Free Trip 2.0...

Sometimes when a day trip comes free, you take the less than superb aspects with grace because free is definently affordable. Do not get me wrong I am incredibly thankful for a day spent with one of my roommates and the opportunity we had to go to Saturnia, Italy followed by a winery visit in the Chianti region. But there were a few minor speed bumps I will cover briefly... An estimated 5 hour drive time turned into spending approximately 8.5 hours of our day on a double decker bus (my seat happening to be facing backwards). Also worth mentioning: the cafe and bathrooms at the Saturnia Hot Springs were closed for the day, there was no bathroom on the bus, and the bus did not stop for any reason we just kept hustling along our windy windy route. Thus unless one came prepared with food, water, and motion sickness medicine there was none to be had until 5:15 pm when we reached the winery.

But I did not let that put too negative a spin on my day because all the time spent off of the bus was great! Tuscany is beautiful and the views we saw from traveling through many small towns was whimsical. I was unable to capture any photos to give it justice. The Saturnia Hot Springs were also so neat! Before this trip I had never experienced any naturally occurring springs this way. It was interesting though because the waterfalls are so beautiful then you turn around and you are staring at a normal farm field.

When we reached the winery, the staff had a full meal and wine tasting ready for us. They were all great and you could tell that these Italians are very proud of the wine they produce on their winery. I admit I know next to nothing about wine, but we were given a red, white, and dessert wine and all were better than any of the wines I have previously tired. They certainly know what they are doing here and I am now convinced to give wine another try.

It was a great experience to see so much of Tuscany, visit my first hot springs, meet some new people, and have a free meal and wine tasting but you will not catch me getting on another bus for as long as I can help it!