Italy #8
We travelled to Lucca yesterday taking a total of 3 trains. One of the transfers was really tight and imagine 24 women and their heavy suitcases all going down and up the many stairs to go througgh the tunnels to change tracks then getting through the doors of the train. There was a conductor at the last one and he said to hurry!
Lucca is so different. We have been in steep seaside villages for over a week and now it's a bit inland and flat. Our hotel is gorgeous with lots of old stuff. It was built in the 1400's and turned into a hotel in 2000. It used to be a nunnery training center. The breakfast room used to be a shop. There is a spot in a corner where they show some original Roman walls. We have a nice room with two windows which is good for cross ventilation at night. But one thing hasn't changed -- around 6 to 7 am they start collecting garbage and I swear they throw the wine bottles into a bin. Very loud and better than any alarm clock.
Lucca is the only completely walled city. It was never been destroyed by a war. So today we will cycle the walls.These were turned into a city park by Napoleon's widow. We are inside the walls of course so very old with narrow streets. We have taken to calling "car!" so everyone obediently goes to the side. There are bikes eveywhere but their bells are so gentle we don't always hear them. I guess we aren't attuned. We had a walking orientation after arrival then were let loose. With a map we are fine. Dinner last night was lovely -- risotto with asparagus and two salads. Again we shared. Breakfasts are hard to resist though with so many choices.By the way, yesterday was Anne #2's birthday. I'm Anne #1.
The hotel people have to paint the walls every year to keep them looking nice. Were apoligizing yesterday and we could see why. The walls start to peel. It 's been so damp that the paint wouldn't dry so they are just starting now. Have the masking tape on.
Sorry about no pictures but I haven't had a chance to try again. As I said a few days ago, my former system isn't working now. I think that blogspot "improves" things then it just messes me up. (Madge -- I need a lesson from you).
All for today. We are due to meet for the bike ride.
Later: We had the bikes for 3 hours and had a lovely leisurely ride around the city. Went clockwise then counterclockwise.It was very peaceful. Then Eleanor and I then decided to brave the city streets. It was fun going around the pedestrians and other bikes, ringing our little bells then locking up and going shopping. After returning the bikes we found a bakery for coffee and the local specialty of buccellato -- bread dotted with raisins and nuts plus lightly flavored with anise. It was awesome. Of course we had the requisite cappacino with it.
Soon after we metup with our two CEO's who had bought a variety of stuff for a picnic which we had on the wall. They even bought four bottles of wine. We had a variety of olives, architokes, meat , cheese, bread, etc.
We were so full that we didn't bother with supper as we had a concert to go to at 7 and the restaurants only start serving then. We could have had pizza or something like that but didn't feel the need. Soooo, on to the concert. Every evening, 365 days a year,they put on a Puccini concert in one of the large churches. It was a variety of opera highlights and some were familiar. We had two soloists who took turns and a pianist. Wow! The acoustics were amazing of course. So then we were extremely fortunate to be able to go to another concert at 9:30 free because we had paid for the first. It is only done once a month and we hit the nite!!!! There was a full orchestra, full choir, incredible conductor who was fun to watch and six soloists. They did Verdi. It was in another church close by. In between we grabbed a quick supper. Again I had a local specialty -- tortellini stuffed with beef.To sum up, it was an amazing day that we didn't really expect. Got back to the hotel just before midnight.