It’s like being in two worlds in one day. We started in Porta Venere with swimming, a hotel breakfast buffet, and playing in the sun along the beach. By 1:30 we were tucked into our walled city of Lucca in the country, in the most fabulous little villa—sans the sea. It doesn’t feel like it’s possible to have both those contrasting worlds all packed into one day, so the day felt long, and FULL.
Our breakfast was really quite nice, and we ate poolside and relaxed while the kids swam. We stayed at this old school hotel, badly in need of a total revamp, but trying to hold on to its glory days of years past. You could tell by the fact that the bathroom was stocked full of complimentary accessories like toothbrushes, shoe buffs, sewing kits, shower caps etc., and there was really nice stationary on the desk in the room, yet the hotel room door still opened with an old-fashioned key and the furniture was ‘70’s (and not intentional retro, just old.) The sleep was crappy because we never figured out the air conditioning. We came into the room and it felt “sort of” cool, but the thermostat didn’t allow you to change it, so we figured it was centralized and we couldn’t control it -- and it just sucked. We had a restless sleep, with Romeo in between John and I, feeling stuffy all night. The next morning the woman at the front desk told us there was a black dial near the door that turned the air on higher. Really? That sucks. Another example of what they need to fix in the revamp. That’s Romeo and John in a sweaty sleep pose.
Our drive was an easy 1 ½ hour, during which all the kids slept because they woke up early to get maximum swim time. Lucca is nestled in the rolling green hills, and completely surrounded by this ancient fortress wall. Within the wall only a very isolated zone allows cars, the rest is walking/biking only. Our apartment is just blocks from everything (shopping, restaurants etc.), and it’s fantastic. Gorgeous old ceilings of wood, and amazing tile floors. It’s a perfect place to come back to on these hot days since it has AC in all the rooms. Only problem is, it’s still Italy, so if you have allthe AC units on, plus the washing machine, and some other electronics, you are going to blow a fuse. We’ve done it twice already.
We strolled around late afternoon and stumbled upon this kitchen store with these fantastic plates that we fell in love with. The problem is they are heavy, and big. Shipping is crazy expensive, so we are trying to decide how we can bring home 24 dinner plates and 24 salad plates as carry on. It’s quite the dilemma…but these are amazing plates, how can we NOT get them? They were fantastic colors (we’d get a combo of 4 colors probably), and they would be so much fun. I feel like we’ve had white plates for far too long, maybe it’s time to change it up?
I love little Lucca so far. It’s darling in every way, and I am so excited we get 4 more days in this town and in this beautiful apartment. I don’t know if the kids have fully embraced it yet. They miss the water already (a taste was not enough). Lucia is currently obsessed with what she says is acne (just a few zits)…and I mean obsessed. Ava says she’s too dehydrated to walk around and just wants to stay in the apartment and binge watch whatever she is currently watching. Gia was just fine, but Romeo is a compulsive shopper and gets whiny when shopping isn’t all about him and/or I dissuade him from buying something ridiculous. I grounded him for being super naughty—the punishment was not being able to buy anything for the day while we were shopping, so that led to more crying/annoyance . If you are wondering, no, not the smoothest of afternoons shopping and strolling.
Our restaurant for dinner (that’s the sign in the picture), had been opened since 1865, but I can’t understand why because nothing was particularly great about it. Gia actually went during dinner and bought me this darling washable paper (so unusual) little container. I had seen it earlier in the afternoon so she spotted the store near the restaurant and went to get it for me. Seriously, could that be any cuter? That part was great.
Tomorrow we’re going to have to try to rally them despite the heat so that we can bike around the wall which is suppose to be loads of fun (and there is literally a bike rental shop just around the corner.) It’ll be upper 90’s……
Signed, ME {lv}
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