Well here I am resurrecting my old friend ‘Siena for five’ but this time will be writing my thoughts and following my journey on ‘Siena for one’.
I am currently heading over to my second home in Siena, and wow I have missed the country, slower pace of life, and most of all the people we met while living there in 2019, who are like family.
What brings me to be travelling 24 hours alone, during Australian flooding, a pandemic that seems never-ending, and a war in Europe? I’m not 100% sure I can answer that, but am so excited I have the opportunity to travel which will never again be taken for granted, even from seat 46A in economy, travel has never seemed more exciting.
International travel thoughts post-Covid:
I’ve really missed meeting people from all over the world that comes with a busy International Airport. I sat with a family on their way to Zimbabwe on the first flight and met some lovely Italians at the airport.
The paperwork is a lot pre-departure but all works really smoothly once you travel, connect in other airports, and masks on planes are not as bad as it sounds. The man next to me did not wear a mask but put his blanket in his mouth for the entire trip #nojudgement
It’s a really odd feeling to be sandwiched together again in lines and getting on and off planes. Whenever I tried to space myself in a line, people just overtook me. No 1.5m distancing when travelling.
The last 2 years have been quite a struggle for me, like many in the world and while I am so much luckier than most, I feel so completely depleted and exhausted right now. I was reading my friend Jo Fedler’s book Umbecoming, for the second time and it really resonates with me that at this point in my life, I am not alone.
As a reset, I looked at taking myself off to a yoga retreat for a few days when the kids went back to school in February. I was checking Facebook a few weeks ago and saw that my good friends Cally & Nick were looking for help during March on their stunning new luxury yoga retreat and property just outside of Siena. The most amazing place called Podere Macchione, and I’ve been following the restoration every step of the way since we arrived back from Italy in Jan 2020.
I happened to say to Hayley and Polly, wow if you guys were older and on a gap year, you could go over and help. They need help with planting olive trees, vegetable patches, some painting etc. In return, they are offering accommodation and meals in return. Pretty amazing! THEN my always supportive husband said, why don’t you go over and help? I said there is no way I could go…cost, leaving the kids, the floofbaby, the axolotl, work, his full-time job and having 3 kids to manage, covid, etc
After I few days and chatting to all my gorgeous Italian and English friends, I decided I could make it work and step out of my life for 3 weeks to explore, rest, restore and find myself again. Of course without Ben none of this would be possible, he’s such a brilliant father and husband and has always supported all the irrational, spontaneous, crazy things I have wanted to do over the last 25 years.
With Covid and travel restrictions I booked through Helloworld Travel Lane Cove and they have been so phenomenal with all the various documents, clearances, new restrictions that change daily, and all the paperwork. Did I mention the paperwork (see image below).
I spent a few weeks searching for the perfect overalls to work on the land, but Sydney summer fashion let me down so I am heading over without overalls, hoping to find them in Tuscany.
So, I’m all set to go and book my trip around some important dates in our calendar. Audrey and I were invited to march in the Sydney Mardi Gras with the Girl Guides and we were both so excited to be attending and we could not wait for the day to arrive. So I decided to fly out the next day Sunday 6 March and arrive back the day before Hayley’s big annual music concert Sunday 27 March.
As the dates neared closer, we were all getting excited about the change in scenery for everyone. When I am away the kids and Ben have such an amazing bonding time, order takeaway, cleaning, and tidying the house is optional and I think it’s a more relaxed environment.
I was still worried about Covid so quarantined myself for 10 days before leaving. Then Russia attacked Ukraine, so I was more worried about flying into Europe than the covid risks.
On Thursday Hayley came home from school and tested positive for Covid (3 days before I’m due to leave). While Ben and I thrive in crisis mode that was a little hectic. So, Ben and Hayley were lucky enough to leave home immediately and go to Mum’s empty apartment to quarantine from the rest of us. This meant we were not close contacts and the girls and I could carry on with our lives. Throw in torrential rain and floods, flat car batteries and 2 visits from NRMA, war progressing and a huge 8 hours at the Mardi Gras Parade, I was pretty anxious and stressed by Sunday.
Putting all that aside, and Ben’s reassurance that everything and everyone would be fine, I headed to Sydney airport and jumped on that plane. Travelling Sydney - Dubai (14.5 hours) - Rome (7 hours) - hire a car in Rome and drive to Siena (3.5 hours). I’m always up for an adventure, and already in my element!
The flights were both very smooth and without issues, no one looked at any paperwork along the way, and I was not asked for an international driver’s licence when renting the car. I was handed the keys to a gorgeous Fiat 500 although until that very moment had not quite thought through the 3-hour drive from Rome to Tuscany on Italian freeways in a manual car after a 30-hour journey while the sunset was approaching and it was getting dark.
I put on my big girl pants, jogged on the spot for a mminute to wake myself up and got it done. It was a spectacular drive and I tried so hard to concentrate on the road and not the views but stopped along the way for photos and of course coffee and my first sfogliatella.
In what felt like a very ‘Amazing race’ 40 hour journey I made it to Cally & Nick (and gorgeous Max 12 & Emi 4) just as it was getting dark and wow was it worth it. That first look at Podere Macchione all lit up at night as you come around the bed is so breathtaking.
Off to shower, eat and have some Chianti and will check in tomorrow for my first full day in Tuscany.
Stay safe and dry in that torrential rain Aussies xoxo
PS Current Paperwork for travel:
Italy vaccination options
International Covid Vaccination Certificate
Covid Travel Insurance (a little chewed by the dog)
International Passenger Locator Form
International Covid Clearance from PCR
Italian consulate letter in English and Italian instead of a super green pass
eTicket and Itinerary
Passport
International Drivers’ licence, which Hayley mentioned I might need the day I was leaving. She was right so I filled in the paperwork 20 min before the Uber to the airport arrived. The licence takes 4 days to arrive so not sure how I’ll talk myself out of that one when I land and go to rent the car. I packed the expired one from 2019 hoping they won’t notice!
