Europe vacation

[Blackstar*]

Re: Europe vacation

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mountaingal</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
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wonder which mountain that inna di background. </div></div>That must be the Apennine range.

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

Glad you all like the pics!

Yes, it is the Apennine range...mostly wooded and green mountain and hilltops. Some areas heavy mining of marble.

More pics coming...

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

The houses in Pisa are more of the style that you see in these pics. We found the same in Genova. The upper decks for most of the homes were nicely adorned with potted plants in a smorgasborg of colours. Once as you get inside the apartments, nice high ceilings and large rooms.

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

Once as we found the leaning tower got some pics, it was time to head to Lucca. We came prepared...at least we thought so...maps but I could not find the print out with my sister's address and mobile number! We don't mind being lost as that's how you tend to have the better finds on a trip.

Lucca is 20km from Pisa. It was a Sunday and I knew as much that she no longer lived within the wall but within Lucca province. Plus her directions didn't make much sense. I was just going off memory...one minute I was oh that's the street! I knew she said she wasn't far from a hotel but various hotel names were popping in my head and no one was familiar with the names I kept calling.

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

We were all over Lucca province searching for sis. Often times we got into a community with very very very narrow roads as this one. Sometimes the roads reminded me of Junction road in the communities in the hills of St. Andrew. Here I thought we would've been stuck...if someone was coming from the other end, someone would have to reverse to the next turn around point.



This is where the narrow road took us ... to a monastery.

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

It didn't took long for us to have our first (and only) police encounter. We got into Lucca town, drove around the wall, then we were driving on top of the wall. Took us a while to realise maybe we should not be up there. As soon as we got into the centre, a bicycle policia came over and gave us a stern warning and threatened to pound the car and put us in the lock up!

After so much driving around, not able to find my sister. Not knowing her mobile number I found a tourist info centre and got to use their computer to send off an email to her. She wouldn't see it until the next day. I wasn't worried but I definitely was tired and that's when we decided to just drive throughout the province until we find somewhere to spend the night.

We did found somewhere in an area called Camaiore. Once again signs in Europe do not seem to follow through. We were driving when I saw an arrow pointing into god he knows where, but the sign said "bed and breakfast". We ended up finding a lovely villa called "Villa Zaconni' whilst hunting down for this bed and breakfast!

At least, I can get my weary bones out of the car, get some food, brush my teeth, take a shower and go to sleep.

Villa Zaconni in Camaiore

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

Everyone now and then the orange tops of small pockets of towns will come into the view



It was a great view off the road side. I wanted to find the path to the river below. The air was crisp and clean but only a slight breeze. If I were to live in Italy, it certainly would be the Tuscany region.

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

Inside the wall of Lucca, which encircles the old town. This is where grand architectural buildings exist. Inside the wall is an historic district with richly built arcaded facades and campaniles...some I'm told to be as old as 10th century.

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

Grand statues and buildings. I could see how a someone who is interested in architecture would flock to a place like this as it has so much to offer in old architectural design.

lol! just realised I took a pic of the side view and not front.

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

Oh, by this time it was Monday. I found my sister at her office and she took us on a tour of old Lucca town. Previously she lived within the walls, which is a sought after area for living. She moved as she said it got too crazy during the tourist season. Everyone thought she was crazy for moving outside the wall.

There were a few tourists around, mostly other Europeans and a few Americans. Every now and then I'll see the tall elegant form of an African amongst the sea of faces...most from Sierra Leone or Senegal.





Most people got by on bicycles and scooters.

[SandiF]

Re: Europe vacation

tomorrow more Lucca old town pics and then we're off to Switzerland...mi gaawn a mi bed. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

[Magician]

Re: Europe vacation

Nice trip sandiF! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[Nylah]

Re: Europe vacation

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">



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I love this statue.

SandiF, do you know of whom it represents?

[churchgirl]

Re: Europe vacation

Sandi, mi jealous. You're taking one of my dream vacations! Wonderful pics and report. Keep 'em coming.

[Nanook]

Re: Europe vacation

I knew this would be so great but Sandi, you outdid my expectations. Your photos are fantastic as usual and the commentary you add makes this a such vivid tour. It reminds me a lot of traveling Sweden and Finland though the countryside.

Bravo!!! more more!!!