A visit to lovely Lucca and Volterra (Tuscany region)
Wednesday, July 20, and Thursday, July 21 - Days 5 & 6
On Wednesday morning we said a fond "good-bye" to the Cinque Terre and the beautiful Lugorian coast as we moved inland (via a short train ride and a longer bus ride) to the lovely city of Lucca. Lucca is tour guide Jamie's hometown. After seeing it, I can see why he and his family chose this particular locale. Lucca seemed like a very liveable city (not too big and not too small) and conveniently located to a major airport in Pisa, not far away. Jamie introduced us to this lovely walled city, including its many beautiful Romanesque churches and shared other interesting tidbits about its medieval past. Then we had free time to explore on our own.
The outer fortification walls of Lucca (ramparts) are still intact. That afternoon we met up with our group and rode rented bikes around the wide ramparts. This not only gave us a birds-eye view of the city, but a little extra exercise, too. It allowed us to enjoy an extra scoop of gelato that day… totally guilt free! Later that afternoon we boarded our bus for the trip to Volterra, located in the heart of Tuscany. In Volterra we stayed at Hotel La Locanda. Like the other hotels we stayed at, it was centrally located and quite nicely appointed. |
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Our first evening in Volterra included a group dinner held at Don Beta, one of Jamie's favorite establishments in Volterra. The evening was extra special because one group member was celebrating her 21st birthday! Her mom and sister, also part of our group, had arranged for a birthday dessert with a lighted "21" candle. The group serenaded her with a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday." I doubt if this young lady will ever forget that coming-of-age birthday.
The next morning we enjoyed an alabaster carving demonstration, watching true artisans create beautiful, unique alabaster pieces… and we purchased some handmade items at their shop down the street. We also toured the Guarnacci Etrucsan Museum and the Pinacoteca which house many historic Renaissance works — all three stops were enriching experiences during our visit to the iconic Tuscany region of Italy! That evening we enjoyed a wine tasting at La Vena di Vino and met sommeliers Bruno and Lucio. In addition to offering us lots of information, some great wines and tasty antipasti (appetizers), the place has an unusual decor — it's strewn with an assortment of women's bras! Our wine tasting was held downstairs, in a cozy wine cellar dating back to the 13th Century. So how romantic is that? (you can check out the slideshow below) |
A word about "buddies"
Each member of the group had an assigned "buddy." Our buddies were Scott and Karen Halm (pictured on the right, between Bruce and I) from Cleveland, Ohio. They were great traveling companions and definitely good sports. Several times a day we had "buddy checks" where we made sure our buddy was accounted for and still part of the group, as we moved from place to place. Multiple times each day Scott, who enjoys teasing and having fun, would ask us (only half-joking) "So when is Rick Steves going to show up?" Bruce and I decided to play a little trick on Scott. That afternoon we spotted an old photo of Rick Steves on the counter at the Alab'Arte alabaster shop and quickly took a picture of it (see photo below on right) and went to find Scott to share the big news: Rick Steves had finally arrived! We excitedly told him that we had just met Rick (in person!) at the shop and showed him the photo on our camera as proof. Scott fell for the trick — hook, line and sinker. He was so thrilled that he immediately ran back to the alabaster shop to see if Rick was still there, so he, too, could meet him. But as luck would have it, Scott spotted the same photo on the counter and our plot to trick him was quickly uncovered. We all shared a good laugh over this practical joke that evening. After that, Scott finally stopped asking when Rick Steves would be joining our group! So the "buddy" system really works and can be lots of fun. |