Tuscany

The second stop on our honeymoon took place in Tuscany. We stayed at an eighth-century monastery (which was converted to a hotel two years ago) with chirping sparrows, a subterranean brick cellar serving Tuscan farm food, and a glorious abundance of local Chianti. In the medieval town of Siena, we saw three couples that had just gotten married, swooned over macadamia nut (“nocciola”) gelato, and stumbled upon a clown festival. I found the exact spot in Plaza del Campo where I stood for a photograph 18 years ago. For a moment, I was 16 again in an Esprit outfit with a sunflower tucked behind my ear and the magnificence of my first trip to Europe planted deep in my soul.