We all decided to take the early morning train into a sleepy, quaint, and historically rich town called Lucca. It’s also a walled city like Siena and has the charm and familiarity of towns I’ve quickly fallen in love with like Leavenworth or Queenstown in New Zealand. It was a beautifully bright summer day, and we decided the best way to explore this gem was to ride bikes. Ringing our bells and filling our front baskets with wine from the Lucca region, I stopped and turned to Hayli to ask her; “Is there anything else better than this moment right now..?” We had no where to be and nothing to do except live and enjoy it then and there. This is a concept I am no where closer to mastering than the day I arrived. I’m constantly stopping myself mid laugh to wonder if I’m late for something or forgotten to pick something up.
We all got so much sun, that the train home was more of a nap and the idea of dinner seemed altogether too much effort.
Giuliana wouldn’t hear of it, and met us at the fountain of Piazza Del Campo to show us her latest cena (dinner) spot. Down two cobble stone streets and a sharp left into a hidden avenue that we never knew existed, there; under a long grape vine trellis was the restaurant. If there was a way to save the flavor of the taste in my mouth from dinner, I would do it. There was something quite incredible about the simplicity of olive oil, garlic, and pici (handmade thick noodles) in cherry tomatoes that can’t be explained. I am tempted to return for dinner again this evening, and by evening I mean 9pm. I intend to return to Lucca, if nothing else to see the leaning tower of Pisa. It might come across as a shock to not see the landmark right away, but I’m starting to see that each day has it’s own purpose and my calendar has no business imposing it’s agenda. In Italy, the Italians seem perfectly happy with letting the day take them where and with whom it may...
