Pandas aren't exactly known for their speed

When we started on this adventure, we had rather romantically imagined ourselves cruising through Europe in an old MG, a scene straight out of Two for the Road (minus the bad marriage).


We got up early on Saturday to pick up our car and drive to the Tuscan countryside.

Nicholas was a bit worried about driving a standard due to a particularly hairy experience in London. Our fears were not quelled when we were handed the keys to a Fiat Panda.

To both of our surprise, we cruised out of the garage and zipped out of Firenze like he'd been driving in Italy all his life. A masterful performance, bravo Nicholas! We were cruising on the A1 Austostrada and on our way down to the Agriturismo we'd reserved for the next 3 days.



Had just fully shaken our nerves when we see this sign. Still don't really know what it says.

Then, we come to a full stop.



Apparently, we aren't going anywhere soon. Let's all get out of our cars.



Tuscany is so close, yet so far away. Luckily, there's plenty of time to take pictures.







Here's the panda, in all its glory. Not exactly the old MG, but we'll take it.

Three hours later, we were on our way again. Turns out a large truck carrying some sort of produce had driven off a bridge and flipped onto the highway. Oh.

We arrived a short 40 minutes later at our Tuscan farmhouse, and this little adventure was all forgotten. More on that to come...

xo,
lmm