Yes...An Affair to Remember...

I wrote this in 2013, and it is as true today as it was then...

Italy has seduced us with her charms...

She is vibrant, chaotic, unpretentious, and unpredictable.  Her ancient  ruins and gorgeous churches have fueled our imaginations and left us wanting to see and learn more.  Just when you think you have her mysteries solved, she reveals another glimpse of her many facets to tantalize and tease you.

Her stunning beauty has left us breathless...her colors, landscapes, aromas, and tastes have been an assault on our senses and left our minds reeling.

Her people are warm, welcoming, proud and, above all, passionate.  They have embraced us, kissed us on both cheeks, and called us friends.

We are overwhelmed, exhilarated, exhausted, and utterly in love with this country and its people.

Arrividerci e grazie, Italia...ci vediamo presto !  We will see you again soon !

Con amore...a couple of infatuated, thankful travelers once more...Chris and Joe

A Fairy Tale Come True....

 On another of our rides around the Lucca area, we went to Collodi...a small village high in the hills.  There is a marvelous villa there, with fountains and statues in lush gardens.

As if this place weren't fairytale enough, the town is known as the birthplace of Pinocchio !!! 

yes, it's true !

there are all sorts of Pinocchio heads hanging around...strange but true !

Pinocchio souvenirs... a lot of them !

 

hmmmmmmm....we did not visit....

we did, however, have a bite in the Pinocchio bar....where they serve New York coffee !

    you can't make this stuff up !!!

An interesting day, to be sure....and that's no lie !!

The Devil Made Me Do It !

We had some wonderful rides in the hills surrounding the Lucca area, one of which was to the Devil's Bridge.  Apparently, the Devil helped the builder complete the bridge in exchange for the soul of the first person to cross it.  The local priest advised the builder to have a pig go across the bridge first, thus tricking the Devil who became so upset he threw himself off the bridge and was never seen in the area again...

quite an engineering feat...devil or no devil !

click to enlarge the story...

view from the bridge...

The ride through the countryside was gorgeous...another great day in the Tuscan sun !

could this be our next home ???

Lucca, Beautiful Lucca... !

     We spent the last five days of our trip at the agriturismo Al Podere di Rosa, just a couple of miles outside the walled city of Lucca.  Located in the northwest corner of Tuscany, Lucca is just a short drive from both the mountains and the sea.  Vibrant Lucca is surrounded by a thirty-foot high wall that is wide enough for walking, biking, even driving.  The wall is about 2.5 miles around, and the ever-changing views are spectacular.....

     The main entrance to the city from the north is Porta Santa Maria..... the right arch is for cars entering the city, the left arch for cars leaving, and the center arch is for pedestrians.....

     There was a garden show going on, right on top of the wall.....

   
     And because Lucca is the home of the composer Giacomo Puccini, there are always classic music concerts.....

Here are some views of the wall.....

     Walking on the wall.....

     And views from the wall.....

     More random views while wandering the mostly pedestrian lanes of Lucca.....

     Long ago there was a small, oval-shaped Roman amphitheater in Lucca, which is long gone.  But the buildings surrounding it are still there.  Most of the buildings are now restaurants.  A woman was painting a picture in the amphitheater piazza.....

     Lucca is a truly magical place, with a vibrant combination of locals and tourists, great restaurants, excellent and inexpensive local wines, endless pedestrian Medieval lanes to wander, and wonderful entertainment options.  It was a great place to end our trip, and I fully expect we will return.....

     Click on any photo to enlarge.....