Today is The Mechanics 40th birthday. He arrived into the world just after his brother, just after midnight 40 years ago in 1984. Unfortunately only The Mechanic is here with us, his brother is here in spirit. So, we’re celebrating it today in a Tuscan hill town, with a small dinner tonight.

It’s a slow start to the day, one of our quieter days. The view over the lake and Camucia from our patio makes it hard to leave, but we do. The Navigator is on a mission.

A brass band plays through via Nationale, we’re not sure why. The peace and errant pedestrians are kept in line by a stylish female copper in tight pants with a big gun.

This place is very wanderable ( new word?) Pizza on out patio in the sun for lunch. A chill afternoon then The Mechanic and I go to meet the beautiful Laura ( a local contact we met at the Bar in Nessun Dorma restaurant here many years ago) to pick up our hire car. A stylish little Toyota plug in hybrid, I hope it knows what side of the road its meant to be on!

Then it’s to dinner at La Dolce Maria for his birthday dinner. Paola makes a beautiful dinner and a rich chocolate birthday cafe. Bravo Paola. Her husband doesn’t say a word but distributes food and beaming smiles.

Tomorrow we’re driving to Orvietto and a few other places.

Ciao from Cortona

Pauolo