Fabulous time in Tuscany-true Tuscan experience!
By Nancy Coburn, New Mexico USA

It’s not often that reality exceeds your dreams and expectations but our time at the Medieval Tower apartment, with Majla and family and the wine tasting tour DID!
My sister and I were privileged to be the first people to barter our time for 2 nights in the Medieval Tower apartment. We found this wonderful place through Rick Steve’s recommendation of a wine tasting tour.
When I went to the website http://www.accidentaltourist.com I clicked on the link “Best Deal” and read about this barter system.
I spoke with Majla several times before our trip and discussed our expertise and how we could give her 2 hours of our time in exchange for staying in the Tower apartment. Majla was very open as to what kind of services we could give in exchange. She made me feel very comfortable and was very helpful. We even discussed the rest of our itinerary and she helped us decide how to make the best use of our time. Since I am very good with children (I am a foster parent) and a pretty good cook, we decided I could teach her daughter how to make homemade apple pie and give her an English lesson in the process.

We arrived in Florence by train from Rome and with detailed instructions from Majla; we took the 40 minute bus ride to San Donato in Collina. It was very simple and convenient except for our heavy luggage (Expert tip: don’t take anything larger than a carry-on if you are traveling by train or bus, it will make your trip SO much easier!). Majla and I talked by cell phone and she met us with a big stroller and her cousin (to help with our heavy luggage) at the bus stop. We walked up the hill to her home and the tower apartment.

The tower apartment was awesome! It is 2 stories inside. (You have to walk a couple of flights of stairs before you get to the apartment inside). Bunk beds in downstairs room, up one flight of stairs to master bedroom which had a bigger than queen size bed, up one more flight of stairs and step outside to a beautiful 360 degree view of Tuscany and Florence. Nice living room, kitchen, and bathroom, even a washer.

The next morning, Majla took us to meet up with the wine tasting tour. In the morning we learned all about making wine and olive oil. After the tour of the facilities, we tasted the various kinds of wine and the best olive oil we ever had! (Bring some home-it’s worth it!)
Then my sister and I elected to go on a walk through the area. We were blessed with a beautiful day and the countryside was gorgeous. Alexander was a great tour guide! Truly a beautiful taste of Tuscany! We met back at Cristiana’s home and sat down to the best Italian meal we had our whole 2 weeks in Italy as well as a little opera from Peter the guide.

That evening, we made the pie with Majla’s daughter. I emailed her the recipe and she got the ingredients ahead of time. This was so fun! Majla opened up her kitchen to us and we spent the next few hours making pie and friends!"

Nancy Coburn, New Mexico USA