Lucca to Florence
This morning we said goodbye to Rapallo and the Cinque Terre, in hopes of leaving the rain behind. Well, that didn’t go quite as planned.......
We had a pretty drive through the mountains and we passed through a lot of tunnels. It wasn’t raining to begin with but suddenly the clouds opened up and down came the rain....and then the hail!!! Sheesh!!
We arrived in Lucca at 10:30 and began our walking tour at 11:00. Lucca is a beautiful, old, walled city. We wound our way through narrow streets and past beautiful churches, as our guide, Elenora told us about Lucca’s history. As we toured, I went back and forth....sunglasses on, sunglasses off with hood up because of rain, then sunglasses on, hood up......and so it went. As we approached the amphitheater, we heard a big CRACK of thunder and we just made it to the entrance tunnel as the skies opened up!!!! It poured, and then it hailed and poured!!! We waited it out as Elenora told us about how the amphitheater was turned into residences, it is very unique and beautiful. (With any luck I will get the pictures up soon as I think the internet is stronger here).
Once the deluge of rain slowed down, we finished our tour by passing the bell tower and heading for lunch. Once again we were fed an incredible lunch. Try as we may to pace ourselves on the food, when it comes it is so delicious that before we know it our plates are empty!! The diet will begin AFTER the tour!!!
After lunch we had some free time to explore Lucca and the shops. A group of us were walking by a shop and a gentleman started handing out free samples of Lemoncello. That certainly got our attention!! Before we knew it, he was also giving us samples of truffles and chocolate. It worked out
well for him as he made quite a few sales!!
Just as it was time to get back on the bus, the sun poked out again....for a few minutes!!!! We continued on to Florence and we reached the outskirts in 45 minutes. The bus driver had to stop to get a permit for driving the bus into the Centre of Florence to take us to our hotel. We were shocked to learn that the permit cost €1000, over $1500, for four days!!! Wow!! I’m glad they didn’t make us walk to our hotel for that price!!!
Our hotel is a lovely modern hotel located near the Duomo and right next to a huge outdoor shopping market. Ready, set, shop!!!!!!!
We has a couple of hours to relax before dinner. Of course, it rained, but some of us braved the rain to check out the market but we didn’t last long!!
Some trouble began to brew today in the group when my Gunner (mascot) mysteriously disappeared off the bus!! Ransom notes were left and a Pinocchio 🤥 came to take Gunner’s place. It has become clear that I can’t trust my group.
We went out for dinner and once again were subjected to way too much good food!!!! Worse yet, Pinocchio also went missing!!!! I had to threaten everyone with a strip search but, sadly, they were all too enthusiastic about that!!!! Eventually Gunner and Pinocchio were returned to me. Now I know that no one can be trusted!!!!
We had a pretty drive through the mountains and we passed through a lot of tunnels. It wasn’t raining to begin with but suddenly the clouds opened up and down came the rain....and then the hail!!! Sheesh!!
We arrived in Lucca at 10:30 and began our walking tour at 11:00. Lucca is a beautiful, old, walled city. We wound our way through narrow streets and past beautiful churches, as our guide, Elenora told us about Lucca’s history. As we toured, I went back and forth....sunglasses on, sunglasses off with hood up because of rain, then sunglasses on, hood up......and so it went. As we approached the amphitheater, we heard a big CRACK of thunder and we just made it to the entrance tunnel as the skies opened up!!!! It poured, and then it hailed and poured!!! We waited it out as Elenora told us about how the amphitheater was turned into residences, it is very unique and beautiful. (With any luck I will get the pictures up soon as I think the internet is stronger here).
Once the deluge of rain slowed down, we finished our tour by passing the bell tower and heading for lunch. Once again we were fed an incredible lunch. Try as we may to pace ourselves on the food, when it comes it is so delicious that before we know it our plates are empty!! The diet will begin AFTER the tour!!!
After lunch we had some free time to explore Lucca and the shops. A group of us were walking by a shop and a gentleman started handing out free samples of Lemoncello. That certainly got our attention!! Before we knew it, he was also giving us samples of truffles and chocolate. It worked out
well for him as he made quite a few sales!!
Just as it was time to get back on the bus, the sun poked out again....for a few minutes!!!! We continued on to Florence and we reached the outskirts in 45 minutes. The bus driver had to stop to get a permit for driving the bus into the Centre of Florence to take us to our hotel. We were shocked to learn that the permit cost €1000, over $1500, for four days!!! Wow!! I’m glad they didn’t make us walk to our hotel for that price!!!
Our hotel is a lovely modern hotel located near the Duomo and right next to a huge outdoor shopping market. Ready, set, shop!!!!!!!
We has a couple of hours to relax before dinner. Of course, it rained, but some of us braved the rain to check out the market but we didn’t last long!!
Some trouble began to brew today in the group when my Gunner (mascot) mysteriously disappeared off the bus!! Ransom notes were left and a Pinocchio 🤥 came to take Gunner’s place. It has become clear that I can’t trust my group.
We went out for dinner and once again were subjected to way too much good food!!!! Worse yet, Pinocchio also went missing!!!! I had to threaten everyone with a strip search but, sadly, they were all too enthusiastic about that!!!! Eventually Gunner and Pinocchio were returned to me. Now I know that no one can be trusted!!!!
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