Last week my brother Charlie and his girlfriend Tracy arrived for a visit. They had left Seattle on June 1 and spent a few days in Milan and Venice before heading to Florence. We met them at the train station there on Wednesday, June 6. After putting their bags in our car we took an walk around Florence. It was a beautiful, hot day so one of the highlights was a stop at a new chocolate/gelato shop near the Il Porcellino statue. My taste buds are still raving about the Cioccolato Azteca gelato--a deep, rich, bitter chocolate.
Here are Tracy, Dom and Charlie standing on the Ponte Vecchio.
June 6th was Tracy's birthday so we stopped at one of our favorite restaurants for dinner before heading back to the apartment.
The next day we went to Pisa to visit the Leaning Tower, Duomo and Baptistery. We had lunch in Pisa before heading up the Serchio Valley for an appointment at our accountant's office. While we were there Tracy and Charlie wandered around the town of Fornoli near Bagni di Lucca.
On our way back to Lucca we stopped at the Ponte della Maddalena in Borgo a Mozzano. This 12th Century bridge used to be called Ponte del Diavolo (the Devil's Bridge).
Dom, Charlie and Tracy walked to the top of it but I went into the bar across the street to use the facilities and have an ice cream bar.
We went into Lucca and walked through the town hitting the high points. On our way back to the car we walked along the walls. This picture shows the back of the church of San Freddiano and in the lower right corner the gardens of the Palazzo Pfanner. The palazzo is an historic residence open to the public, as are the gardens. There is also a luxurious 2 bedroom apartment for rent in the building. I hate to think how much it costs but it would be a lovely spot for a stay.
On Friday we lazed around the apartment before heading out to the weekly market in the piazza in front of our apartment. Then we went over to the Esselunga supermarket so Charlie and Tracy could see how Italian markets differ from those in North America.
We had purchased a rotisserie chicken at the market and a few things at Esselunga for a lunch at home. Afterwards we lazed around the apartment for the afternoon reading and taking naps.
In the evening we went up to walk around Partigliano so Charlie and Tracy could see where we used to reside. We saw some of our old neighbors and then had dinner at La Terrazza, another favorite.
On Saturday morning we drove to Portovenere which is south of the Cinque Terre near La Spezia. In many ways I like the former better than the latter. It is certainly an easier day trip. We walked through town and up to the lovely church at the west end of town. This picture is looking east at the Bay of Poets.
This chapel is one of my favorite spots in all of Italy. It is just a charming building in a very romantic location.
There was a wedding about to take place when we were there so the church was full of well dressed people and white flowers. We never did see the bride.
Charlie and Dom checking out one of the local fishing boats.
Charlie taking a picture of some people from Palm Desert. They were off the cruise ship in the harbor.
Here is one of the few pictures of Dom and I together. Behind us is the steep and rocky coast leading to the Cinque Terre only about 30 kilometers away.
We returned to Capannori early enough to rest before going to the Sagra di Tordelli in Segromigno. This is one of our favorite local festivals. I hope the picture Charlie took was a good one.
I did have him take this one of Mary Caselli, me and Tracy. The tordelli (meat filled pasta) was especially delicious this year.
On Sunday morning we all got up early to go to the marcia (walk) at Castevecchio di Compito. Charlie does not look particularly awake at 6:15 am.
The clouds looked stormy (and it had rained overnight) but we were lucky. This is a picture of the town of Castelvecchio from the partenza (start) of the walk.
And here we have the view from the town out onto the plain.
Dom, Mary Caselli, Charlie and Tracy at the ristoro (refreshment stop).
After the walk (which we completed by 9 am) we went back to the apartment, showered and drove to Artimino, a tiny walled town in the Carmignano area southwest of Florence. Just outside of the walls is a wonderful restaurant called Da Delfina. Dom and I had been there about five years ago and we have always wanted and excuse to go back. The four of us had a delicious lunch on the patio.
This was the view from our table and one of the reasons the place is so wonderful. The food is great but the Medici Villa and olive trees make it an incredibly delightful. There is even a glimpse of the Arno River at the bottom of the valley.
After lunch we meandered back to Capannori. As we drove into town we saw that something had been done in front of the church. We stopped and discovered that this wonderful flower "mural" had been created.
Up close we discovered that all sorts of natural plant materials had been used--petals, flowers, seeds, pine cones and bark.
There was even a picture of the Capannori church.
Yesterday (Monday) Charlie and Tracy went off to Florence for the day. They came back here last night and we put them on the train via Pisa for Rome this morning.
I really enjoyed having them stay with us. It was fun to be in the real tourist mode for a few days. We got to visit some places we have not been to in several years. What with selling the Partigliano house and buying the Capannori apartment, we have not had almost no guests in recent years and we missed that. We are looking forward to sharing Italy with more of our friends and family in the coming years.
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