Day 20: Lucca

It was a pretty low key day today.  Tony and Sandra popped by mid morning and we ventured out in search of some bicycles.  We soon stumbled upon a little Italian man with a four wheel bike for hire amongst others. He said it could take all 7 of us, so off we went.  It was heaps of fun.  Zachie and Max sat up the front. Tony and Rick were in the middle steering the ship and Sandra, Scarlett and I were at the back.  It had a gorgeous blue and white striped canopy over the top and it felt oh so french and cute.  Lucca is another walled city surrounded by what was once a moat.  There is a lovely walking track all the top of the wall all the way around the city which is covered with shady trees and has beautiful views of the surrounding gardens and villas. Its about 4km long and was a leisurely 45 minute ride on our big bike.  It was just gorgeous and we giggled the whole way around.  Rick kept complaining that we girls weren't pulling our weight.  I think he was just trying to get my legs to ache more, and that they do.  We stopped by a beautiful shop and picked up some rolls and goodies for lunch and walked back to the top of the wall for a picnic in the park. Sublime. There was a breeze (albeit warm) for a change and it was a fabulous spot to seek refugee from another sweltering day. We strolled back into town in search of a gelato and brought tickets to Puccini's Opera.  Sandra and I had a little shop on the way back to the apartment and then took the rest of the afternoon to chill out inside.  The kids played on their ipads.  Night time rolled around and Sandra, Scarlett and I headed out for a quick bite to eat before the Opera.  We were happily drinking and eating when Sandra noticed the time mid bite and panicked.  She was up asking for the bill.  The waiter was surprised and confused and thought we were unhappy customers.  Sandra had to explain while I paid the bill and gulped down my wine.  He packed up Scarletts half uneaten pizza into a takeaway pizza box that I had to take into Church. Chontelle happily scoffed it down mid Opera as wafts of pizza filled the Church. I don't think my Nanna would have been pleased.  The Opera was divine.  All the classics by Puccini, who was born here in Lucca.  The song that they play at the end of the Godfather (III) when Al Pacino dies is just so emotive.  I sang it the whole way home (Scarlett was most embarrassed) and the songs are still going around in my head.  Puccini was baptized in the Church and he used to play the organ there as a young man.  It was all very cultural and the acoustics were divine.  I loved it all and just wanted to be young again so I could have lived here in Italy. Home via the gelato shop for another gelato for Miss Scarlett and Chontelle.  We stopped at a patisserie and bought a lemon cake to enjoy with the men over the last bottle of sticky from Castle di Brolio.  Sadly Ricky boy was at the "laundromat" of all places, doing our washing while Tony babysat the two boys.  I felt more in love with him than ever. Who needs a misspent youth in Italy when you can marry an Italian who does your washing while you go out to the Opera.