I have to get this down quickly, because I am really tired, but don’t want to wait until tomorrow. This story will be gone and replaced by another one and we can’t have that, now can we?
Just as planned, Dimitri met me at the pharmacy adjacent to the Florence train station, directly across the street from McDonald’s. I got in to the city about an hour early, hoping to catch sight of the Duomo, the major attraction in Florence. True to form, even with my pathfinder iPhone, I didn’t quite make it and wasn’t about to be late for my ride to Castello di Casole. I am sure I will take grief from those who think these kind of trips are about seeing everything, when yours truly is about feelings first and sights second.
I had a great conversation with Dimitri on our way to the resort, although that is not a name to do it justice and I’ll get to that in a minute. He is from the Ukraine and moved to Siena with his family when he was in his teens. I talked about my forty plus years in NYC, my time in Santa Fe, NM, ending up on Kauai. It is always fun when a longer life talks with a shorter life and the dance of time for each.
I enjoyed driving into the Tuscany countryside, although it looked terribly parched due to an awfully dry summer, wreaking havoc on their grapes, olives and dairy cattle. I know global warming is a myth perpetrated by ill informed scientists and promoted by fake news, but the planet seems to be really pissed about something.
We made our way to the road leading up to Castello di Casole, about an hour out of Florence. I confess to being immobilized by the sheer beauty I encountered. Even the early onset of Fall on the land couldn’t mask the spectacular scenery. When we finally rolled up to the entrance, I was pretty much awestruck by the sight. I decided this was not the time to whip out my iPhone and it could wait until the morning light. Truthfully, I was overwhelmed and could hardly believe I was going to spend my time here. The attention to detail in this place is simply stunning. I feel like repeating that phrase over and over again, because everywhere you look, there it is.
It didn’t feel like there was enough time for me to share the beauty with you, so I decided to bag it for the afternoon and just try to be here and get past the shock to my senses. The staff was kind enough to give me a quick tour of the grounds, but it was pretty much lost on me.
I was shown my room and once again, really taken with the incredible attention to detail. The wine opener sits in a beautiful, little case. The bathroom is as large as a studio apartment and I’d rather live in it. All of the small pieces that make up the whole of the room were perfectly placed, like a movie set.
I went down to the Bar Visconti for dinner and the room is gorgeous and the staff incredibly attentive. I was sitting by myself in a wrinkled denim shirt and a pair of tired jeans. I wasn’t sure if I was an aging hippie or someone resentful of the upper class. I grew up in Flushing Queens in the Fifties and this kind of life was like a fairy tale to me. I ordered a perfect steak, cooked medium rare, sitting in a bed of beautifully seasoned spinach. I did my best to have dinner in slow motion. I had tiramisu for dessert and left the room, after thanking everyone for this incredibly sensuous meal.
I decided I was neither Lennon or Lenin and I was Larry, simply trying to enjoy his good fortune to be having such a rich experience. There is so much I want to share with you about this place I now find myself, but there is plenty of time for that. While I was indulging myself over this dream dinner, I decided I would get up to my room and take a picture of Sheik Lawrence, luxuriating in a fabulous terry robe and furry slippers. Tomorrow, we can travel around the manicured grounds and I can spend some time finding the words to match the heavenly scenery.