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This is my last post for a blog describing a really wonderful adventure shared with a wonderful friend. I am sitting in Chiangi Airport with still another two hours to wait.  Arrive home tomorrow morning around 6:30.

So many times during the last four weeks I have thought, "I don't want this moment to end" so I guess they would have
 to be classed as "highlights"- Listening to a tenor and soprano sing Puccini in a 1000 year old church, sitting on a terrace in Bagni di Lucca drinking fabulous local white wine, standing in front of David in Florence, standing in front of the Duomo in Florence (in fact everthing about Florence!), reaching the end of the walk to Porte Venere and looking out at a beautiful green sea and on and on! Met some lovely people - Rosela in Florence, the Austrian couple in Manarola amd of course, Maurizio. But most of all sharing it all with Karen.Thank you for all the laughs, for liking the things I like and for liking to have quiet days just watching Italy go by!

To finish up, lots of love to two great fellas, Michael and Ross for having faith in us.

Gelato of the day

walnut

Palazzo Pfanner

Now he meets in graceful woods, to whom

The industrious shears rounded the 

Evergreen ruffled locks, and

Under whose shade shelter spirant

Marble statues, sharing beautywith each other,
When in the midst of this
Green shine rises elegant with engraved boulders,
Statues and balustrades a sweet shelter,
Where often Satyrs and Nymphs
Residents of this place love the day,
The night or the fleeting sun or the ray
Lovingly seeking the moon
And play and merrymake and feast...

Poem by CristofanoMartelli Leonardi to descrbe the gardens of Palazzo Controni - Pfanner in 1794

Sunday April 7

The day started with a very impressive parade down our street, Via Fillungo to Lucca Cathedral. Drum band and flag tossing was very impressive in 15thC costume. Subsequent marches throughout the day saw different periods in Lucca's history represented.

Today's gelato

I know you are waiting anxiously to hear what today's flavours are...coffee and banana!

 

Train trip into the country

My holiday to Italy is rapidly coming to an end so Karen and I decided to catch the train up in to the mountains to visit a village called Bagni di Lucca.  It is known for its hot springs and as the holiday destination of Elizabeth Barrett Browning.It is a picturesque village on a fasg flosing stream. We topped the day off with a swim in a thermal pool. Just a wonderful day all round.

Lucca Cathedral

Lucca Cathedral (San Martino) was consecrated in 1070 by Pope Alexander 11 and contains the Temple of Volto Santo (holy face). The large wooden crucifix is said to be carved by Nicodemis a contemporary of Jesus Christ. The crucifix miraculously made its way to Lucca where it is housed in a "temple" / shrine in the cathedral. Every September 13 Luccans celebrate thd Volto Santo and dress the statue of Christ in a beautiful gold crown, gold collar and breast plate and rich medieval vestments. The city is decorated by thousands of candles on the front of buildings. It must be a wonderful sight.