Today we are to arrive at a B&B about an hour from the Paris airport. I wanted a place where the dogs could relax and get ready for their flight to LAX. I found this place really by accident about a year before our trip; the owners had stopped taking visitors because of health issues.… Continue reading 28 through 30 June – Paris and home
Category: France 2014
27 June – Back to Paris part 1
It’s time to head back to Paris. I am nervous about the drive based on our experience traveling from France to Italy. We are going to stop half-way, just across the Swiss border near Geneva. Actually the drive is lovely through the Alps. Even though we have tunnels to traverse, it’s not bad at all.… Continue reading 27 June – Back to Paris part 1
26 June — Lucca
It is our last full day in Italy. We are pretty worn out so we decide to spend the day in nearby Lucca casually seeing the sights we have not yet seen and finding a good place for lunch. We make our way into town thanks to our GPS. The paid parking lot we used… Continue reading 26 June — Lucca
25 June — Lucca
At 7:30am we are awakened by a thunder storm, the likes of which I’ve never heard or seen! Huge lightning! Incredible thunder! I think this cancels our lunch at a restaurant on a nearby mountaintop. Poor Lucien is frightened by the thunder and lightning which goes on throughout the morning; I give him a tranquilizer.… Continue reading 25 June — Lucca
24 June — Florence
Today we visit Florence! (It is “Firenze” in Italian; I like that name.) We know a few things: It will probably be HOT and one day is hardly enough. Next time we will stay a week. It’s nice and relaxing to take the train from Lucca to Florence. Nadia tells us the local’s secret: You… Continue reading 24 June — Florence
23 June — Lucca
Today we explore nearby Lucca, birthplace of our brother-in-law, Andrew Guidi. Nadia, our dog sitter arrives bright and early and in one piece after the drive up the mountain. After proper introductions, it’s clear the dogs are very happy to meet her and we can leave them without worries. It’s with much trepidation that we… Continue reading 23 June — Lucca
22 June — Lucca
Today we relax at our lovely house. I need to recover from the long drive from France and that drive up the mountain! I tell Howard I am NOT driving into town for groceries, so what we have is all we get. Fortunately our host, Masimmo, left us with a great loaf of Italian bread,… Continue reading 22 June — Lucca
21 June – To Lucca
Our drive from Servian, France to Lucca, Italy takes 8 hours. I hate to drive over bridges, especially if they are really high. And I hate to drive through tunnels. Approximately 4 hours of this drive is a tunnel then a bridge; a tunnel and a bridge; and they are one right after the other.… Continue reading 21 June – To Lucca
20 June – Getting ready for Italy
Today is packing day; tomorrow we leave for Italy. Howard packs up the clothes we will NOT be using for the rest of the trip. They are neatly folded together in a “package” at the bottom of the suitcase. I go to Pezenas to try to hopefully find cork placemats with the same motif that… Continue reading 20 June – Getting ready for Italy
19 June — “American Lunch”
I make the trip to the village square this morning; it is market day. I buy croissants: 2 for today and more for the next couple of days. They freeze well and it is easy to defrost them and heat them up in a low oven in the morning. I say goodbye to the lady… Continue reading 19 June — “American Lunch”