Lucca

The City Gate














The Promenade on top of the City Wall














The Antique Market



































(Not to be confused with Luca, the bartender)

Lucca is a small town outside of Florence, in Tuscany, that you can get to by train in 1 ½ hours or less. Lucca is enclosed by massive red brick walls which help to give the city its special character by shutting out traffic and the modern world. It was built in 1504-1645. The walls are among the best-preserved REnaissance defenses in Europe. Unlike many of Tuscany’s hilltop towns, Lucca is flat. Many locals use bicycles which adds to the charm.

When I arrived, I walked across the street from the train station into and through the city walls. It was like going through a time machine into another world. Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca and the house where he lives still stands there. There is a promenade along the top of the city wall. It is a beautiful walk with fine views of Lucca. The architecture in Lucca is primarily from the Romanesque period.

This weekend there was an antique market going on in the streets of Lucca. There were vendors for glass, chandeliers, furniture, jewelry, books, marble statues, and food. Since Lucca is only 10 miles from the sea, seafood is considered "fresh" here while the 3 hours it take to get it to Florence, it is not. That being said, I took the opportunity to have a wonderful fresh seafood salad for lunch, drink some wine, and take in the scenes.

The Guitar Club

While Robert and Lisa were visiting, we visited a local guitar club that is very near my house. I had passed this club often, but had not gone in. The club is down some stairs, and from the street, it is unclear what is in there, or exactly what it was like. I was a little intimidated to go in alone, and this provided the perfect opportunity.

The club opens around 9:30 and always has music playing loudly which attracts the attention of passers by. When we arrived, Jim Croce was playing, and we had wonderful nostalgic flashbacks of teenage angst while we sang along loudly to "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, Operator, and Time In A Bottle". We had a bottle of wine, of course, and some "hors d’ oeuvres" prepared by the owner, consisting of an olive mixture and slices of salami.

The club is the cellar of a building with rough hewn stones, a concrete floor, and rounded brick ceiling. There are primitive wooden tables and chairs, and it is dimly lit, with candles on the table. It smells musty like a cellar and is full of atmosphere. There was a small stage, with a single guitar sitting on it and a chair, and posters of the owner around the place. The owner was also the guitar player, at least on this night!

By 10:30 or 11, a few more people had joined the group, and the music started at 11:30 Sadly, we left shortly after the music started, but were happy with the experience overall. I know now that if I want, I can stop by the guitar club on my way home, have a glass of wine, listen to some music, and maybe even some more Jim Croce!

Planning A New Tattoo

I decided a while ago to get a new tattoo. I wanted the Fleur DI Lis, which is the symbol of Florence. You see it everywhere, on the palaces, souvenirs, crests of buildings, shields, etc. It is beautiful, elegant, and popular. Regine and I had spoken of getting tattoos together, but it never materialized. I had difficulty locating a shop which I thought was trustworthy and safe. I started asking people on the streets who had tattoos, if they had gotten them in Florence, and if so where. None of them had, they were all tourists.

Some of the people I have met who live in Florence made recommendations, and one of my friends agreed to take me, while Lisa and Robert were here. Well, that fell through and is a whole separate sad story, but anyway, Robert and Lisa came to the rescue.

They had gone to the train station to purchase their return tickets to Rome, and were walking through the area of San Lorenzo, when they spotted the tattoo shop, which they thought looked nice. They went in, looked around, and wrote down the address and phone number.

After a couple of days of deliberation and tossing around color ideas, I decided to go back to the shop to see what it looked like, and whether I was ready to make the plunge. Robert and Lisa agreed to go with me. I am afraid of needles, to the point that I had my babies at home (sensa needles) I have one tattoo already, and felt that using the same method (drinking heavily) would get me through a second one. Having friends hands to hold is always a plus in situations such as this.

We went into the shop, and there were a few people in the waiting room, and one man with the artist behind a glass wall, getting a tattoo. The people in the waiting room were looking through books for designs. A man came right over to me to ask if I needed help.

I told him that I wanted the Florence symbol, and had a couple of examples from a place mat, napkin, and a pin that Lisa bought for me. He recognized it right away and went to his books were their were many patterns for me to choose. I chose one, but wanted it bigger, so he made an enlargement on the photocopier for my approval. I told him the colors that I wanted and after consulting with the artist came back to say that it would be 150 euro. I agreed to the price, but they were unable to fit me in on that day (Thursday) and I made an appointment for Saturday. I paid a deposit, got a receipt, and departed.

Lisa and Robert are leaving on Friday, so no moral support or hand holding is currently available! Wish me luck.

I Lost My Wallet

A few days ago, I "lost" my wallet. I use these quotation marks, because it is gone, and I don’t know where/why. Robert and Lisa and I had lunch in Piazza di Santa Croce. I paid for my lunch at that time, and walked back to the apartment, because I had to make some phone calls. Robert and Lisa were out and about and we had scheduled a time to meet in the Piazza della Republica.

I finished my calls, and headed out to meet them, taking a usual path into the city center. The streets I take are not too crowded, but not deserted. I walked easily along, but with purpose, not stopping or lingering anywhere. It was around 5:30 p.m. and the sun was setting, so at one point, I unzipped my purse and blindly dug around for my sunglasses, snagged them, put them on, and zipped up again.....all while continuing to walk, with the sun glaring in my eyes. Maybe the wallet dropped out at this point.?.

