Learning about Lucca

On October 28, 2015 we would land in La Spezia, Tuscany. Let me ramble for a little bit because the previous night we hustled out of Genoa with great alacrity and purpose, as if we were on a tight timeline. We exit every port in this same way, every time. But this time, when I awoke to view the GPS position of the ship's path during the night, I noticed something that I found very funny. Then I checked out the distance between the two cities on google maps and I learned that you can drive between the two ports in less than an hour as they are less than 100 kilometres apart. So what does that ship do all night out there in the Mediterranean? The GPS shows that after everyone is in bed, it slows down and turns big figure eights in the sea. It looks like the captain gives up the helm to the guy that had won the most money at roulette in the casino. But then in the morning, as people wake up, the captain retakes the helm and the ship picks up speed and straightens out as it heads into port to make the schedules for the shore excursions right on time.

We had wanted to visit Cinque Terre that day which is a set of five quaint Italian villages that are perched on cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea but that excursion was full and we will have to see this UNESCO site some other time. We ended up signing up for a half-day tour of Lucca.

The Lucca tour was pretty cool. The historic centre of Lucca is completely enclosed by very thick, Renaissance-era walls. Today the walls are topped by mature trees and a very well-maintained 4.2 kilometre walking and biking path. We would cross the old city from one end to the other, along the very narrow streets where numerous trattorias and luxury shops now inhabit the buildings that are hundreds of years old. Many of the roads are too small for automobiles but vehicles still need access to make deliveries so pedestrians have to keep sharp. I saw a mini-garbage truck while I was strolling about, it was perfect for those narrow streets.

We stopped in Piazzia Anfiteatro which is an open plaza that was the site of a second century Roman Amphitheatre. We ordered a cappuccino at one of the outdoor cafes and agreed that it was the best cappuccino we had tasted in our whole lives. Gaining a heightened sense of well-being from the cappuccino, I almost bought a cheese grater at one of the shops. Then the buzz wore off and I remembered that I had a couple at home so I escaped the shop without any injuries.  

Between La Spezia and Lucca we would pass the town of Carrera where we would see the multi-colored marble sitting beside the motorway ready for export to places like your next kitchen or bathroom renovation. Seeing these great slabs of  marble before our visits to Florence and Rome foreshadowed the themes of those explorations.

We left La Spezia late that night with great aplomb and professionalism. At about midnight we slowed down as the roulette champion took the helm and started the first giant donut which he would turn before the captain booted him out of the bridge at about 6 am. Again, the destination was only a short distance away. Tomorrow was our last full day on the cruise.

looking across where the moat used to be in front of the
Renaissance-era walls of Lucca

Porto San Pietro where we entered the walled city

the walkway up to the top of the walls and the pathway on top

a well maintained 4.2 km. track. Linda advised that ten circuits
of the walls would be the exact distance of a marathon

the narrow streets of old Lucca

San Michele in Foro

Basilica of San Frediano. Get this,  Frediano was an Irish Prince that
became the Bishop of Lucca in the 6th Century. He is buried here in this
church that has a beautiful outdoor fresco.

Wildlife of Lucca, waiting for breakfast which was served seconds later.

Piazza Anfiteatro - the buildings fringe the perfect circle of the old
Roman Amphitheatre which existed in the second century a.d. 

Carrera marble stacked by the motorway and ready for export