Saturday May 28th and Sunday the 29th Lucca

Saturday May 28^th and Sunday the 29^th Lucca

Today’s goals were quite simple. Find a purse for Geri in Lucca;  pack our bags; say goodbye to Gisella and Rosario;  get to our final hotel near the Florence airport and have a nice dinner before we try to get to sleep before our early for a 4:00  am wake up call.

Well went back into Lucca for a few hours. I found a handbag store on the internet in Lucca. It was a great place. We did not have to spend $900 and yet Geri got a beautiful purse. Actually she got two, one large and one small.  My only disappointment was that I wanted her to purchase one of the blouses the young Italian girls were wearing where they exposed their left shoulder. Most exposed a tattoo located above the breast. I guess I can only dream.

We walked more in Lucca and had lunch. We then went back to finish packing. Gisella came in to say goodbye. She and Geri agreed to keep in touch over the internet. We left around 4 PM and drove to the airport and returned the car and checked into our hotel. We then went out for dinner in a very unusual restaurant. It was supported on pillars that were two stories tall. We had a local Tuscan meal and again some great local wine. We went to bed early for us around 10. The alarm woke us up at 4 and we were in a taxi at 5 to the airport. We should not have listened to the hotel people who said the airport was small and 1.5 hours before flight time would be enough. We were met at the airport with our flight of 200 people and another of equal size. So we were just in time and under pressure to get through security. They gave us a hard time about a carryon bag but we got through; however all our carry on cookies and crackers were crushed to the point that we could not eat them. Oh well something has to go wrong during a one month trip...

We have very good memories about our cruise, Barcelona, Cinque Terre and Lucca. It was a great way to celebrate our 45th anniversary.

I am finishing this blog on our return flight home. I only had one drink, two glasses of wine and an after dinner drink to help me write this. May you also enjoy your 45^th the same way.

Walking through Lucca we met the owner of the Ilari restaurant we had dinner in last night

Goodbye to Gisella

Geri just bought her purser

Our car in Italy

Our last restaurant in Florence at the airport

Geri at dinner

Lenny paying the bill

Our view of Florence from our hotel ( The Duomo )

Lenny and Geri Drexler

Friday May 28th Lucca

Friday May 28^th  Lucca

Today we decided to have two objectives. The first was to find a restaurant for this evening that would be special and the other was to find a place to purchase a purse for Geri. Gisella suggested we drive to Barberino which is a Discount upscale outlet center near Florence. It is a 45 min drive from our house. I was challenged to find a restaurant. I went to trip advisor on line and found the top 3 ones in the Lucca area. The first was mainly a meat place. No good for me. The third we had gone to the night before and had a great meal. That left the second one to investigate, because the 4^th did not look that good. So we decided to drive about 15 minutes outside of Lucca to check it out before we headed to the outlet. We ended up at Vigni Ilari. This a small hotel of 4 rooms and a restaurant that has about 8 tables inside that seat 2,4 and 6 people for a total of 32 people. They also had outdoor tables for another 20 people. We got there about 12 noon which is the start of the lunch period. There was no one there except the two owners, a husband and wife. They were young ad in their their early thirties. She, Elena, had the money to open up the place and be the chef with helpers. He, Andrea, was the buyer of the food and the head waiter. They both spoke to us for about 30 minutes. He explained how their menu worked and how he would tailor for my diet and insure Geri would also be pleased. Half way through the time, the fish person delivered the days catch. There was one enormous fish about 15 pounds and a few 5 pounders. He also told how he drives each day to get fresh produce and fruit. He gave us a sample of the sweetest strawberries we have had in a long time. Then we sampled his house red wine from Tuscany. He was great and we were hooked. We made a reservation for 8:30 that night. We were now really looking forward to our last dinner in Lucca.

