On a distant hilltop we saw a walled-in town, which a check of our roadmap told us was Montalcino, home to one of Italy’s finest and most expensive red wines, Brunello di Montalcino. We decided to stop there. Inside the walls, we followed signs to the Fortezza, a castle sitting on the highest point of town. The castle offered panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It also held an enoteca, or wine bar, which served glasses of the local wine. We walked around the small town in which every street offered magnificent views. We soon reached the Piazza del Popolo, with a tall tower, sidewalk cafes, and another enoteca.

Montalcino seemed like a good choice in which to stay. From here we could travel to some of the other area towns. We located a hotel in the center of town. When asked if there was a room available, the desk clerk indicated they did have one room left, but we wouldn't like it. Fred asked her if it was a room for two people, and she said it was, but still seemed certain we wouldn't want the room. She was getting flustered at our inability to understand what she was saying, so I suggested we look at the room to see for ourselves. As she ushered us up the stairs, I finally thought I understood what she was telling us, and when she opened the door to the room, my suspicions were confirmed. Bunkbeds! The hotel was attractive and conveniently located, so to her surprise we took the room anyway. After a slight disagreement over who would get the upper bunk, we settled into our quirky quarters.