Prices.

We are living "on the cheap" for most of this trip; due to the generosity of Roland's family, we are escaping-- for most of our time here -- the costs of lodging and car rental. And although the euro/dollar exchange is not to our advantage right now (about $1.44/euro as of this writing), we had a sizable bankroll of foreign currency from previous trips, so that has helped.

But, how expensive is it here? I've taken some notes and make some conversions in U.S. dollars and measures. Hopefully my math is correct.

• A good dinner for two at our local trattoria, including (free) appetizers and bread, pizza, sausages, roasted potatoes, bottled water and glasses of wine and beer and complimentary limoncello: about 30 euro / $43
• Hot sandwiches, bottles of water, and coffees at an upscale bar in the center of Lucca: about 11 euro / $15
• One caffè normale (espresso shot), about $1.15
• Gasoline figures to cost about $7.40 per US gallon (this includes some considerable taxes, of course)
• Autostrada tolls: about $3-4 for 20-30 min. runs
• 1/2 gallon of milk, about $3.67
• Large loaf of bread $2.12
• Mortadella (like bologna, but better) about $10 / lb.
• 1 lb. "muelsi" type breakfast cereal, $4.53
• 12 oz. good ground coffee, about $10.70
• Butter, about $6 /lb.
• Cookies (cantuccini - biscotti) about $4.30 for 12 oz.

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