Excursion to Reggio Emilia

Easter celebration

We are off to Reggio Emilia to spend Easter weekend with our friends. Deciding to avoid the highway, we meandered the back-roads through the mountains. It took the better part of the day. (Instead of 2 ½ hours on the Autostrada). The countryside is beautiful, and this allowed us the opportunity to make stops and take pictures.

We rented our Fiat 500 from the same little Eurocar location we use each time we are here in Lucca. They have regular hours listed on the internet and in their window.  We have never arrived without finding this sign in the window.

We have learned to call them, and someone comes right away. Even though no cars were available online for this holiday weekend, they arranged a car for us. Their service and kindness is incredible. This is our reservation agreement. Literally scribbled on a scrap of paper.

When we came back two days later with our little agreement, the same sign was in the window. We called and were able to picked up our car, receiving a proper contract.

Back-roads, yes, really back-roads! We got a bit off the beaten path.

Saturday in Reggio Emilia we went to the open market in the morning and later in the afternoon we were invited to a lovely brunch in our friend’s garden.

Alessandro was a guest student in our house in 2008, he was 17 then and in high school. He is now 30, had graduated from university and owns a home with his girlfriend Letizia.

It is a wonderful gift to be welcomed by friends. These connections are the true pleasures of our travels.