They say life needs to have its ups and downs, but over here with our visitors it’s been only up up up since Tuesday when they arrived. Let this post show that we look down too.
This was our visitors’ last full day in Italy before Slovenia and all these ups and downs happened on the way to Santa Fiora and Monte Amiata, the highest mountain in lower Tuscany. It is accessible by car – just the last incline had to be done on foot if you don’t wish to pay 1 Eur and use a weird up-pulling construction.
So much views up and down have happened since that this feels months and not merely three days ago. Everything about Santa Fiora was simply stunning – they have a fish farm in the middle of the town that looks nothing like one – but nothing more than the historic restaurant Il Barilotto with their chestnut-flavoured pasta and jam, or ragu bianco with wild fennel. I loved watching Crystal in there getting even happier.
And today it will get even more up up up since we are doing the Vršič pass over the Julian Alps. Whereas on Monday Crystal and Pedro will hike to the Seven Triglav Lakes, and this, my friends, is one of the most beautiful things that can happen to you in Slovenia.
Thank you, parents, amore and visitors, for all the up and up days. And you be well as well.
Up and down and all around: Val d’Orcia in September. 
Down: Arcidosso fish. 
Up: This boy in the Arcidosso roundabout. 
Up: Santa Fiora. 
Up: Upon the church next to Santa Fiora fishery. 
Down: Not the best photo but I have never seen a see-through church floor. 
Down: Clouds from up. 
Down: Such huge Santa Fiora trout that Crystal called them sharks. 
Up: A pretty window. 
Up: A lazy lion. 
Up: A posing bestia. Suggested species: dog and horse. 
Down: Santa Fiora trout tank seen from above. 
Up: Monta Amiata has a cross that resembles Tour d’Eiffel. 
Up: Inside the cross. 
Down: Height and directions of Monte Amiata. 
Down: The view. 
Down: Looking at her looking at the lake. 
Up: Arcidosso, left for another time. 
Up: Montegiovi, it seems. We stopped just to click this. 
Down: We just managed to catch the lowest point of the sun sinking behind the Orbetello lagoon.
For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, guest-hosted by Sofia at Photographias
This day in my blogging history
An Embarrassment of Riches 
I loved my tour of Santa Fiora Manja 🙂 🙂
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Thank you, Bushboy! It was a most wonderful discovery. I’ve had it on my list of places to visit for a long time and this was the right time to go.
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What a beautiful part of the world. I loved all your photos. The one of the old village on the hilltop has to be me favourite.
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Thank you, Suzanne. This area – and all of Italy – is full of such hilltop towns. A neverending amusement park of adults, it sometimes feels. 🙂
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How lovely to be able to visit them so easily. 🙂
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Manja, the storyteller. I always love your stories and your photos 🙂
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Thank you, Sofia! 🙂 I like to be thought of as one. We’ve had a busy week with our visitors but now I’m back home. I just noticed that when you leave a comment on my blog, your name remains dark and it’s not possible to access your blog this way. Did you remove the link on purpose? I had to check if you deleted your blog by chance (and was glad to see this was not so).
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You definitely are a storyteller.
How weird about the link with my name. I haven’t done anything nor have I a clue on how to undo it 😀
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Do you see what I mean? If I look at comments under this post, only your name is black. I went to your Gravatar profile by clicking on your photo, and you don’t have your blog listed among Websites. This might be it. There is also the option of setting your primary site in Account Settings. I’d try these two things.
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I have no idea and it’s the same on every other blog I’ve left a comment. I just changed my Gravatar website as the wixsite doesn’t seem to be working (need to check that too!).
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Pure magic.
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Thank you, Bojana. Sometimes one just needs to leave home and magic awaits.
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For sure.
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Stunning views and countryside!!
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Thank you, Deborah. It was really pretty and yummy and everything nice.
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Just saying you had an unfair advantage this week with that magnificent scenery Manja!! So many breathtaking vistas, great job capturing the scale and beauty of the area.
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Haha, thank you, Tina. You give good descriptions. “Unfair advantage,” this is how living in Italy often feels for real. 😀 But then we left for Slovenia and that just added and built and all together spelled a perfect week.
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I very much enjoyed your ups and downs in these photos. You always record such splendid details. The watery ones are my favourite but they’re all a breath of fresh air. Adventuring as ever, Manja! 😊💛☀️
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Thank you, Sunra Nina. This week adventures were many more and more varied than probably ever before in such a short time. You need to come over and see how it goes. 🙂 As we agreed with Crystal, my visitor from Oregon: First you build this kind of visits in your mind and open a door for them. Then they are free to happen.
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I agree. Kind of like, manifesting something into reality. You send out the thought and it begins to form something. It would be lovely to visit you, I have no idea when I’ll be over that way again but I shall certainly let you know if I am!
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Seems like I was walking down the street looking up and down the houses and streets!
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This is great, Teresa. This is exactly the effect that I wish to pass over. Thank you!
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Excellent. I love the ‘clouds up from down’.
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Thank you, John. 🙂 I like that one too.
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Thank you for for taking us there. Such a fabulous tour via your beautiful photos, Manja!
Glad you joining in!
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You’re always most welcome, Amy. 🙂 We’ve had a varied and wonderful week. Thank you!
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