Carol's Travels

Today we went on an excursion to Carrara Marble Quarries which are an hour’s drive from Lucca. When we arrived at the quarry gift shop, we boarded 4-wheel-drive Land Rovers. Women drivers skillfully drove us up the steep gravel road to one of the places where men were working. We were told the process for cutting the marble out of the mountainside. We saw trucks carrying huge chunks of marble down the mountain.

Working in the quarry

After we went back to to the starting point, we browsed through the shop where there were many items for sale. I refrained from buying anything.

Afterward, we had a delicious lunch of a special open-faced sandwich and homemade pasta which included wine, of course! Flan was for dessert.

We rode the bus back to Lucca. Tonight we all plan to go to a concert. Since Puccini had s from a Lucca, I assume the opera singers will be singing selections from his operas.

This morning our guide, Lodovico, gave us an orientation of the main trip.  All but one couple had arrived.  There was a strike yesterday at airports in Tuscany, so many flights were canceled.  The last couple arrived this afternoon.

After the meeting this morning we took a guided tour with our city guide.  We walked on the city wall which surrounds the city.  People ride bikes and walk on the wide paved path.  Our hotel lends bikes free to guests.

We stopped at the city square which was built around the ruins of a Roman amphitheater.

Some of the best artwork is in Italian churches.  This is a sculpture that was commissioned by the husband whose wife died in childbirth.  Men often died in their forties during wars, and women often died in their twenties of childbirth.

St. Michele in Foro

Ceiling in the church

Puccini Museum

For our welcoming dinner this evening we also had appetizers, soup, dessert, white and red wine, plus Prosecco.  Yum

After breakfast we boarded the very comfortable Mercedes 9-passenger bus to drive to Lucca.  Along this route we began to travel through the scenic Apennines.  Along the way we stopped at Pontremoli, a medieval town in the Lunigiana valley.  A city guide told us the history of the town as we walked.

Route markings on poles throughout the town are for walking, cycling, or cars.

We continued our bus ride until we stopped to visit a local testaroli maker.  She demonstrated the technique for making this regional egg free dough.  She served us three rounds with different toppings.  I liked the pesto topped one best.  Of course, wine and water were served too.  She had made a tart for our dessert.

When we arrived at San Luca Palace Hotel in Lucca, we found out that the rest of our group would be arriving late because of the flight controllers’ strike in Florence.  I have an ornate room, and our new guide seems to be good too.  We plan to go to a small cafe across the street for a light supper.