AMAZING hike in Monte Morello!

What a motley crew! Chris, Brittany, and Andy. And, check out the background! Ah!
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So today, after conquering the laundry machines, which is really tough, let me tell you - it involved tokens and instructions in foreign languages...I also got to hang my clothes on the line, because it costs money to dry, so might as well go natural, and I forgot how much I love the crispness of clothes dried on the line, plus it's good for the environment! Right, back to where we started, after the laundry fiasco, Brittany, Andy, Chris, and I decide to go hiking. The hike starts off real well, we were going up and up and up, ok that was an obvious sentence...sorry!

Yeah, we hiked next to that, what a beautiful view.
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Well we got up to where we can see out over Sesto, and it just gets me still, that I am in Italy.  It is so beautiful.  Oh did I mention, it was like 55 degrees out today, it's January 19th!  It felt like the beginning of spring, the trees were getting green again!  So we made it up to a fire tower, which was normal, but then, there was a little "base" or something up there, it looked like a high ropes course, except for low to the ground.  There were random makeshift tables strewn about here and there, a real odd site.  So we ate lunch and continued on our way.  We cam out on another side of the mountain, and looked over olive groves, it was simply amazing.  Then, the path got a little shoddy.  Left or right?  The trees had been logged, which is sad, so we no longer had our markings.  so we chose a path and continued on it, which was fine, until we came to a big stone wall with a HUGE rusty gate.  So Obviously, we climbed over the wall and into the gated area.  At this point in time we're still high up the mount, and it's nearing 5 pm, almost dark time.

Yeah, I got lost...again...

More view.
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So we keep walking along this road, which has definitely been used before, possibly for cars.  Unfortunately, we didn't take photos of it - we were scared.  So this 'road' traverses back and forth down the mountainside, then, finally we see an ancient Roman Aqueduct, which beelines straight down the hill.  So we hop on top of that and head down.  Once we get down, we realize we are in the backyard of a villa.  So after debating what to do and where to go, we come to an olive grove, and on the other side of the olive grove is the road, freedom.  But in between us and the road are 2 fences.  So naturally, we decide we need to jump down this 12 ft tall stone wall.  ok 1...2...3...Leah's down.  I figured I was the youngest, I should go first.  Good thinking, I know!  But we made it, then we walked through the olive grove and onto the Road!  SUCCESS!!  We were actually in the next town over, so it was about a 15 minute walk back to the villa.

I can't remember what this is...
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So where were we?

We were in the backyard of Villa Ginori.  The Ginori family started a ceramic business in the 1700's, and has operated it to the present.  300 years?  That's longer that the USA has existed.  wow...And, the aqueduct we walked on, it fed the ceramic industry.  Simply amazing.  History is everywhere here!

Oh it was such a beautiful day, and the fresh air was such a good break from the city!

Also, I applied for a job at a lodge in Alaska, and they emailed me back wanting to do a phone interview, so I called them.  It actually went REALLY well, I think anyways, so hopefully my references checked out and everything!  Maybe you will have to come visit me in Alaska next! :)  I will keep you posted on that one! :)

Me, looking like a dork, as always. But notice the weird road, and the deforestation. I blame our getting lost on the logging...
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I love you and miss you all so much!

Gramps - there's quite a few trails here in Sesto, take about 15 minutes of walking through town to get to, but well worth it! :)  and grandpa in Italian is Nonno, while grandma is Nonna.  I love your messages!