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Published: June 12th 2011
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Ah, rest!
Alexis glad to be off her feet. Day 4 - Lucca Day 1:
We checked out of the hostel and headed to the Roma Termini to catch our train to Florence then Lucca. The first train from Rome to Florence was very nice, with comfortable seating, restrooms, and laptrays. The only problem that the train on the track we were supposed to leave from said "New Parmington" or some such, not Florence or Venice, which was supposed to be the end point. I guess we look confused, so a lady that I assumed was train staff asked to see our tickets and proceeded to help us get on the right car (carrozza), store our bags and lead us to our seats. I had already figured I should tip her, so I had 2 Euros out and hand. After I took my seat I handed her the 2 Euros, thinking I was being generous, but she gave me puppy dog eyes and explained (if I heard her right) about how much she had done to help, and kept her hand out. I gave her another 2 Euros which apparently was enough, so away she went. Maybe, just maybe it was worth it to find our seats so easily.
Ostello San Frediano Room
Our upstairs bedroom and bath in Lucca We were supposed to be sitting in different seats in different rows, but a couple was in the same situation and asked if they could trade, so I sat next to Alexis. We arrived in Florence a few minutes ahead of schedule, but then had trouble finding the right track/train. There was a train to Lucca listed, but it was at like 1:30pm instead of the 12:07pm our tickets said. I finally figured out the train we were supposed to be on was going to Viareggio, with a stop in Lucca. We ended up getting onboard just a couple minutes before it left. This train was a regional train and not nearly as nice, but it got us there on time with 5 or 6 stops along the way, waiting in each station for the appointed departure time.
We arrived in Lucca station, and with some effort walked to our hostel, Ostello San Frediano. Let me tell you, the hostel in Rome was ok, sort of typical, but the one in Lucca is outstanding... more like a 3 star hotel. Beautiful, clean, spacious, and our room was a two-story with twin beds on the bottom floor and a double
Ostello San Frediano Courtyard
The garden/courtyard behind Ostello San Frediano in Lucca bed and private bath above. It had been a while since we'd eaten, so we quickly stowed our gear and headed out to find a place to eat. We ate lunch in the main plaza, the oval-shaped one near our hostel, in a restaurant callled Anfiteatro Cafe. The food was very good and not expensive at all. Manoli and Alexis shared an anchovie and cheese pizza (with Manoli getting all the fish) and I had an excellent plate of lasagna, with fresh pasta and great gooey cheeses. The total, with Coke, water, and a capuccino was something like 29 Euros.
After a stroll around the plaza, Alexis and I grabbed a cup of gelato, and we headed back to the hostel.We rested in the hostel for a bit, then went for a long stroll along the wall. What a great walk, and Lucca is so refreshing after the noisy, bustle of Rome. Although I seemed to be the only one that was hungry at 9pm, we sat down at Ristorante Il Tabarro and ended up ordering a dinner, more or less. I had to try a pizza, so I ordered a 4 stagioni (4 stations or seasons, I'm
Chiesa San Frediano
The Chiesa San Frediano next to our hostel not sure which) with mushrooms, ham, olives, artichokes, cheese and tomato. Manoli had a fruit salad and Alexis decided to try a calzone. The wait was quite long, for which the explanation was that it took a long time to make my pizza. Hmmmm. It was good though, and Alexis's calzone was gigantic (she did almost finish it!) and Manoli both had a capuccino. By this time it was after 10pm, so we walked back around the wall and returned to the hostel. Tomorrow we are heading to Pisa, leaving the busier Florence for the next day.
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