Runs in Castiglion Fiorentino

Emily K: Everyday when home in Castiglion Fiorentino, Abby and I make it a goal to go for a run. We discovered a small back road that leads to a church on which hardly anyone ever drives. The view is truly spectacular. It makes it easy to forget that your legs are about to give out on the hills and easy to forget the sound of your tired lungs. A pretty view does more for you than I would have ever imagined! The few houses on the roads have beautiful gardens, but the naturally growing flowers are just as beautiful if not even more so. Vines cling to all the stonewalls, and cacti and flowers line the path. Giant trees such as the Italian cypress trees make for great shade. There are also a few stone pines visible in the forest along the mountainside.  This is really cool because stone pines do not sprout randomly. Therefore one could conclude that someone must have planted the seeds in the wild lands to explain their presence. Last week while running, we saw a three-foot-long green garden snake slither out from the tall grass and across the road. We now know what is making all the noise in the brush! Because of this I will continue to admire the woods from the road, and avoid climbing through the forest. Sometimes it’s best to play it safe!