DEAR FRIENDS, CARI AMICI,
(segue versione italiano in breve!)
It's hard to believe that the Locanda is now in its second year.
We have a very busy spring and summer, with guests from all over the world. Just last weekend we had a couple from Northern Italy who returned for their 10th stay with us, and I am proud to say we are now ranked number one in our category on Trip Advisor.com. If you feel inspired, we'd love to have your comments too.
Michele and I have been fortunate to have excellent help managing the inn.
Earlier in the year Cristina joined Caterina to help pamper our Locanda guests and Alastair took time off from St. Andrews in Scotland this summer to learn about PR and Tuscan life.
We've had numerous artists exhibits in our functions room (the former olive-drying room) and most recently hosted an after-concert buffet dinner for the musicians and sponsors of the Incontri di Siena music series organized by La Foce's Bennedetta Origo (www.itslafoce.org) . The annual week long music festival is held during the last week of July and I recommend all to come next year!
For those of you who can, be sure to join us this Saturday August 9th at 6pm for an exhibit of jewels by the Pigi group. www.pigicreations.com,
Also of note, on Sunday, August 10th together with the Cetona town council, we are hosting a conference on Arturo Toscanini's sojourns in our town (and our Locanda!) and his friendship with the local Dr. Alberto Rinaldi, who cured his debilitating arthritis. Appointment at San Lazarro church at 5:30 pm for talks and music by the Toscanini Band followed by drinks and apperativo offered by the Locanda and the Ex-Frantoio restaurant at the Piazza Toscanini (in front of the Locanda).
Later that night, our friends at the Ravazzi winery are hosting a "wine and stars" evening, with a professional telescope to see the shooting stars of San Lorenzo.
For more on Toscanini and Rinaldi, in yesterday's (August 6th) La Repubblica newspaper (Florence section, societa) there is an article on their friendship and the Locanda. Please contact me if you'd like a copy.
In a few weeks we will have a blog where our guests can share tips on their favorite things to do in the area. So be sure to check on the website for more on that, as well as for schedule of upcoming events in our beautiful corner of the world.
Also below you will find a link to a video that colleagues of mine from Jerusalem made of the Locanda. I haven’t figured out how to get Toscanini music on it yet, but it has some nice shots.
http://video.google.it/videoplay?docid=-457281102891543832&pr=goog-sl
Wishing you all a peaceful and serene end of summer,
Tanti saluti da Courtney e Michele.
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AMICI della Locanda Toscanini,
Difficile credere che siamo al secondo anno.
L'ultimo weekend una coppia del Nord Italia e' venuta per il suo decimo soggiorno da noi, che onore! E siamo i primi sulla nostra categoria per Trip Advisor.com.
Abbiamo avuto varie mostre ed eventi da noi, e stiamo per ospitare una mostra di gioielli dell'artista Piga (www.pigacreations.com) alle 18:00 di sabato 9 agosto.
Il giorno dopo domenica 10 alle 17:30 alla chiesa di San Lazzaro in Piazze si terra' un piccolo convegno sul Maestro Toscanini e sul suo medico Dott. Alberto Rinaldi con la Banda Toscanini che suonera'. Seguira' un rinfresco davanti alla Locanda.
Fra poco sul sito avremmo anche un blog dove i nostri ospiti possono scambiare commenti e foto. Qui sotto troverete un link per un video fatto da dei miei colleghi da Gerusalemme.
http://video.google.it/videoplay?docid=-457281102891543832&pr=goog-sl
Sperando di rivedervi presto tutti!
Courtney e Michele
