Big Smurf: Day 1 - Tuscany - A Trip to Cenno 2010

The Journey

Arrival at Gatwick and all the crew rocked up at Cafe Rouge for some breakfast. Some of the guys had problems with their cab breaking down and others decided to go shopping as the rest of us sat waiting on the plane. A round of applause was in order. Good one Denzil :)))))))

Raph trying to persuade Denzil to try the pie in a desperate attempt to slow him down on the bike.

Al - Said she was working, but I strongly believe she was calling 'Pies Anonymous' in a vain attempt to get help in order to ween Raph off the pies.

Easyjet flight to Pisa.

On Arrival at Pisa, Mia, Raph, Grant, Denzil and Theo went off to pick up the vehicles. Denzil looked a little puzzled when the person in the wheelchair just got up and ran away.

The rest of us played on our bikes and ate gelati. Inaki, Wendy and Al astride their bike boxes at PIsa Airport. You are going nowhere fast on those machines folks.

Al practicing her cornering technique. I am worried now.

We had to find a Gelateria

Tiramisu, Melon and Pistachio (Andy)

Chocolate Mint (Wendy)

Yogurt and Chocolate (Inaki)

Nocciola and Crema Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (Al)

One guy approached me and asked if we were in a band lol. Yes we are and we are all paying tubas??? Though i think we are cool enough to be in a band. Move over S Club 7.

Al, Raph, Theo, Mia, Wendy Denzil, Grant, Inaki (hiding).

It was a long drive to Castel Del Piano and finally to Cenno.

Cenno – The House

http://www.cennotuscany.com

Cenno is a very simple, unsophisticated and typical Tuscan farmhouse, with worn flagstone steps, beamed and tiled ceilings, open fires and wooden shutters at the windows, with views out over the garden and fields up to Castel del Piano and down over the valley to the hill top villages of Monte Giovi and Monte Lateroni – arguably, the most wonderful view in this part of Tuscany.

The house is split into two parts. The upper apartment, the Top Floor Flat, has two double bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen/living area with an open fireplace, and one bathroom. There is central heating and a washing machine. It has its own separate entrance and drive and garden terrace.

The Main House, on the lower two levels, has two double bedrooms and one small single room and two bathrooms. There is a farm kitchen with open fire grill, a dining room that seats ten and a sitting room with open fireplace. It too has central heating and a washing machine, and also a dishwasher. It has its own terrace and garden.

Set slightly apart from the house is a barn – The Studio,

which is split level and can act as an additional double bedroom to either section of the house. It's a great spot to admire the view. However, there is no bathroom, therefore, if it is used, the ground floor bathroom in the Main House is just across the bottom terrace or the Top Flat is just up the stairs and across the top terrace. Underneath The Studio is a summer lunch room - The Limonia, with barbecue fireplace, which makes an additional dining area.

Although there is no conventional swimming pool at Cenno, it is bliss to cool down from the summer heat in the substantial outsize, waist high paddling pool (not suitable for toddlers) on one of the lower terraces. For those that relish a ‘proper’ swim, there is an open-air pool in Castel del Piano or the spa baths at Bango Vignoli.

The terraces are part-shaded and ideal for those perfect Italian meals and there is nothing more relaxing than having a glass of wine and a dish of olives while watching the sun go down behind Monte Giovi.

(pictures and text courtesy of Rosemary Jenkins and Mia - Cenno website).

The Arrival

Al helping to unload the van on arrival at Cenno.

Denzil and Raph building their bikes, while Al strokes jasper.

Grant, Andy and Wendy putting bikes back together. :)))))))

Then Grant was straight into the kitchen to make a G&T and relax on the wall looking across at Monte Giovi. This is the life - lets stay here and eat and drink, who needs to cycle.