Mamma Lo had told us about
these natural hot springs a few weeks ago and we decided that today would be the day to squeeze into Mamma Lo's
tiny car and drive off to spend a leisurely afternoon there. We planned to be up early to clean our rooms, make lunch, and be off by eleven A.M.. Of course in Italy nothing goes as planned. The water pump broke again. This is the second time it's broken since we've been here and apparently it breaks once a month always on the weekends when things are closed. Fortunately, Mamma Lo gave the plumber a stern talking to and he ha
d the pump finally replaced, instead of fixed, by the time we returned
(and boy would we need that water when we got back). During this commotion we (Angel, Jenny, Alexa, and I) went to the market to get the fixings for our Panini. Alexa
had one with a mushroom spread, tomato, basil, and Bresaola (a less fatty Prosciutto), and the rest of us had a goat cheese spread, Bresaola, tomatoes, pepper, basil, and oregano. So fresh and delicious!
After an hour and a half drive off into the beautiful countryside of Tuscany, we turned onto this small gravel road, parked almost under an overpass and hiked down a small path with our bundles of food and towels. It was the most unsuspecting place for a hot sprin
g, but there it was. Smelling like burning rotten eggs, the steaming water was
piped down into several different pools. It was like mulit-leveled hot tubs an
d bathtubs carved into the rock with water cascading down
into the main pool right next to a small river. It smelled so badly once we arrived, but gradually our noses adjusted and we could
barely smell anything but the fresh air. Underneath the white sulfur water were pocke
ts of dark mud in-between rock c
revices. Of course we took full advantage of a free spa treatment and proceeded to take a mud bath. (I g
ot two facials!)Mamma Lo even joined in to help us!
We Lounged in the springs for two
hours before partaking of our picnic. Wanting
to make the mo
st of our day, after lunch we packed up and headed home; but not without some more forays.
First, we stopped at the tiny walled
city of Menteriggioni. We walked around it in about 30 minutes while having a cup of t
ea or coffee at a little cafe.
The only down side of the springs is that the terrible rotten
egg smell clings to you quite passionately after emerging from the springs. All five of us were in a soap shop (a pretty fragrant one at that) when a man nearby placed his nose under his
scarf and leaned away from us. We laughed and quickly left as to not overpower anyone with our stench. We had completely forgotten that we smelled wretched!
After leaving Monteriggioni, twenty minutes down the road was Mamma Lo's center called "The Roses". She created this center for mentally disabled kids to attend after high school. See, in Italy these kids go to school mixed in with all the "normal" kids, but after high school, have no where to go and tend to be left behind. Mamma Lo's center is a place of beautiful expression, learning, and adventure for these "kids" (Some have been here so long, they're in their thirties, but have the youthful vitality of a fifteen year old). We saw where the horses are, the gardens, the many sculptures, mosaics, fountains, pots, theater, and many other art projects that the kids have done. Each year is a new curriculum where each activity reinforces the core of the curriculum. For example they are learning about the body. So in their lessons they draw themselves, in ceramics they create sculptures of the body, their dance and music lessons sing about the body, they carve woodwork into miniatures of themselves, and many other forums of discovery. It was amazing to see where Mamma Lo spent her time, and what she had created from nothing.
By the time we got home at 6:30 we were stinky, cold, and hungry, but so very satisfied with the day. And then we had Halloween night to look forward to...but I will leave that for tomorrow. And I promise you will hear of my excursion to Greece. A Domani!
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