookmarking for later... only had time for a quick look but your pics look wonderful!

>>we got tired of justifying our travel decisions to some posters<<

Why did you feel a need to justify anything? No one traveler can please everyone on the planet. On the internet, everyone is a critic. I'm neck deep in research on southern Tuscany, and it seems your trip reports bring pleasure to many people. Why spoil the fun for so many who appreciate your writing, and let the rude, boorish critics silence you?

I'm not trying to pry, but you seem reluctant to discuss your lodgings. Did you not enjoy them this trip? I've looked at your photos but I don't think you photographed any aspect of an interior room. Were you not inspired by the interiors?

wesleymarsh - it is just not fun for us when threads go downhill because of some posters, that's why we don't write them anymore. It takes a lot of time for my hubby to write them and if he doesn't enjoy the banter with friendly posters he doesn't want to take the time. Our previous trip report on the area is here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-new-years.cfm

I am happy to answer questions though, and not hesitant to share our apartment info as we loved it so much we booked in for NYE week in 2017/2018! I didn't realise you were looking for specific information.

We stayed here: www.appartamentialpoggiolo.it/

We had apartment 3 and 4 that connect. There is secure parking that is fairly simple to get to without going through town, and it is right in the heart of Montepulciano. The woman we dealt with was lovely. HIGHLY recommend it.

Did you need any further information?

>>it is just not fun for us when threads go downhill because of some posters<<

I can only speak for myself. Trolls be damned. They are everywhere on the internet, as they are in real life. I have no problem ignoring them. I cull the information that I need and disregard everything else. I'm sure there are a lot of researchers like me who appreciate the time you and your husband take to speak candidly about a trip. You both have talent.

I wish you and your husband could focus on the fun you provide to the vast majority of your fans and focus, too, on the generous help you provide to future travelers, who truly appreciate your gift for writing and your desire to share. Please learn to ignore your small number of critics. They don't deserve the power to silence you, and they are not the audience who appreciates your generosity. So why reward them with your silence?

I read the link you provided the other day. The thread seems intact with much praise. I read others and saw that some threads were deleted. The deleted threads did not spoil the reading experience for me, and I was able to cull more information from you and your husband. I strongly urge you and your husband to continue writing. It's important that you both know there are many people, like me, who appreciate your generosity and don't wish to see you stop.

Thank you for sharing the lodging info. I am currently booked in Apt 3 for my trip. Margherita and Elena have offered superb service via email. I look forward to staying there.

I'm thinking of starting my own thread. Feel free to answer questions there if I do. Thank you!

What beautiful pictures!

Love your new photos as much as from your last New Year trip to Tuscany. I am another great fan of your trip reports and you two have been the inspiration for some parts of our latest trip.

Tonight we are sitting by a fire in cottage 5 at Sant Antonio after a lovely dinner at La Dolce Vita with a drink in hand! I'm re-reading your previous New Year post for food and photo location hints for the various places we plan to visit and have laughed so hard at some of the stories from that trip.

We used some of your recommendations last week in Rome and are off to Ortisei next week for a winter week (previously been in July) and will look up your recommendations. Like you guys we seem to gravitate to the same places repeatedly - visited Paris for the 5th time on this trip- but since we are coming from Australia we don't get to these fabulous places as often as you guys - very envious.

So sorry you've given up the trip reports - many of us will miss them for many reasons - your style of travel, humour, stories, recommendations and vicariously travelling with you. I also urge you to keep writing!

Hi JAMKINS

Fabulous pics! OMG the food and wine. You catch so many aspects of your venue.

You might be interested in reading about Iris Origo, a British/American aristocrat, whose life revolved around the Val D'Orcia - her bio by Caroline Moorehead is among my favorite books.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Origo

It also contains a great deal about the tragedy of WW II in that beautiful area.

Thanks so much for the show...

PS Iris and her husband built a magnificent estate called LaFoce which is now an agriturismo in that area

http://www.montepulciano.net/la_foce...m#.VoxSn1Je3-s

Just incredible pictures!! Thanks for posting them. It looks like you two had another wonderful time. I miss your trip reports - they were some of the best.

