SUP boarding, canoeing on a desert island and a helicopter ride - 2 fabulous days in Tuscany
- Jasmina
- Mar 7, 2018
- 3 min read
Leire and I were in a deep sleep in our bedrolls after an evening spent in hot springs. Andrea woke us early in the morning, the plan was to go on a morning trip in Trasimeno lake. We would go paddling on SUP boards. Leire had some experience in paddling and we were both very eager to spend an alternative morning. The shore was sandy, and there were stretches of reeds along its borders. The water was slightly murky, not enough to prevent me from bathing. Paddling was fun, we arrived in Isola Maggiore, which was inhabited and had some restaurants. Barefoot we walked it and enjoyed the cosiness and relaxed atmosphere of a quiet and isolated world. There were two more islands in the lake, we visited Isola Polvese in the evening. This time we reached the island bycanoe. We paddled a couple of hours to reach the island. It was dusk and we could hear music and voices. Apparently on the opposite side of the island there was a hostel and people were partying. Leire and I decided to have a walk following a path around the island, entering holm oak woodland. We reached one extremity of the island where the path turned uphill on a stretch of land covered by olive grove. Ruins of an ancient monastery and a castle were scattered all over the island. It was getting dark and we decided to come back. We wild camped on the beach and woke up feeling fresh and healthy.
It was a crystal clear morning, the silent island deserted. Leire and I took the chance to explore the island once more before leaving.
Each cell of my body was awake and feeling alive. It’s the power of nature, nothing else on Earth can make you feel alive and truly connected, free and serene. I wonder where does this energy come from and I wonder if all human beings feel the same as I do.
The soothing breeze, the warm sunshine, the silent and motionless Earth contrasted by the playful and noisy animals in this bucolic setting were affecting me positively. We walked on the dirt path skirting the shore and then turned uphill towards the ruins. We visited the ruins of the Medieval monastery of San Secondo and the remains of the castle. The crumbling ruins and the earthy smell mixed with Mediterranean scents contributed to the idyllic setting of the island, an ideal setting for Romantic poets. Through the whole walk we were literally surrounded by frisky animals: bouncing bunnies, chasing foxes, busy quails all over the path, butterflies fluttering, greebs and coots in the reeds and grey herons searching for insects. They were not scared of us and continued undisturbed with their businesses. We arrived back in time and canoed to the shore were we had left the car.
Andrea had a surprise for us and soon told us we had to get ready for a new adventure. We were going to fly on a helicopter! We took a quick shower and met Andrea’s boss who showed us his two helicopters. We jumped in and wohoo! As in the movies it was very noisy and creating a lot of wind, I was sitting in the front with the pilot and had a full view of the landscape under us. We slowly drifted higher and could see the tiny houses with blue rectangular swimming pools and the lazy roads twisting and turning in between woods and fields. Here and there villages and small towns of a brownish color. From the sky the world was very different, the contours neater and the colors brighter. Leire and I couldn't believe it was true. What amazing experiences had this trip brought to us! The half an hour tour finished quickly and reminded us that we would take leave from Andrea that same afternoon.
Back in the flat we packed and I wished to pass the night next to the hot springs, it seemed fairly safe and comfortable. It would have been tough to cycle though: 25 km of which 8 km uphill and definitely it was too late to start. Again I was very lucky, once more I managed to escape the pains of uphill cycling. My friend from Triest was driving to Rome and surprised me stopping at Chiusi. The plans were changed, my bike fitted in his car and we had time to visit Chiusi, the Etruscan town clinging on the hill side and stop at San Casciano dei Bagni for the night. What a fabulous trip! I was full of joy and happy of the endless surprises this trip was giving me. Chiusi was great, there was a festival and roads were closed to traffic. We had dinner in Chiusi and then went to San Casciano dei Bagni with its hot springs which I was seeing for the second time.
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