Days 12 and 13

On Day 12, Saturday for us, we left Imola in our Fiat Panda to drive to Florence where we traded the car for train tickets to Lucca, our next destination. We had to drive through the mountains and many tunnels, and it rained hard the whole way. For a period of time we were driving through the clouds. 

Our train from Florence was very late, and we didn’t know why. Once on the train, it kept stopping all along the way. On one of those stops we must have waited over 30 mins. to start again. We finally arrived in Lucca, and they had everyone get off. We found out that there was a big lightening storm between Lucca and Pisa, and the train couldn’t continue. We were lucky to make it to where we wanted to go. The people going to Pisa had to get off and fend for themselves! Someone told us that the rain and cold temperatures for the past two weeks are the worst in 250 years. Normally at this time of year it would be warm...and bordering on hot! It has rained, at least a little, every day we have been in Italy. This day was the worst. 

Our apartment was a different from the one we have rented and loved the past two times in Lucca, but it is still within the walls of the old historic town. Like our previous one, it is privately owned, so we had to call a manager to have her meet us to let us in and give us the keys. Just like most places within the walls, there is just a plain door on the street, but our apartment is very nice. It’s newly remodeled, and there is a small living room, eating area, and a small, but modern, kitchen. There is one nice-sized bedroom with a large walk-in closet and two beautiful bathrooms with showers like we have never had before. And much to our surprise, the elevator takes us right to our apartment, and I mean right INTO our apartment. The elevator door opens into our living room. It’s the same for the two apartments above ours. We hope no one pushes the wrong button and walks into our living room! We also have a rare luxury....a front loading washing machine and dryer. AND we have two new bikes to use. 

Today, Day 13 (Sunday), we were excited to wake up to clear blue skies. This was the first day it hasn’t rained! After breakfast in our apartment (we had bought eggs and butter yesterday), we walked around the town we are so familiar with. We had lunch at a trattoria called Gigi....sitting outside like we always do.  We both had excellent meals, the best being the tagliatelle with asparagus and bacon (not like our bacon) and a side of spinach.

In the afternoon we walked to our favorite tower. 

This is no ordinary tower as it has trees growing on top.  Once upon a time, the top of the tower had guards watching for threatening armies.  Lucca was the silk capital of the world 500 years ago, which meant there were several wealthy residents who wanted to keep their wealth.  For the well-being of the guards, seven oak trees were planted on the top of the tower for shade and cover.  The trees have been replaced a few times over the years as they have not perfected modified bonsai tree management. In any event, there are several good views from the tower including the one with the Italian Alps and another tower in the foreground.  

This is not a very tall tower, but it has 230 stairs.

Lucca has a continuous three-mile wall around it that is park-like.  More so than the tower, this was built to prevent foreign armies from capturing the city.  Today, it’s a great place to ride, walk, or run.  On our walk today, there were many couples, families, and visitors biking and walking around the wall.  It’s one of the many things that makes Lucca special. 

  

At around 6:00 P.M. (before dinner) in the old historic towns of Italy, people go out for “la passeggiata”, which is a stroll around town...usually along a certain main street. In Lucca, that street is Via Fillungo. It’s a narrow cobblestone street lined with stores selling clothes, shoes, purses, perfume, sexy underwear, and swimming suits, and it was packed with lovers, parents pushing children in strollers, couples walking dogs, and older couples strolling arm in arm. We were there to try the highly recommended and oldest pizza establishment in Lucca, Pizzeria Sbragia. It wasn’t fancy, but it really was the best we have ever had. 

BTW, our camera likes having some sun to work with.  It's so used to Utah desert weather.