Category: Europe Spring 2022

Lucca Italy Disclaimer - This portion of the blog is solely for entertainment. Please do not take offense to my poking fun at tourists. I have included myself in this category. I really must invest in a new sun hat! Where are we anyway? Having lived in Santa Cruz for the better part of my… Continue reading How to spot a tourist? →

We are attending school at the popular Lucca Italian School. Four hours a day of intensive Italian. Mornings full of fun games, loads of learning, and, at times, daunting grammar! We joined an afternoon hike with the school to Borgo a Buggiano. Capers growing wild in the stone walls. These shell symbols mark the path… Continue reading In and Around Lucca – and excursion to Sestri Levante →

Liberation Day (Festa della liberazione),  April 25  is a national holiday in Italy that commemorates the victory of the Italian resistance movement against Nazi Germany and fascism, during World War II. The liberation put an end in 1945 to twenty-three years of fascist dictatorship and five years of war. In 1946 Italians opted for the end of the monarchy and… Continue reading Independence Day – Italy →

After our long mountain adventure in route to Reggio, we decided to return to Lucca via the Autostrada (Freeway). These following pictures show what one can find, in the middle of nowhere, in an Autogrill along the Freeway. (Think highway 5, Bakersfield, if you know California)  It is essentially a gas station and food stop,… Continue reading Traveling and Touring – Italy →

First a quick walk around the city center for a coffee. A hike around the small town of Vignola, famous for cherries, this time of year the trees are in full bloom. We did some trekking in the hills, until it started raining on us. We spent the weekend hiking and wandering the picturesque countryside.… Continue reading Pasquetta in 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… Continue reading Excursion to Reggio Emilia →

We spent an afternoon at the Botanical Gardens. Small gardens, full of foliage and color this time of year. Cheeses wrapped in herbs or spices The "street" musicians in Europe are most often quite talented, unlike most of the music played in downtown Santa Cruz. Gary's famous pancakes Nearly everything is recyclable in Lucca including… Continue reading Lucca – Botanical Gardens →

Walking the wall, enjoying fresh pasta, eating simple yummy pizza Met up with friends from Santa Cruz for a glass of wine Homemade broth with fresh tortellini from the pasta shop These are all different types of flour in the supermarket We went for a bike ride in search of the local coffee roaster. Unfortunately,… Continue reading Lucca – Italy →

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Oh, the adventures of traveling. I now have a greater understanding and much respect for those who must mask up for the entire workday. Previously, the most we have worn our masks was for shopping, not even an hour. Masks are required on the plane, including while sleeping, the only exception is when eating. In… Continue reading Arrived – Lucca Italy →

We are at the SFO airport! Wow it is so amazing to be traveling again. We are super excited. So far everything is going smoothly and feels very safe. Masks are required in the airport and nearly everyone is in compliance.  The airport is not crowded. We are in the BA lounge, and it is… Continue reading Returning to Italy – Spring 2022 →