European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sets fit a fish merchant weighs his produce at a Small Market in Tuscany. Meals served during the tour featured regional specialities. A amp a Waltor Siena and its main Square the Piazza Del Campo were the final destination of the tour. Occasional sound of Rifle shots made us aware that the Quot Hunting forbidden Quot signs posted everywhere were blithely ignored. Our Leader assured us that Hunters had been warned that our party would be walking through the area we scrambled up Skinny dirt paths and sidestepped Down precipitous Quot ski slope Quot inclines. The walks were led by Philip Joseph a Young briton with extraordinarily detailed knowledge of the Region an unflappable disposition and the ability to coax us along the last few exhausting Miles on the basis of sheer Good humor. At lunch time we d invariably round a Bend to find the Van and trip manager Vivienne Conley a another engaging Young Oxford University graduate a putting the finishing touches on a picnic spread of regional cheeses and breads salads roasted eggplant luscious tomatoes and tuna an herded mixture of potatoes and Yogurt or the like and perhaps slices of Sweet Melon with prosciutto. There was inexpensive wine and bottled water a much better Choice for afternoon walking and fruit for dessert. Conley also researched the restaurants where we had our evening meal and planned the menu around specialities of the Region we All ate the same thing. Every night she d describe what we were about to eat As we sat around the table eagerly awaiting our Cristini Little pieces of toasted bread covered with mixtures of Olive Oil and Tomato or Olive paste and bottles of pleasant if undistinguished local wine. After the two hour dinner we were ready for bed. In any Case As in most Small towns there seemed to be Little to do. Only two of the hotels had to sets confirming my notion of italian television apart from dubbed american fare As populated solely by Vanna White look alikes or jowly men in heavy glasses pontificating on current events. An engrossing Book is essential and also a Welcome Retreat from the rather Bleak surroundings of the daily walks went through open Fields past farmhouses and around Low rounded Hills. Is Al la some of those hotel rooms. All in All considering the immaculately preserved landscapes and medieval townscape we saw everyday a and the weary state of my Bones a i preferred Comfort to  so the trip proved to be somewhat different than my wild imaginings. But a once my Bank account recovers a i think i d be up to doing it again. When you have Only a few Days and you re on your own there s nothing like a Well organi de walking tour to egg you on and raise your sights. The alternative travel group conducts trips to various destinations in Europe every month except november other Tours in Italy include tuscan Trail a walk through Northern Tuscany. Chianti and the Ca Sentmo Way to Assisi. Unknown Umbria. Paths to Urmo. And Verona and the dolomites for More details write the company at t 3 Goorge St. Oxford 0x1 2az. England