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.
Our car parked at the house
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 houseGisella's Galato store
Gisella
Geri and Gisella
Geri and Gisella
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