Cellai

Directions to Castello Bisticci, Cellai

I'm sitting writing to you on the balcony of the villa Castello Bisticci, Cellai (Firenze) where I'm staying. The wind is cool and the sun intermittent. Its around midday and whilst the afternoon siesta is encroaching, my day is about to begin. I haven't gotten into the rhythm of Italy yet as I'm still trying to find my on rhythm. Every day I go for long walks or a cycle and admire the Tuscan countryside and small villages, take the time to have a long bath, cook a delicious meal, have a mid afternoon nap, write and read. I achieve very little and this feels strange, but I still feel tired and reluctant to challenge myself to do much more.

The owners and fellow residents where I'm staying at Castello Bisticci are great company. Cid, Francesco and their 11 year old son Jess are the owners. She is originally from London and use to produce film documentaries, Francesco is from Bisticci, Tuscany, and the castle belonged to his family. He is a civil engineer who loves sailing. Jess is gorgeous and wants to be a soldier, stunt man or play computer games and win millions of dollars when he leaves school. Seems like he has all the bases covered.. They are all very generous and charming. Cid is full of fantastical and artistic ideas and our conversations have been vivid and spirited.

The other tennants at Castello Bisticci are Alexis, James and 9months old Oscar. They are from London and have been living here for 7months. Alexis has lived and studied Italian in Perugia for 2 years, so is fluent in Italian and the 'Italian way-of-living'. She studied Classics and Literature in Oxford and has been trying to write a novel whilst she is here but at times struggles with writers block. James has returned to London briefly to attend an interview. We went to the market in Incisia yesterday together and had coffee in a local haunt. We conversed about many things - great easy company. We are like a little family living in one Castle - really cute. We are planning on making gnocchi together and having dinner a dinner party with Cid, Francesco & Jess later this week.

There is so much opportunity (ie. time and no distractions) to write, create, paint, cycle.. but I too a lacking the impetus to do much. I want to get started on a project, but feel really lazy Annie. Ironically, I'm also enjoying being idle and letting whatever thoughts transpire through my mind. I feel like I was a tight coil before I left (post Masters, post work, preparing to leave for Italia) and now I just need to give myself time to uncoil. Being in this idyllic beautiful location is soothing my soul, but the mind continues to question What next? What do I achieve next? Its a inner voice that is hard to silence, because it has so strongly governed my life and decisions over the past years. I just think I've been so use to planning and thinking 24hours a day, that its hard for me to adjust to this dramatic change in lifestyle. The Castle is beautiful and I'm really happy here. However we are isolated as we are located at the top of a steep, steep hill. Actually I've decided to affectionately name the hill Rapunzels Drive.

Although Firenze is only 20 minutes away, access to Firenze and surrounding towns is very difficult without a car, or Lance Armstrong's' cycling ability. If transport continues to be a problem, I may consider getting a vespa. Except the hill is seriously so steep, that a vespa would probably struggle. Hence why I feel a bit like Rapunzel. Anyway, in a minute I'm going out for a cycle. I want to visit a local church that has beautiful frescoes and an artist in a local town who may teach me how to sculpture.

Washing day