I found Lisa and Robert on the Piazza and we chatted briefly and then headed up to the top of the Rinescente where we shared a bottle of wine, overlooked the piazza and chatting. When we were ready to go, I couldn’t find my wallet.

We came back to the apartment to see if I had "left" it here, but I knew that I had not. We also went back to the lunchtime restaurant just to make sure it wasn't there. No luck.

I had one credit card, my bank card, driver’s license, 15 euro and 2 photos of my sons. I called the credit card company and they were so efficient and professional indicating they would send another card out over night (that didn’t happen). The bank of course, as banks are, was more difficult. They wouldn’t send it to my Italy address without changing my address in the system. The address change would take 30 days and the card another 7-10 after that to reissue. If they mailed it to my US address which is on the account, it would take 7-10 days. I was able to "expedite" it for a fee of $25, and now it will be mailed to my US address in 3-5 days! What a wonderful customer service experience.

From that point, my mother will have to send it to me. Thankfully, Robert and Lisa were able to provide me with some cash, and everything should be fine.....depending on how long it takes to get the card, and what happens in the meantime.

I am sitting in my apartment today, waiting for the credit card to be delivered (between 9-5) by UPS. I have other credit cards, so that is not a primary concern. Thankfully, I only carry one with me, and keep the others tucked away in my apartment, for this very reason! I can also get a cash advance if necessary at an exorbitant interest rate on my credit cards, should I have some type of "cash" emergency.

I suppose the wallet could have been "picked" out of my pocket. It doesn’t make a difference, it’s gone, and there are inconveniences to deal with.

Yesterday evening, while Lisa and Robert and I were having a glass of wine at an enoteca, a group of 3 ladies sitting on the terrace on the street, got ready to leave, and her entire purse was gone! The terrace had a wrought iron fence circling it, but apparently a thief had stuck their hand through and snatched the purse! I could really sympathize with her. Unfortunately, it didn’t sound like she was so lucky, as she had her passport in there as well!

Moral of the story: Be a smart traveler! Don’t carry too much cash or important things in your
wallet. Separate credit cards, leave your passport in the hotel safe, keep your purse close to your side!

Ireland to Italy

The last time I saw Robert and Lisa together was about 3 years ago when we all took a pub tour in Ireland at Thanksgiving. What a fantastic time, flying into Galway, taking a bus all over Ireland and into Dublin. We must have hit 30 pubs, and have pictures of us drinking in all of them!

Now they are visiting me in Italy, and we are gathering more photos of us drinking together! This is their first trip to Italy, and I can tell they are falling in love with it already. Roberts father’s family is from Italy, so it already holds a place in his heart.

When they arrived, I of course, entered my manic phase of wanting to show them everything on the first day. We walked around town, and got a feel for it, had some wine, and dinner, and listened to some music. On Sunday, we visited the Piazzale Michelangelo, Santo Spirito Mercato, sat on the Ponte Santa Trinita, (of course), and drank a few bottles of wine at lunch, dinner, in between, and while listening to music that evening on the Ponte Vecchio.

This week while I am in school, they will be visiting the sights, and I will meet them in the afternoon for the "behind the scene" stuff and dinner.

Robert and Lisa live in Cleveland, and with my return to Progressive, there is a possibility that I will end of there also. Robert and Lisa have assured me that Cleveland is just like Florence, and that I will fit in well there.

Quit Work For A Year

I wish I had read this article a year ago when I started thinking about my leave of absence. As it turns out, I followed almost every step they suggest, but I had to think of it all on my own! If you are thinking about it.....here's how.....


http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/RetirementandWills/EscapeTheRatRace/QuitWorkForAYear7stepsToDoItRight.aspx

Learning To Be Still

"Learn To Be Still" is an old Eagles song, that I hear every night when I go to listen to the music at the Uffizzi. Many of you may be familiar with it, as I am, because it is a song I grew up with. One evening, the lyrics actually struck me as I listened, and I thought about what they mean and how true they are.

Everyone is searching for something, and that’s what the song is about. I think I have "learned to be still" here is Italy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA1Lse9CHVw
"Learn To Be Still"

It's just another day in paradise

As you stumble to your bed

You'd give anything to silence

Those voices ringing in your head

You thought you could find happiness

Just over that green hill

You thought you would be satisfied

But you never will-

Learn to be still

We are like sheep without a shepherd

We don't know how to be alone

So we wander 'round this desert

And wind up following the wrong gods home

But the flock cries out for another

And they keep answering that bell

And one more starry-eyed messiah

Meets a violent farewell-

Learn to be still Learn to be still

Now the flowers in your garden

They don't smell so sweet

Maybe you've forgotten

The heaven lying at your feet

There are so many contradiction

In all these messages we send

(We keep asking) How do I get out of here

Where do I fit in?

Though the world is torn and shaken

Even if your heart is breakin'

It's waiting for you to awaken

And someday you will-

Learn to be still

Learn to be still

You just keep on runnin'

Keep on runnin'