Beautiful pictures. I too will miss your TR's -- they were always chock full of info and enjoyable to read.

wesley - all good points, and I am so glad everyone found our reports helpful and entertaining. I will chat to my hubby and while he won't do one for this trip (he writes as we go) I may be able to convince him to give it another go when we go to Rome at Easter. I am glad to hear you got apartment 3, you will love sitting on the balcony admiring an amazing view!

annmu07 - so jealous of you right now, hope you had a fabulous time!

latedaytraveller - I have read her book and we drove through La Foce last trip! Such an amazing story, I highly recommend it to anyone.

John, Debbie, Yes - thanks so much! I am so glad you enjoyed the pics.

I too will miss your trip reports. They are amongst my absolute favorites!
If you could, would you mind posting your approxiamte itinerary for this trip?
I'd love to try and vacariously follow along with names to the gorgeous photos.

Ralstonlan - absolutely.

Boxing Day - we flew into Pisa and picked up a car. Stopped off to see the tower and then drove the 2.5 hours to Montepulciano. Once settled we had dinner at Rosso Rubino in town.

27 Dec - We drove to Monticchiello and had lunch at La Porta. Then we went into Pienza for a ramble around and to see the view.

28 Dec - We started the day with a cheese tasting and tour on a goat farm call Podere Il Casale http://podereilcasale.com/en/ It was really interesting and a great lunch.

29 Dec - We went to lunch at a nice place up by the Piazza in Montepulciano but I cant remember the name. Day was spent wine tasting locally.

30 Dec - We had lunch at La Fonte Agriturismo outside of Pienza. Lovely lunch. We then headed into San Quirico for a wander and then back to Montepulciano.

31 Dec - We had a lazy day around Montepulciano, tasting wine and visiting the market. Then we had NYE dinner at Acquacheta http://www.acquacheta.eu/ where we had an absolute feast - highly recommend this place for a fun night out and Florentine steak!

1 Jan - Stuck close to home again and had lunch at La Dolce Vita (great lasagne).

2 Jan - Headed back to Rome

3 Jan - Headed home!

We had all other meals in, cooked by hubby and my brother. My parents have really slowed down so we spent lots of time playing cards and relaxing in local wine bars.

We love it so much there we have already booked for NYE 2017/2018!

Oh I should say that the pics are the other way round...newest at the top!

Thank you! Sounds like an ideal vacation!

Jamikins - I'm another poster who loves your trip reports! You inspired my trip to Italy last year!

Lovely photos, and so well organized! Many thanks, Jamikins. I always look forward to whatever either of you post!

Stunning photos as always, j!

I love to read your TRs anytime. It's difficult to understand why some folks waste everyone's time being nasty or negative.

Have a super time in Rome. It was DH's and my experience during our trip at Easter time that lots of students (and others) travel over that holiday. Watch for holiday schedules being different.

Thanks everyone. It is so nice to hear that everyone enjoys the reports. Will try to convince hubby to start them up again next time!

We will definitely check schedules etc. Good tip! To be honest we don't have a plan, just want to soak up the Roman atmosphere and enjoy some lazy days drinking and eating (for a change of pace HA)

Another positive vote from me for your, and Bikerscott's, previous trip reports ! I have so loved reading them in the past and their humour has cheered me up on many a gloomy day as well as giving so many amazing tips for foodie experiences.

Stayed in Apt 3 too and loved it and the lovely hospitality of the owners. The views were amazing. PLEASE convince your hubby to continue with his reports!! I enjoyed them so much - highlight of my day each time!! You just have to ignore the stupid negatives, they are most definitely the minority.

Hi Jamikins,
Do you have a favorite winery to visit near Montepulciano? We will be there in May. Thanks so much, and hope you can convince your husband to continue with the trip reports. They are the best!

Beautiful pictures. Thank you for posting them and your itinerary. I will be in Montepulciano at the end of May for 3 1/2 days of my 2 week trip to Italy. I was in the area several years ago (Pienza) but never made it to Montepulciano. Now I'm going to look up your past trip reports!

There are several great wineries that you can taste right in Montepulciano!

Our favourites:

www.gattavecchi.it/en/the-historic-cellar

www.talosa.it/it/

Both have great historic cellars to visit and very friendly tasting rooms.

Did I miss something that got deleted??