Rome-Heathrow

We should of course still marvel that a trip from Rome to London would only take a day -- and it has taken nearly that. Italian security was unusually tight and slow (note to self: check for head scarves when choosing which passport/immigration line to join), and the crash yesterday at Heathrow caused delays that kept us 2 hours on the tarmac in Rome before we could depart. Our business/first class area was mostly empty and pleasant though, and after a 2-hour plus flight and a £50 taxi ride we made it our Kensington-area hotel safe and sound.

Departure.

Yesterday the skies brightened up, and I felt well enough to take other long walk around Lucca for a last round of photo-taking, while Nancy did some solo shopping. Late in the afternoon Gabriella came into town and we walked the Fillungo area again and stopped at Caffè Di Simo for coffee. After dinner out, we went to Luanna's house later in the evening for our last goodbyes. The conversation is about many things, including health care and politics in Italy (although surely the Italian is slower than normal for our benefit, it is assumed now that we will be able understand what is said, which usually we do).

Today we had just to tidy up the apartment a bit and stuff ourselves back into the luggage. Naturally Lucca is especially beautiful today, just as we must leave. We stop by Lidia's flat (Lidia is Roland's mother, who lives outside the walls) to visit for a bit; she has also just returned from Australia. Giacomo is there as well, having stopped by after school to have lunch with his nonna, as part of his normal routine. Lidia can speak English but seems much happier not to bother with it -- in Italian the conversation is more lively.

We're on the autostrada by about 1 p.m., and driving south through southern Tuscany on our way to Roma, listening to the radio playing a long set of Giuseppe Di Stefano singing Neapolitan songs (okay, we're pretty far from Napoli, but it did seem to fit our mood). It's sad to be leaving: it always seem as though we spend most of our time here learning and adapting, only to leave just as we begin to feel settled.

Stopping at a rest stop, we receive a text message from our landlady with thanks and a Buon Viaggio.

We've had many small victories. Just today Nancy successfully negotiated a refund on a overpaid parking fee in Italian and on a cell phone while walking in the street between cashier posts. Wow. I myself can say that every time that I have been out on the streets of Lucca alone, I have had people approach me speaking Italian (usually to ask directions). Perhaps the new moustache and the locally-bought vest give me the right look. I always manage a coherent reply -- but even better would be to actually know the answers!

Buckets.

Nancy and Vivienne went shopping at outlet stores near Florence all day yesterday; I stayed in the house and slept at will (which was most of the time). The rain continued, and by late afternoon was coming in buckets. Nancy returned around 7:30 with Vivienne, Giacomo -- and Roland, just returned his travels. We had a very nice (take-out) feast and some time to visit.

Today will be our last full day in Lucca as we must pack up and head to Rome tomorrow morning.

More Rain.

Vivienne and Giacomo stopped by our apartment yesterday and Nancy made us a nice lunch from local fresh groceries. Afterwards we had a nice walk around town.

Today unfortunately the rain returned in earnest -- and I seem to have finally caught the little cold (?) that has been stalking me for days. I'm just returning now from the farmacia.

We've been out this morning to rent the car (VW Passat) that we will drive to Roma, and to do enough grocery shopping to see us through our last days here in Lucca. I had hoped today to be out taking photos like a madman, but the best laid plans...

Blue Sky.

Night before last, we drove out to Guamo (just a few miles away) for dinner with Gabriella, Pietro and daughter Glenda. The TomTom GPS took us the "fast" way which included an unnecessary segment on the autostrada, but we arrived on time at the right place. We had a very nice meal with pasta and roasted meats (pork, ribs, rabbit) and a round of grappa.

Yesterday the sky cleared and we made excursions in town to take pictures (me) and procure foodstuffs (Nancy). Being Sunday, almost everything was closed, but Via Fillungo was full of folks making their passegiate anyway.

Late in the afternoon we met cousin Franchesca and her husband Gianni for coffee at Caffè Di Simo, a famous bar once frequented by G. Puccini. We were a bit late (I got the directions a bit wrong -- language issues), but we had a nice visit. They send their best regards to family in America!