An Appreciation of La Spinosa by Martin Shaw, a past guest....
"The cock crows, heralding the dawn,
The church bell tolls, announcing the hour,
The night-watching dogs begin to bark at one another,
The sun appears gently over the ridge of the mountain,
The day has started.
The day is always at its best first thing,
Everything is fresh as the woodpecker claims its territory.
Up above, the honey buzzard circles for its prey,
From its vantage point, the Tuscan farmhouse on the ridge,
Observes the waking houses' smoke fires drifting through the valley,
The first warm, golden yellow rays of sun penetrate,
Through the old, varnished shutters,
All is silent.
Far off, can be seen the beautiful hilltop village,
Sheltered by cypress trees, giving the place its identity,
One begins to hear the splutter of a three-wheeled van.
As the workman begins his journey to work,
The day has begun."