An Afternoon in Lucca - September 19

We took our first train trip together this afternoon to Lucca.  After an hour and twenty minutes we were there and ready for our introduction to this lovely city.  Lucca is completed surrounded by a wall that was constructed in the 14th century of brick-faced dirt ten feet wide. No longer needed for defense (unless they decide to keep the tourists out!), they now are a beautiful two and a half mile walking and biking path around the city.  Our first venue was the Piazza Anfiteatro that once was the Roman amphitheater but now has nice buildings and outdoor cafes.  We enjoyed lunch there and then everyone wandered around and we met again at the train station for our ride back to Florence.  More later . . .






















 
 
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The Best of Tuscany Tour - September 18

We did some traveling today!  At 8 a.m. we were on board the motorcoach for our day-long trip to Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa.  We arrived in Siena and met our local guide, Lucia, who walked us around the city and gave a good talk on the history and the famous Pallio horserace that is held in the city twice each year.  Then we were off to the Chianti area for a great lunch and winetasting at an organic farm and winery.  Next we visited the "tower town" of San Gimignano where the main attraction seemed to be world famous gelato (ice cream)!  Finally we arrived in Pisa to see the iconic leaning tower and enjoy a ride around the city in a "tourist train".  It truly was a "Best of Tuscany Tour"!  More later. . .



































See many, many more of today's pics at: