Rome in a day

Wed 12th
My poor friends were so tired after their flight we were slow to start today. When we finally got going we walked towards the Vatican along Via Guila and then the river. I went into St Peter's again and I still never tire of it. The paintings, the light, the feeling. This is despite the crowds . Rome is very crowded at the moment. More so than Florence.
We walked around  and decided to do the bus tour to save Anne's poor feet. That made it easier to see some of the main sights.
Later that evening we went to Armando's for dinner. It's near the Pantheon and I went there with Catherine and the girls several years ago. It was also part of the Masterchef show . So our meal there was very good .
A little window shopping a small glass of wine near Campo dee Fiori and off to bed.
Looking forward to tomorrows food tour.

Roma

Last day together in Florence

We had our last day together in Rome. It was beautiful. Strolling the streets , rounding a corner to see the glittering walls of the Duomo, the slow moving Arno River, the vespers zipping around the corners. A visit  to the Medici Chapel had me downloading a book about the Medici reign onto my Kindle. 
A little treat  was a visit to the Gucci Museum! It's in prime position in the piazza opposite David and is in an ancient Palazzo. What a charming place. The history of the label spread over 3 floors. Fascinating social history. We got a little weary and stopped in the reading room for a glass of wine and a view over the Piazza. All really lovely. 
I had a little treat for myself as well. 
I bought ( after careful negotiation - skills honed in Beijing)! A beautiful ring , on the Ponte di Vecchio- a kind of retirement 
present to myself. It's white gold with coloured stones around the ring. Really  lovely. 
Then back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. After dinner we were leaving the restaurant when I bumped into Mark Allen I naturally asked  where Annette was - to be told her father had
passed away and she had gone home for the funeral. Sad time for
them . She'll be back in a week so Mark was still with their friends.
Annette and I taught at St Joseph's together .

Back to the hotel to pack my slightly bulging bag, bed and a
restless night . Must be sad about leaving Cathering but excited
about seeing old school friends.

Catching the train at 10.48 to Rome. Catherine off to Bologna. Hope I get to meet the girls ok! 

Florence

I'm enjoying Florence so much more than I thought  I would. It's not quite as crowded as I imagined and it's so beautiful. We visited the Pitti Palace and were so early we got into the gardens before anyone else. It was glorious. We have walked along the streets in the footsteps of the Medicis .
I just downloaded a book about the Medici family so will be absorbed for a few days.

Sunday night we went over the river to find a restaurant a local lady we met had told us about. We  got to the piccolo piazza and found them setting up for a concert. We got a great table and were given yet another complimentary Prosecco " gratis della casa" . The restaurant was called quatro leoni and the place was jumping. We sat outside with a view across the piazza and just watched the evening unfold with mostly locals dropping by for a drink or .......

Whilst they waited for the concert to begin. We thought it would start around 8 as the band were on and off the stage tuning, fixing lights, having a ciggi, drinking vino, chatting to locals etc. so we enjoyed our antipasti, our vino della casa, the pollo alla limone, vedura etc.  it was a constant floor show for us.
We saw lovers  kissing, children running, a man making pork rolls ( like a BBQ only better) waiters flying around, people choosing seats for the concert, oldies greeting each other with cascades of kisses, people of all ages licking gelato,  ladies in lovely linen dresses reserving seats for their friends, a lady with her dog taking up a whole seat and no one seeming to mind.

The camera man had the stage and at times the audience projected onto the white wall of the ancient building behind, just above the holy water font on the wall. We waited and waited and 8-8.30 and even 9 came and no concert , just a bit of tuning up by the various members of the band. The drummer was a George Clooney Italian style look a like, ( sigh)  a cute female keyboard player, male sax player in a Hawaii type shirt, a flute player looking like a sixties flower child, a long haired guitarist, and a groovy lead guitar with a little hat on.
Well the concert finally started with a L.  o.  n.  G.  Speech made by a good looking local followed by an even longer one by his off sider.  Finally it started at 9.50 and every one seemed happy  -except by now we were tired. Seats became scarce and someone wanted the dogs seat. So the owner lifted it on toher lap. Every one got up - moved  along and let a little old lady into sit down. They are so kind to their older people .
After several songs of a very Italian nature we decided the show for us was over! We walked back
through the streets still alive with those enjoying the wonderful weather along the river Arno.

What a night. 

Lovely Lucca to Fabulous Florence

After our great day with Sue and P-L in Torre del Lago and Via Reggio we had a final dinner at a courtyard restaurant where we ran into Frances and Jeanie from our Italian school. We returned home and packed and were ready to farewell Lucca by 9 the next morning. We successfully called a taxi to the bus and and hour and ten mins later were in Firenze. Our walk to the hotel was a little longer than planned. Yes we took a wrong turn! But it is a short 5 min walk in a quiet street .  Wouldn't you know it the San Lorenzo markets are at the end of our street! We  went to lunch at a lovely little trattoria while our room was being cleaned.
The hotel - aptly named City Hotel is really good. Not too expensive , good location and rooms are clean and big enough for two. Breakfast proved to be a winner as well.
After lunch and unpacking we headed out in the heat for the Duomo.
We visited the Bapistry first and then noticed the Duomo was closed . Disappointed we wandered the nearby street until nearly 5 when the advertised Mass was about to start. Remembering  a similar thing in Prague, I suggested to Catherine we approach the guard at the side door and ask to attend the Mass. Sure enough he let us in while the other tourists stood behind the ropes wondering who we were and why we got in! Mass was peaceful and cool and lovely. As it turned out it was the weekly English Mass.
After Mass we had our usual Prosecco and people watching session before going into a nearby little tiny church where we had seen a sign advertising an organ concert. It was wonderful sitting listening to gorgeous music.
We walked home finding a very old little family owned restaurant and had a delicious meal. Ran into Anette Allen's husband Mark. Small world.