So off we went to the Florence outlet center. It turned out to be a very upscale outlet. Like Prada with bags for 600 euro’s down from 900. That is $900 down from $1400. It maybe our 45 anniversary but that was a little high for us. The rest of the shops were either equally high or what we have in Ellenton for half the price. So we walked all 100 stores and left. We returned back to our house and spent time with Gisella. That made our day. We said we would meet her at her shop after our dinner knowing that she closed a 12 midnight.

We arrived at our restaurant at 8:25, finding it without a hitch which was a first for us , at least in the restaurant department.. We were the second couple there. They ended up with seven tables that night. Two with 6, one of 8 and the rest of twos. How they make a profit is beyond me. Our waitress was from Romania. She came to Lucca to find work because she could only make 200 euros a month back home. She met and married a fellow from Lucca since coming 5 years ago. Her English was pretty good and she said her Italian was poor. It was very hard for her to learn. Andrea came out to greet us and discuss what he had in mind for us for the evening. It was the start of our best meal of the entire trip. We started with 5 appetizers. The first was fresh anchovies stacked in a vertical cone shape. They were great. Carpaccio of sea bass;  Cod salad over fried polenta, I am doing this on our plane ride home and I have already had four drinks so I cannot remember the last two right now. We then had our pasta part of the dinner, which was green ravioli with fish inside and basil on top. The best. Then we each had a different fish course that  we shared and enjoyed very much.  

We ordered two different desserts. Geri had a chocolate soufflé with chocolate sauce and I had the best strawberries I ever had. They also provided some biscotti and cappuccino. Did I mention the bottle of local red wine?  That was the best and the cheapest wine we had all week at 7 euro’s or $10 a bottle. We spent time talking to Andrea at the end of the evening which was now 11:45 pm. We said we would write something in Trip Advisor recommending their place. We left with a glow and great feeling that we had one of the best dinners we have ever had. It was too late to stop by Gisella’s place since it would have closed by the time we got there. So home we went and then to bed. Well we did play some Gin since we were too full to go to sleep

Our wonderful restaurant

Restaurant entrance

House next to restaurant

Frst appetizer - anchoves

great house/local wine

A toast to a great meal/restaurant

Thursday, May 26, 2011 – SIENA

Thursday, May 26, 2011 – SIENA

We decided that if we are in the area we should drive to Siena. We had heard such positive comments. We thought the 2 hour drive was worth the trip. Siena is a beautiful old medieval city.  Like all it sits high in the mountains. At one time about 1260 it was a major banking center and military center. There population was 60000 which is the same today. In the 1300’s it was equal in population to the size to Paris. Today Florence has grown to 420000 and Siena has  stayed the same. The city is easy to walk and has some very interesting areas. The Campo is the center of the city. It is a large open area with a museum at one end and sourrounded by shops and restaurants today. A great meeting place. The other major area is around the Duomo. The art work is great. There is also good shopping through out the city and great views from every spot.

We had a hard time finding a parking spot. We found them but the lots were full. We had to drive through a large one near their modern soccer field at least three times before we found a small spot. I had to be careful parking so as to have some room to open my doors. Skipping ahead we left the window open on the driver side the entire 4 hours  we parked. Nothing was taken and that included our GPS system. I guess I parked well and no could get close to the care.

The highlight of our visit to Siena was lunch. Well not the lunch but the sign we sat under by accident. The sign pointed to a Synagogue. After lunch which was sandwiches that Geri made we found the place. It was behind the Campo in a small alley. We rang the bell and were greeted by an Israeli who while not trained as a Rabbi has been sent to play that role for the 50 Jews living in Siena. There are only 29,000 Jews in all of Italy today.

Eli Rabani met an Italian girl in Israel, married her and moved to Siena to help support the Jewish Community and it’s special Synagogue. They have three kids and she converted. They have been there three years and hope to return to Israel next year if he can get the right job. He is very dedicated and knowledgeable. He told us the history of the Synagogue that was built in the 1300’s, had its ups and downs, It has close to 72 torahs with just two in kosher condition. He has Friday night services and some Sat ones and all the major holidays. This year he had 4 Bar and 2 Bat Mitzvahs and 3 bris’s. The Italian government helps pay expenses, and donations help. No pictures were allowed to be taken at this traditional Sephardic Temple. The fear was spreading the word and possible anti-Semitism.

