Our hostess Jane took us on a tour of the local area including cappuccino and cake on the terrace upstairs at the restaurant we had dinner at on Thursday (Locanto Tinti).  We saw one of the Frescobaldi's castles and vineyards then ate lunch outdoors at another of their locations.  We had pork panini, assorted pork products (of course) and the best panzenella (bread) salad.  And, a glass of their local white wine.  Delicious!

Cappuccino and cakes on the terrace - worth every calorie

Our lovely hostess Jane Borghini

Randy and Alice with 12 year old Shiva, Jane's very friendly and sweet doggy

Views from the Frescobaldi castle

Alice and Randy at the castle

Shiva enjoyed the castle grounds

Lavender outside the panini place

The panini place - it does not look like much but one of the best lunches to be had in Italy

Panzenella and focaccia and wine

The wine we drank and I bought a bottle for 8 euro - so delicious - chardonnay and pinot blanc blend done locally

Jane and Alice overlooking Florence - note Duomo to left

The iconic view

Alice with Ponte Vecchio

A church near the overlook that dates from around 1300

They add bathrooms in this way to old houses - this one at the Florentine estate of the Barthel's

In good vino veritas - the magnum of 1993 Brunello

The Florentine tennis club at play

Jane and Mario Borghini

Elena and Alice share a War Eagle moment

Let the dancing begin!

Our musicians

We chilled back home for a while before Jane showed us a little of Florence on the other side of the Arno - the Michelangelo outlook and some parks and an old church.  Next was the party and tournament of finale of a Florentine tennis club held at the hilltop estate of one of the members, whose daughter Elena Barthel is (can you believe it?) an Auburn architecture professor.

The estate is gorgeous with lots of gardens and buildings and a very nice clay tennis court.  The final match was close and then we all ate pork products, salads (farro and panzenella) and pasta.  Lots of wine was drunk including a wonderful 1993 Brunello.  One of the members was a musician and he provided music and song aided by Elena's sister-in-law, a former professional singer.

Everyone was very welcoming to us and it was amazing to be (briefly) part of the Florentine social fabric.