Last days in Lucca

The last few days have been busy and lots of fun. On Thursday after class , I had my hair cut. Under our building I had noticed a hairdressing salon. It looked good - and I was quite amused to hear music coming out of the salon during siesta. Beatles music sung by a man on guitar. "what would you do if I sang out of tune!" well Catherine and I nearly called out " we'd shut the window! Anyway on my way to class we stopped in and I made an appointment.
So after class I returned and we started.
Lovely Guissepi , told me in Italian that he worked on his own as he loved hairdressing and wasn't ready to retire. I asked him about the singing and he admitted that he loved the Beatles! He said he was born in 1952 and grew  up with their music! I told him I was a big fan as well. So we  chatted in Italian ( and sometimes English when I  forgot a word) . He complimented my hairdresser in Brisbane and said I had a very good stylist! So I'll have to tell Nea! After finishing the hair we rushed to the wall of the city where we met the other members of our class to get the bus to Villa Mainochi. My teacher Stefano took us and was"tour guide" . He's very nice but doesn't know when to stop talking! The "fatorria" was situated about half an hour out of Lucca . It was really beautiful and we toured the vineyard and the gardens. Italian gardens are so different to gardens in England and France. They are for produce more than just to admire! After the tour we went into the cellar and tasted the olives, oil, cheese meats and of course lots of different wines. What a great  afternoon. All the class became much better friends after this! We had some wonderful Irish dancing by Finnoula and Fances!

The next day after class ( our last day) we again had to rush off as we were being
picked up by Sue ( a friend of Catherines from Sydney Italian class) and her Italian partner Pierre Luigi. They took us to Torre del Lago where we had a lovely lunch and then visited Puccini's house. Sue has written a book on him so has a wealth of knowledge about him. Music was playing as we toured the house and therewas a very good collection memorabilia.
After that we went along to ViaReggio - a sprawling beach resort with some wonderful " Liberty " style buildings.

Sisters in Italy!

Since Catherine arrived I've been so busy!
We had a lovely Saturday . Settling in , farewelling Pat and our first lovely dinner . It rained when Catherine arrived and has done so ever since- so very different to last weeks heat.
Sunday morning we took it slowly and went to St Michel church for Mass. There were lots of locals there so it's always a good experience. Then we did the Sunday  passeggiata A little shopping and a walk along the wall. Sunday night we had a lovely dinner at Cantine Bernadini.

Then Monday our school. I get so nervous! Had our test to determine our level. Well I know Catherine is better than me but I seem to be in the level just one down. My class is made up of  all Europeans who all sound like they know what they are doing because of their accents. I can hardly understand them in English! Their English is not that good! So we have to speak Italian even in the breaks. So tiring for me.
In the class there is: Simone a nice girl from Switzerland : Gerhard an older gentleman from Austria : Signey from Norway ( my age) Silke from Berlin also around my age: Clara from Austria -young and asks lots of questions , which is good: Dee from USA but very quiet: and Hans Peter from Germany. So very mixed. I thought I was the worst but yesterday I realised I was one of the better ones!

After class Monday we returned home for lunch , a siesta and a walk along the wall before another rain storm hit.
We had dinner at Pasquale and arrived early as our evening passegiata was cut short. Well Pasquale was charming and poured us a complimentary Prosecco! Then he was a wonderful help explaining
and advising us. We had the best meal. Delicious . We ended with another complimentary drink . This time limoncino which I decided I need to sip every night as it helps me sleep! Yes, it really does.

Tuesday back to class. Stefano my teacher is quite dashing and can be funny but isnt the best teacher. Barely explains anything then says va bene! And says Si or non? Well the class have begun to answer non, which throws him a bit as he thinks we must be able to 'get it'.
After class today we met Catherine's friend Sue( she lives in Pisa with Pierre Luigi) and Sue's son who is visiting from NZ. We had a nice lunch at a local trattoria and came back to our lovely apartment for cafe e dolci. After they left we had siesta then went back to school for the Volare singing evening. Only problem! Got the time wrong and we missed it. So we walked some of the quiet streets of Lucca before dinner at a lovely place in Piazza San Francesco. Ran into Gerhart from class and then ended up chatting to the English couple at the next table. Mostly because they kept interrupting us! He was a dead ringer for Bill Nighy the actor but was boring really.

Anyway dinner was delicious -stuffed squid and stuffed zucchini flowers with string beans as a side. Really delicious. Sounds like we eat a lot but not really. We don't eat anything between meals and our serves aren't big.

It was Rob's 29th birthday today. Can't believe my baby is now that old. Peter was 31 two weeks ago. Happy birthday to my two lovely boys.
Homework before bed!