We talked about Obama, Israel, his concern that war would breakout in Sept and even Glen Beck.

We spent our remaining time walking the city, sightseeing and looking for purses. We only had a minor problem finding our car with the open window.

After the two hour drive home I was read for a drink.

About 8:30 we had dinner in. About 10 our home owner Gisella came in and soon after her husband. We sat and talked for a few hours while we drank some wine.

He has no English but she is very good and tries hard. They made our day tonight and they have helped make this a great week. Gisella and Geri exchanged some gifts which was nice.

I guess we are getting close to the end of our wonderful month long trip.

On the way to Siena

Siena

The Compo or center of Siena

Sign that told us there was a Sinagoga in Siena

World War Two plaque out side of the Synagogue provided by the Italian government

Front of Synagogue

The Compo again

More popular than wine--Gelato

Major Siena Church

Church

Church Tower

Gisella visit

Wednesday, May 25 – LUCCA an easy day

Dinner in Lucca

Entrance to Lucca

Wednesday, May 25 – LUCCA

After a lazy breakfast at the house, we drove into the walled city of Lucca. We parked in what we thought was a free parking space just outside the wall. It was market day and we parked close to the area. We had no problems but Geri was concerned they would tow our car or at least give us a ticket. Neither happened.

The market turned out to be a mixture of people selling new clothes and shoes and used items. There were also vegetable, bread and food stands. There were a lot of people buying. We purchased some olives, fritters like we had last night and some bread. We then went looking for the restaurant we planned to eat at later that night. It is called Trattoria de a Leo. It took us some time to find it. The people we met last night highly recommended it. We made a reservation for 8:30. Like the rest of Lucca these places open around 8 and close at 10. That is the kitchen is open for these hours. The places stay open until people leave which could be 11. It all depends on the drinking. We then walked through the city looking at the shops and the people.

We returned home and had a late lunch. At 3:30 we followed the owner of our house to her Gelato shop. It turned out to be a two year old modern shop in a small strip center with a slot machine casino next door. She specializes in Gelato mixed with cake or cookies, Ice cream cakes that are very nicely decorated, and soft yogurt. The Yogurt comes out of a machine like we have but it is real vanilla yogurt, not the sweet types we have. She puts it into a cone or dish and then starts to add chocolate sauce, berries, nuts etc. It is all one price no matter how much you put on top. The cost is higher than we pay. But that is typical all over the area. A small dish and what I call a popsicle that is rolled in things in front of you costs about 6 euros which is about $9. We spent time talking to her about her business. She has the same problems all places in the US have. Location, location and location to have people walk in. She has a partner and they are the only workers. She owes a lot to bank and it will take years before she takes home a profit. They open at 4 PM and close at midnight.

We returned from her shop for our late afternoon wine and snack. We have gained some weight. Around 8 we drove back into Lucca. This time we parked in a metered parking area. However it works by putting coins into a centrally located machine that gives you a ticket to place inside your car. I read the sign wrong. It said you pay until 2000 which I thought was 10 PM but is really 8 PM. My little error cost me an extra 2.5 euros or about $3.50. However I now had parking until 10 the next morning. Since you start paying at 8 in the morning. You live and learn and pay.

We found the Trattoia with easy. Well we did ask two people for some help. Our dinner was very good with very friendly staff. We left about 10 and had had some wine. Well we went the wrong way and had to travel across the entire city to find our car. Tired but happy we returned to our house, played some gin rummy and went to bed. By the way I beat  Geri in gin about 80% of the time.

Dinner in Lucca

Entrance to the wall city of Lucca

Street in Lucca

How they get drinking water

Square in Lucca

Our house in Lammari

Our car parked at the house

Gisella's Galato store

Gisella

Geri and Gisella

Geri and Gisella