leaving tuscany

Hi folks,

Shari and I have been tooling around tuscany with mb and bill maclean. we are currently in sestri levante. our plan for today is to hike through the cinque terre.

yesterday we climbed up the leaning tower of pisa. it was like being on a ship that is tilting as it sails, and the marble steps are well worn by centuries of climbers.

before that we were in the countryside of tuscany among the grape vines and ancient hill towns. towers and castles, beautiful little churches, and scenic piazzas where we enjoyed many a gelato (italian ice cream). some of the towns were siena, montepulciano, san gimigniano, pienza, and montefollonico.

before that we saw some of the worlds great art in florence. the david by michelangelo was a real highlight.

we are eating well and tasting very good vino. mb and bill are wonderfully fun companions, and we seem to have very good luck everywhere we go. the president of italy drove by us waving out his window. we stumbled upon a beatiful wedding. the good table at the restaurant is often mysteriously waiting for us.

tomorrow we plan to visit portofino on our way to bellagio. after that the macleans will return to the usa while shari and i head into the alps.

we miss our children, and we are thinking of you,

jim and shari