April 8
Rick Steves says this is his favorite small town in Tuscany and I can see why. Small enough so that you can wander on your own without getting too lost!

Annie (an American "expat") was our licensed guide to the city. Her guiding license involved a written test in Italian (with points off for grammar mistakes) and 12 hours of oral testing in 3 languages! Needless to say, she knew her stuff.

I enjoyed learning about the Etruscans and their pre-Roman culture and then we were off to see an alabaster workshop. I filled free time with the wonderful Etruscan Museum and shops on the main street, Via Matteotti.

Group dinner started out with "nibbles" (gotta love the British version of English!) and wine tasting. Only after we were full did dinner actually start and then, just when we were ready to burst, zabaglione for dessert!

I wish I had...
...taken more photos of door
knockers. Here are two that I found in Volterra.