100 Days in Europe 4/100: Marcampo Agriturismo

by David McGuffin | Apr 23, 2016 | Destinations

Agriturismo MARCAMPO

Volterra is my favorite hilltown in Tuscany.  Years ago, arrived in town for the first time, met new friends in the local bar and have been coming back ever since.  One of those friends was Genuino who owned a restaurant and wine bar in town.  Since that first meeting, Genuino, along with his wife Ivanna and daughter Claudia, have become my good friends.  Since that first meeting, the Del Duca family have built a small B&B outside of town and developed a world-class vineyard producing award winning wines.

I’ve spent the last few days enjoying the the countryside around the Del Duca’s agriturismo.  They have named it “Marcampo” and offer rooms and apartments for rent.  It is a lovely place to slow down for a few days in Tuscany.

100 Days in Europe 3/100 Truffle Hunting

by David McGuffin | Apr 19, 2016 | Destinations

Today, I joined my friends Moreno and Manuelle for another trek in the woods, this time in search of truffles. A truffle is the fruit of a subterranean fungus and is a species of the genus known as “tuber.” Many of the species are highly prized for gourmet cooking, especially those found in Italy and France. Truffles are a type of fungi that often develop around the roots of trees, but they are not associated with, or a part of, the tree.

We met Manuelle, and his two dogs, high up in the Sibillini Mountains to begin our hunt for truffles.  Before we began, I was told that this was not prime truffle season, in fact the truffles we will find today would be only the remains from the winter season or the small beginning growth for the coming fall season.  But, no worries, it was a beautiful day for a walk.

I grew up hunting quail in Florida.  Hunting quail requires trained dogs to find the covey of birds, point out the birds and hold until the hunter flushes the covey into the air where they can be shot (or missed). The little truffle hunting dogs reminded me so much of the hunting style of my bird dogs.  They would sniff the ground, obviously happy to be out and hunting, and when they found something of interest, they would point it out to the hunter by briskly wagging their tails and digging at the spot on the ground.

Soon, the dogs were covering all the territory to the left and right of our direction of travel.  They responded very well to the hunter’s verbal commands.  After about ten minutes, one dog showed signs of finding a truffle.  Encouraged to dig by the hunter, she honed in and unearthed a developing truffle.  It was at this point that the hunter pulled the dog off and carefully plucked the small tuber from the moist soil.  The pungent biancino (little white) truffle was about the size of my little fingernail and when crushed, immediately produced the characteristic earthy and ripe smell only known to truffles.

We uncovered six developing truffles in about thirty minutes, then packed up the dogs a struck off for my next adventure.

100 Days in Europe 2/100 A Walk in the Woods

by David McGuffin | Apr 18, 2016 | Destinations

2/100 Days in Europe

Le Marche region of Italy

I try to put in 5 miles a day (not counting walking on tours) for jogging/walking exercise.  This seems almost like a chore at home, but when in Europe it gives me a chance to explore new areas from a different perspective.  This morning was no different.

I left my agriturismo B&B and hiked up the hillside and took a walk on the ridge line leading to the nearby hilltown.  I heard a cuckoo bird nearby. I think this was the bird, but not ever having seen one and only hearing them in Europe, I cannot guarantee this is a cuckoo bird.

Spring has arrived in central Italy (primavera) and everything is busting out in blooms, the fields are verdant green and like at home, pollen is everywhere.  The hilltop village of Force (pronounced “for-che”) is home to about 1400 people and provided a picture perfect backdrop for my hike.  This entire region is loaded with these picturesque hilltowns that seem to be painted ever so perfectly by a 19^th century landscape artist.

Arriving back at the agriturismo, I walked around the property finding two burros, an inviting pool, rustic tables, a firepit and an orchard blooming in vivid white.  Needless to say, I am liking the Le Marche region.  There are no tourists to speak of… only real people working to provide genuine hospitality and information about their neck of the woods.

Your Adventure Starts Here!

Kicking off 100 days of travels in Europe

by David McGuffin | Apr 17, 2016 | Destinations

I arrived in Europe early this morning to begin 100+ days of leading tours and researching new destinations. I hope you’ll follow my adventures in Europe!  I’ll be posting on Facebook, and blogging here on my website, everyday for at least the next 100 days and I hope you’ll follow along and participate in my adventures.  You can get started by visiting and liking my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ExploringEurope/

We are packed with our tours from now until August.  Many tour departures are already filled with the maximum number of travelers (12-18 depending on the tour).  Sitting here in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, I can tell by the hurried rush of people, that travel is not slowing down in Europe.  My flight last night was completely full from Atlanta to Amsterdam.  I am heading down to central Italy to do a little research in a new region, Le Marche, and leading a small group of four on an adventure around Tuscany.

Local Ciauscolo Salami, the owner’s olives and olive oil and local vino rosso known as Piceno Superiore.

My flight from Amsterdam to Florence was uneventful and I even got in about an hour of sitting sleep!  At the Florence airport, I picked up my Fiat 500, with a tiny trunk and no leg room, and drove five hours south through Tuscany and Umbria and ended up in the middle of nowhere at Agriturismo Ramusè.

I find that the “middle-of-nowhere” is often the best place to be.  This is my view of the local hill town and the cat (il gatto) at 8:30 p.m.  Ciao for today!

-David