Lucca is a perfectly preserved walled city. Yes, it is commercial. It’s actually the first time on the trip I’ve seen so many souvenir shops, but it is still very appealing. There’s a terrific wall walk, and people rent bikes to cycle the circle. We used our feet – we’re walking about eight miles a day. The weather is perfect – low 70s. Life is good.
Music is an important part of Italian culture. Our guide, Alice, is from Milan and is very proud of her opera house, La Scala. Lucca is the land of Puccini; we visited his house and museum, and later on the next evening attended a concert. I’ve seen many Puccini operas, several more than once, and it was enjoyable to see his museum. Another musical group performed in Lucca Saturday night – the Rolling Stones – and we saw the fans roll in the night before. We left Lucca Saturday morning.
We liked walking the walls of this delightful town and meeting the local cat and seeing some of its citizens.
I’m a couple of days behind because of slow internet and my busy schedule but I hope to catch up soon.
Our most exciting adventure – kickass, you might say-happened as a side trip from Lucca when we visited the Carrera marble quarries!
We are currently in the Tuscan countryside. I feel right at home; this part of the world is very reminiscent of Napa valley. But I’m getting ahead of myself. More soon..
Loved the pics….we were there once in the month of Sept and the weather was gorgeous….loving your travels..
This is turning out to be a great trip, though a bit cool with rain today. A walk was cancelled so I have extra time to work on my posts.
I’m behind in my responses to you, Karen, because some kind of creeping crud has hit the Fees.
Please keep sending your kick-ass adventures…I’ll eventually catch up with you.