9/24/2003 (cont.): We wandered through Montalcino and went looking for a place for Lunch. Like everywhere in Italy, doing anything but eating, or gazing at scenery, between noon and 3 PM is hopeless. Everything closes for the early afternoon and that is the only time the restaurants are open for lunch. We had heard wonderful reports about the Taverna Grapollo Blu and decided to find it and eat there. We were early enough to get in without reservations and had a wonderful lunch of Tuscan salami and prociutto, tagliatelli with tuffle cream sauce and beans with wild boar sausage.

After lunch we continued our explorations for a short time, wandering through the narrow streets and marveling at the architecture. Montalcino is a pretty little town and was probably the nicest of the many we saw during our trip. We did not have to fight the urge to start buying stuff, as everything was still closed. After exploring for a while, we decided to get the car and head back down the hill.

We were low on fuel, so we headed into Buonconvento to stop at the Shell station we had heard about and seen driving through earlier in the day. As it was not quite 3 PM yet, it was closed. Giving up on gas, we headed back to Le Chiuse to check in to our apartment.