Walked over to N&M’s house at 11am and we were off to the sea! We drove through the lovely countryside and took many backroads – including driving by Lucca and its walls. I remembered taking the bus to Lucca from Tonfano years ago and saw precisely where we got off the bus and then got back on later. We drove on toward the coast and eventually got to the area of Viareggio and Tonfano. I recognized so many places from past visits, including supermarkets, hotels, houses and stores.
First stop was at their beach house, which is under major reconstruction. Italy introduced a program where the government pays home owners to insulate their homes, so the entire façade of the house was ripped off and they’re starting to install the plastic mesh to which the insulation will be attached and then the wall finished off. Nan said they’re expecting it to be done in June (I am convinced that will not be the case). Then it was the short drive to Bagno Zara, the beach club they have belonged to for many, many years. With the hot weather Zara opened earlier than usual and there were people on the lounge chairs enjoying the sun and warmth.
I walked down to the water and then headed back for a nice spaghetti alle vongole, glass of wine, and tiramisu served by the gorgeous guy who is the son of the owner. Nan has told me that the bread in Tuscany is made without salt because the food has a bunch of salt and it could overwhelm the palate. Mauro smoked his cigar and Nan and I wandered to the water where she waded in – so pretty in this place. I looked at the exposed marble on the hills of Carrara off to the north a bit and remembered my original comment when first seeing it, “I’m surprised there’s snow up there at this time of year.”
After lunch we went to a great produce store and pasticceria, then headed back to Firenze (we got stuck behind an accident on the autostrada for a bit). Mauro dropped me off close to my apartment – a super day.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/TAbSg7CKnX8oiNWp7
First stop was at their beach house, which is under major reconstruction. Italy introduced a program where the government pays home owners to insulate their homes, so the entire façade of the house was ripped off and they’re starting to install the plastic mesh to which the insulation will be attached and then the wall finished off. Nan said they’re expecting it to be done in June (I am convinced that will not be the case). Then it was the short drive to Bagno Zara, the beach club they have belonged to for many, many years. With the hot weather Zara opened earlier than usual and there were people on the lounge chairs enjoying the sun and warmth.
I walked down to the water and then headed back for a nice spaghetti alle vongole, glass of wine, and tiramisu served by the gorgeous guy who is the son of the owner. Nan has told me that the bread in Tuscany is made without salt because the food has a bunch of salt and it could overwhelm the palate. Mauro smoked his cigar and Nan and I wandered to the water where she waded in – so pretty in this place. I looked at the exposed marble on the hills of Carrara off to the north a bit and remembered my original comment when first seeing it, “I’m surprised there’s snow up there at this time of year.”
After lunch we went to a great produce store and pasticceria, then headed back to Firenze (we got stuck behind an accident on the autostrada for a bit). Mauro dropped me off close to my apartment – a super day.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/TAbSg7CKnX8oiNWp7