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Sunday, June 1
Siena seemed so appealing... untill we discovered that like the medieval scenery but unlike the exceptional high prices, people's attitudes towards foreigners, roads and parking facilities have not changed in a fivehundred years.
Wednesday, June 4
On the other end of the Chianti region, near Cavriglia,
Gianfrancho Fineschi created the most important collection of roses
in Italy. A bit further on the boundary between the Chianti and Val
d'Arno lies the beautiful medieval garden of the Badia a Coltibuono.
Sunday, June 8
In
Firenze the people gather for the second half-final of the Calcio Storico,
a sixteenth-century rugby-like contest between the four historic neighbor-hoods.
Today the greens are playing against the reds of San Giovanni. Accompanied
by a large and colorful historic parade the teams march to the Piazza
Santa Groce.
Tuesday June 10
Despite a merciless heatwave (39°C) we pay visit to the famous Gaudi-inspired Tarot garden of French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, south of Grosetto. It turns out to be a wonderful experience.
On
our way to the garden we hit upon one of the most inspiring and spiritual
places of them all: Bagni di Petrioli, a hot thermal sulphur spring
that plunges it's water into the stream. The place is a recluse for
alternative campers and a gay meeting place at night.
Wednesday, June 11
Like
in the fifties in Holland nude beaches in Italy are still a strange
assembly point for nudists, swingers, exhibitionists and homosexuals.
A few miles south near Populonia the beach is dominated by straight
couples, families and a bunch of beautiful umbrella pines.
Thursday, June 12
Situated on a hill overlooking the Firenze valley is the garden of Villa Gamberaia. A marvellous example of Italian garden design.
Sunday, June 15
In medieval San Gimignano
the annual Giostra dei Bastoni is held, a contest between the four contradas
of the city. Two caveliers on horses compete to strike a helmet first.
The helmet represents the enemies of the city and the evils that obstacle
the harvest.
Monday, June 16
On
the road to Pienza we finally see all these magical postcard landscapes
Tuscany is famous for: the Crete Sinesi.
As if we have crossed a line, all of a sudden the landscape and it's
people are so much friendlier than the highly overrated Chianti.
Saturday, June 28
"The Netherlands
is getting tired of gays" says one of the Dutch weekly's on the
occasion of the 23rd commemoration of the Stonewall Inn riots in 1969.
(See also: 
.)
The latest national discussion about respect and
the loss of moral values and a growing number of islamic inhabitants
in the Netherlands is affecting the people's attitude towards the generally
more liberal and sexually explicit gay lifestyles.