We made it to Tuscany after a surprise layover in Florence (because we didn't reserve a rental car and there weren't any left.) It ended up being a happy accident, because Florence is super charming and turned out to be one of our favorite spots so far. It's very artsy and walkable and we hope to return for a longer visit. We finally got our hands on a car and traveled an hour south to the Mensanello Farm in Tuscany. We made a quick stop in San Gimignano (giant touristy castle town) on the way to the farm. Mensanello was as beautiful and quaint as you would imagine a Tuscan Farm to be. And, like a true farm, within minutes of arriving two hunters were petting a dying rabbit in it's final moments of life. We met Neri, the owner of the farm - a friendly young guy who was raised on the property and returned to manage it after receiving his PhD. He spoke english well, and showed us around the farm, let us taste their homemade prosciutto (which they make from their own pigs they let roam free in a wooded section of their 700 acre property), let us sample wine and taste his soon-to-be released batch of home-brewed beer. We spent most of the time drinking wine by the pool, and eating cured meats, melon, bread and pasta. It's been rich and far too gluttonous!
