Italy 2017

Ciao,


Ci siamo alzati e abbiamo fatto le valigie per il nostro viaggio a Lucca. (We got up and we packed for our trip to Lucca).  A final breakfast surprise arrived on time at 8:00am. We are going to miss the breakfast basket. Would like to ask Marta to deliver it every morning in the States! She is a special woman but that might be asking a tad too much.


Our driver, Albano, arrived at 10:30. A farewell to Fernando and Marta with the hope that we will be back next year. I told Fernando, who was directing everything at the Castle, that we expect an even bigger show next year. He responded, “I will create a medieval battle”. The drive to Lucca was about one hour and the scenery changed. The area around Lucca is flatter and yet is closer to the mountains -Tuscan Antiappenine .


We texted Deborah, and her associate, Paola, met us at the door of our building. After unpacking we took a stroll and bought – guess what that would be – si, abbiamo comprato i vini, del pane e il formaggio. (we bought wines, some bread and cheese)

We had a little snack on the patio. Siamo stanchi così a letto (We are tired so to bed.)

Before bed we stopped at one of our favorite restaurants, Da Pasquale, and made two reservations  - one for this week and one for next week. This restaurant is always full because the food is great and rated number one by Trip Advisor. We have always eaten at this restaurant for the last five years. It opened five years ago. The web site for Da Pasquale



Click on a pictures to see a slideshow


September 11

Morning surprise
Morning surprise
So good - hot hard boiled eggs and warm  rolls and salted butter!
So good - hot hard boiled eggs and warm rolls and salted butter!
"Our Castle" We can rent it out if you want to come to Chianti
"Our Castle" We can rent it out if you want to come to Chianti
Cooking class menu - notice the chicken
Cooking class menu - notice the chicken
Dolce
Dolce
view from back of our villa
view from back of our villa
tough to take
tough to take
The back of the buildings
The back of the buildings
My people call me Ombra (shadow) but, I call myself Cosimo de' Medici
My people call me Ombra (shadow) but, I call myself Cosimo de' Medici
un altro gatto  (another cat - just visiting)
un altro gatto (another cat - just visiting)
Our villa-the apartment on the right - lower and upper balconies
Our villa-the apartment on the right - lower and upper balconies
Grazie Albano
Grazie Albano
We really got to practice our Italian
We really got to practice our Italian
Boy could that that car GO!
Boy could that that car GO!
Back in Lucca
Back in Lucca
Snack on our patio
Snack on our patio