Europe Summer, 2024, day 6, Lucca, Pisa, Cinque Terre

I’m really glad we had the morning to explore Lucca. Jet lag had us up at 5:45am. We opened up the windows and I made an espresso then meditated for a bit, wrapped in a blanket sitting at a window that is directly across from a wall. The wall was really fascinating. So much history on this wall. Old archways and doors bricked over. Exposed wires running above the door. A little plant growing in a crack. It’s the type of thing my friend Rob would paint.

We wanted to explore a bit so we headed out to stroll around the little walled city.

On our way down the stairs we took pictures of the well of Saint Zita. Or Pozzo de Santa Zita, the name of our hotel.

Half way down the stairs there is a thick piece of glass through which you can see the well.

Already exploring and we’re not even out the door!

Outside hardly anyone else was around we nearly had the place to ourselves for the first 1/2 an hour or so. We’d spotted a tower from our bathroom window and figured that was good a place as any to begin our exploration. Turns out it was a college of some sort.

We found ourselves at the wall which no longer protects the city but is a park-like walkway around the city.

We met a random lady at the top of the wall who was also snapping shots of the lovely villa above. We all decided to go threesies and buy it for a summer home. You’re invited to stay if you’d like.

We continued our wandering by heading toward another tower. Towers seem to be the theme today. This one has a trees at the top of it. Trees. Torre Guigini.

As we were trying to take one of the pictures above some lady kept getting in our shot. I decided to use Mike’s head to block her out. Worked out pretty well.

We made it back to the amphitheater and there was hardly anyone there expect for a guy walking his dog.

We found a cafe and had a coffee and a croissant filled with Nutella. Heaven.

We scarfed down the croissants before realizing we didn’t take a picture. They were delicious.

Feeling extremely grateful we had an hour or two to explore Lucca, we headed back to the hotel to pack up and call a taxi.

Our next stop was Pisa, to see yet another tower.

A quick train ride took us to Pisa and after dropping off our luggage at the train station’s luggage storage we made the tourist pilgrimage to the leaning tower of Pisa. For two minutes we took it seriously and did what everyone else was doing:

Then Mike suggested we purposely take some “fail” pictures. We giggled our asses off taking these.

Mike said some girls were watching me take a purposeful fail picture and were horrified at my lack of skill. Priceless. Also, I learned how to use the “stickers” function on my phone so…these…

I completely understand why Rick Steves suggests visiting the leaning tower at Pisa but sleeping in Lucca. In Lucca we couldn’t turn a corner and not want to take a picture. In Pisa, not so much. At one point, heading back to the train station from the tower, I saw something and said, “that so nice I almost want to take a picture of it!“ Lucca is thoroughly charming, Pisa is a one hit wonder. Yet, worth the tourist pilgrimage, partly to see the tower but mostly to be around a bunch of other tourists taking silly pictures and enjoying the spectacle. But I’m glad we didn’t stay the night there and I’m grateful we met Lucca.

We returned to the train station and just missed a train to La Spezia, gateway to the Cinque Terre. Fortunately another came a long in just around 20 minutes. An hour and 10 minutes later and we switched trains and then made it to Vernazza, one of five little villages of the Cinque Terre. And our home for the next 4 nights. Despite pouring rain, crowded streets and twisted, staired pathways we made it to our little suite. This place is beautiful.

And the view from our terrace?

We were so grateful for the amazing room and the view. The price of this place was ridiculously low for what it is.

We grabbed some lunch and sat out in the terrace enjoying the views and our lemon soda. we napped with all of the windows open and then headed down to walk to the end of the harbor wall seen above.

We watched a daredevil climb on rocks that seemed too dangerous to climb on while his wife told him to stop. Finally, a big wave splashed the daredevil. Mike caught it on video. Anyone else watch FailArmy? The daredevil and his wife were very sweet and we chatted for a while. Mike shared the splash video with the wife and she seemed to be excited to have it.

We grabbed dinner after hanging out on the sea wall. Mike had pasta with crunched up crab shells and I had a delicious fried seafood dish. Shrimp, squid, anchovies and other small locally caught fish, all fried up to perfection. Not a shell in sight. It came with week old bread.

After 6 days of travel and packing and unpacking and hauling luggage we are so grateful to get to stay here for 4 glorious nights. I suggested we pack our bags in the morning and haul them to the train station just to stay in practice. Mike has stopped talking to me for some reason.

Seriously, we have laughed so much today. Mike is a joy to be with and travel with.

Here’s a little summary of our day that iMovie created.

Thanks for following along.