Blogs from Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, Europe - page 13

The Apuan Alps are impressive indeed. While they don’t reach the same heigths as their more famous namesake, they seem impressive enough just the same and the roads are no less a challenge. The northern part of Tuscany is more rugged and mountainous than the south. Where’s that confounded bridge? The last time I was in Tuscany, I spent a few hours trying to find the Ponte di Maddalena. It was right here the whole time! The beautiful Ponte di Maddalena is near the town of Lucca. It was built over 700 years ago. It was one of the few bridges not blown up by the Germans during World War II because they didn’t think the Allies could get Sherman tanks across it. By then it was late afternoon. I had spent a long day negotiating ... read more

Yesterday I went to Lucca and visited about a hundred churches. It was so beautiful. This fantastic old guy gave us a guided tour of one of the churches, he illuminated all of the alters and it didn't cost us a cent. It was such a beautiful day. The weather was shocking but Lucca was great. I went out to dinner later that night. I can't handle this 9 o'clock dinner stuff. It was beautiful though and I ate this interesting dessert. Then I went to San Vincenzo and watched a quartet play music. It was very romantic yet I had noone to be romantic with. Sunday I leave for Florence. I am changing schools and there I hope to be able to download photos and write for a bit with out it costing me a ... read more

03 Novembre 2006 Life here in Casatico is slow and pleasant. When we arrived the chestnuts were shedding their casings, and their leaves were changing hue. Within a fortnight, the annual shed is complete, and the leaves are falling. The Garfagnana in this area boasts huge and dense chestnut forests. At this time the ground is littered with chestnut casings, spilling the sweet chestnuts so brown and glossy. The casings drop like stones, and “kerplop” constantly. Locals collect the sweet chestnuts for sale to city vendors of roast chestnuts, but the prices are low, and probably “beer money” to the collectors. Within days the casings have browned and softened, and the leaves are dropping. In the early morning the rate at which the leaves drop sounds almost like rainfall, such is the noise. This area is ... read more

26 September 2006 After a brief return to the UK to re-assess, we now head back through France to Reims, then Lyon. Much easier going in the Astra, and more economical for sure. The Astra is crammed to the hilt, with barely enough room for us or the dogs to stretch. ... read more

Today was a free day in Lucca. WE lazed in, had a leisurely breakfast (very good in the B&B - Pablo makes great espresso although still doesn’t understand real tea) and sorted our laundry. Being down to my very last pair of underwear and the flimsier of my evening tops, this was well and truly due. EU$4 to wash all our clothes, another EU$4 to dry them all and we were done and had spent some time catching up on email and discovering the cavernous fortifications under one section of the wall. We weren’t ready to tourist until almost 12 o’clock. So we joined up with Leslie and Casey and set out to assemble a picnic. We initially intended to browse from shop to shop, but the first Ailimentarie we stepped into had it all - ... read more