I’ve always thought of travelling as the best way to broaden one’s horizons. Growing up on the island nation of Australia, there was very little cultural distinction between towns and regions, the only exception being people from different cities would make fun of each other. This geographical isolation is why so many young Australians choose to travel, including those who come to Whistler to live the ski and snowboard dream. But travelling throughout the English-speaking world will only net you so much cultural exposure—it’s when you start exploring the rest of it that things start to get interesting. Some would argue you need to escape the Western world altogether to really appreciate what our planet has to offer.
It’s been a few years since I got out of my comfort zone in a foreign country for the sole purpose of cultural exploration. Most trips over the last 15 years were centred around skiing and biking in unfamiliar mountains, usually while trying to sell my freelance words and photos. And while those trips were great, they always came with the added stress of trying to capture enough good shots to keep the editor happy, and finding enough interesting people or things to support my story. In other words, it rarely felt like a vacation. Plus, it never paid enough for me to take a real vacation.
A couple of weeks ago, I broke that cycle and flew to Italy to meet my partner during her own European sojourn. We had eight days to pack in as much as possible, hiring a car from Milan’s Malpensa airport and road-tripping through the central belt of Tuscany. It was my fourth trip to Italy, but I had never been to this region, nor had I travelled with the intent of absorbing as much food, wine and culture as I could. It felt good to be back in the traveller’s driving seat (if only for a short trip) with more than a few reasons to return.
The wine is good—really good
Let’s start with the most obvious Tuscan attraction. The wine has been flowing out of this region for a millennium, and in the last century or so, the hundreds of vineyards have perfected the fermentation of the prized Sangiovese grape. While I do my best to appreciate good wine, I’ve never really had the desire to listen and learn about the process, the soils the wines grow from and the climate that contributes to certain vintages being better than others. When you have family-operated vineyards showing you the land where vines have grown for generations and you taste their work, well, it’s hard to not get into it.
The food is better than anywhere else in the world
Not everyone will agree with that statement, but I believe Italy has the best cuisine, hands down. The whole concept of Slow Food was born out of this country in response to American fast-food chains rising in popularity. What I loved the most about Tuscany are the regional specialties. An hour or two in the car and the food has its own flair and the wine has its own character. The simplicity of Italian cuisine is its superiority, though I doubt I’ll ever get my hack-job pasta to taste that good.
E-bikes are a great way to see the countryside
The rental car was essential to keep our itinerary flexible with the opportunity to see the sights while being able to stay at the quaint agriturismos scattered throughout the countryside. But hiring a couple of e-bikes, zipping off into the Tuscan hills and stopping at random villages for lunch and espresso? I can’t think of a better combination. In particular, our 43-kilometre circuit in the Val d’Orcia from the town of Radicofani (the coolest name for an Italian town I’ve ever come across) had us riding along the ancient pilgrimage route Via Francigena, climbing to the top of equally ancient fortresses and weaving through gravel roads alongside vineyards, olive groves and even admiring the view from an observatory. When the weather is good, and bellies are full, e-bike tourism really is the way to go.
One of the things I was reminded of during this trip is that getting the most out of a short vacation requires good planning. Unless you’re jumping on someone else’s pre-booked itinerary, research is key to making sure you’re making the most of your days whether it’s outdoor activities or booking a dinner table on the best patio in town. You still want to allow for flexibility and spontaneity, but having a handful of options in your back pocket means you’ll enjoy yourself no matter what.
Vince Shuley is already looking forward to his next vacation. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email [email protected] or Instagram @whis_vince.
