
Runner-up

Runner-up
As I sipped coffee at a bar in Poggio Bustone Wednesday afternoon, Sue wandered down the road a few doors and returned with a dinner invitation. The fellow in the white t-shirt runs the La Laconda Francescana Ristorante and hostel, where he later served us a delicious two-course meal with more wine than we could drink for just 27 euro, about $33. The chef (dad?) was pleased to be part of the after-meal photograph.
The view as we walked back to our wonderful accommodation, the San Francesco Suite, perched somewhere in this photo of Poggio Bustone. Such a quintessential Italian evening!
With a little help from our friends at the front desk of Hotel Miralago, who arranged a taxi, we arrived at our destination today, Poggio Bustone, dry and none too worse for the wear.
The short ride up a winding mountain road allowed us to beat the torrential afternoon rains we feared might once again materialize, drenching us on the trail after a long morning of climbing.
Not that we got off easy though. We were still left with 2,000 feet of climbing and even more downhill. At times the trail seemed to vanish as in the above photo.
A worried flock of feathered friends egged us on, clucking their concerns and advice as we passed a small farm.
Our surprisingly modern room is comfy and although it has just one small window, the view is larger than life!