A landscape photograph of a Tuscan countryside scene in Italy. This was taken close to the town of San Gimignano in Italy.

The bus was slowly moving out of Pisa and heading for the town of San Gimignano. A town that is famous for its well-preserved medieval Romanesque and Gothic designed towers. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the way, we had to stop for lunch and to taste locally-made wine. Lunch was delicious. The experience of tasting locally-made wine was exquisite. But, what attracted us was the surrounding Tuscan countryside. It was sun-drenched, lush with color, and beautiful with its rolling hills!

The photograph does not do justice to what the naked eye can see. I was feeling that the scene was changing by the minute. We all hear and read about the beautiful Tuscan countryside. What I’m seeing was really exquisite. It may only be my perspective. This was something that was totally different in the eyes of somebody who grew up in a different suburban community.

We also did not realize it. The experience of dining and immersing in a local community was going to be standard with our particular tour company. It was a nice experience. Totally different from when one only reads about it in books.