Would you go to a butcher just to buy meat?

We didn't have as early a start as we had planned, mostly because we were all loving it in the apartment.  Not being able to operate some of the kitchen equipment may also have had a bearing, but we did linger over breakfast.

Still, once on the road we drove to Panzano, specifically to visit the butcher.  We'd heard that this butcher was supposed to be "the best butcher in the world" which of course is quite ridiculous.  He has a small shop, but it is the first time any of us have been into a butcher where there's a lady ready to pour you a glass of red wine while you nibble the range of entres they have prepared.  These are laid out quite artistically, and at the end of these is a crammed bookshelf, presumably for customers to borrow. 

We would have felt rude to decline, but we remembered our manners and actually bought some meats for tonight's dinner.

After having what felt like a full morning tea in the butcher shop, we headed to Volpaia for lunch.  We had time to wander around this old village before lunch.  One of the buildings dates from 1127 and it is still used and certainly doesn't look it.  We had a leisurely lunch, enjoying the view and the conversation and then went for another walk around.  It's one of those blissful days, where there is no rush, the sun is out, traffic was good (yep, even the birds are singing).

On the way home we had a stop in Raddia in Chianti for yet another wander and then we headed back to Ceramiche Rampini where I decided to fill up my kilo quota which was enormous fun.

Back at our apartment area, we decided to take some photos to try and show how stressful it can be, being constantly on the go.

The butcher in his shop

and the amazing artistic display where there were a range of nibblies, not to mention quite an interesting ceramic statue at the other end!

a local customer, just buying meat ...

and one just testing the nibblies

In Volpaia, this apartment was for sale - actually, from the road you couldn't see the apartment, so I had a closer look at the notice on the gate

and thought it was rather funny

walking up the road to the abbey, this is the first view of it you get as you round the last bend

In Raddia in Chianti the notice on these chooks was priceless.  It said 'The roosters have had enough of being photographed' which of course made it even funnier to photograph