Hilltop towns

Breakfast was self service so was much quicker which is a good job as we left the hotel at 8-40!
The coach seat rotation found us at the very front looking over the driver's shoulder. That's the first time (and probably last) we've ever sat there! We drove to Volterra which is high up in the hills. Our first activity was a tour round the alabaster workshop. It's a very soft rock which looks a lot like marble but is easy to work. They don't do health and safety though; working it creates loads of dust but the old craftsman who gave us a demonstration was oblivious to it, and seems to have adapted to breathing dust! We (mum) bought a couple of things. We had a coffee and wandered round, then came across an ancient house (the whole town is ancient so it was just a big house really) and it was very similar to the National Trust properties we've been to at home. You wander from room to room looking at old furniture. That was ok but the interesting part was that our ticket entitled us to a wine tasting in the cellar! National Trust never thought of that!
So they sat us down and gave us a glass of wine each and a plate full of the by now familiar pecorino cheese, salami and bread dipped in garlic. All this for 5 Euros each, including looking round the house. Anyway, mum only had a bit of a nibble at the food, so I had to once again eat it all on account of my grandad having been a prisoner of war. But when I came to drink her wine, she really had necked it all herself this time! She claims she had to drink it in order to save me from becoming an alcofrolic but the reality could be that she becomes one in trying to save me! Oh the irony!
So then we drove to San Gimignano, which is very similar except there was no wine tasting! There are 2 competing shops across the road from each other, who both claim to be the World champion gelato makers. Our guide recommended the one on the left so virtually our whole bus joined that queue. It was very nice but in our opinion the best one was the one yesterday in Florence. The evening meal took all evening again and consisted of pretentious small portions with sauce smeared across the plate. Impressed I am not!
Checked George's present; it hasn't melted yet 🙂