10/21–Afternoon Hill towns continued and Lucca

So, back down the goat path we drive. Ed enjoying (somewhat) the challenges of switch backs, hard turns and one lane mountain driving. 

Then of course, there are all the diversions, wrong turns and one way roads trying to get back to the A12.  Joy!  Even the Italian Alice doesn’t have all the correct information.  But, we muddle our way through and finally end up on the A12 in the direction of Firenze – heading toward Montecatini.  We’ve read that this is a spa town in the hills, and while the spa aspect doesn’t really appeal to us much – we figure we might as well visit since we have the time. 

We make it to Montecatini Terme – which isn’t where we want to be. So, we adjust Alice and go for Montecatini Alto – yeah, that’s more like it.  Up, up, up we go again!  But this time the roads are a tad better – until we hit the construction – one lane – tight – but not so ridiculously scary as on the way to Sant’Anna!

At the top of the mountain, we find a parking lot out side of town (good option! virtually empty and easy in, easy out) and hoof it up into the centro. It’s a lovely little town, with a cute square and picturesque buildings and church.  We grab a cappuccino at a café to warm up, then walk around the lovely cobblestone streets, looking at the view over the valleys…

Then listening to the church bells tolling noon…

…and snapping pix of all the wonderful Italian Hill Town buildings…

It’s after noon now and we’re getting hungry, so we head down the mountain and into Lucca, where we stop at our favorite restaurant – Lucca a Tavola. We’re greeted like family – Michael (probably more like Michele) tells us he remembers us and proceeds to prepare special dishes for us.  Pulpo salad for Ed and veal with Prosciutto for me.  Yummy!

We’re happy – and stuffed. After the obligatory Limoncello (gratis) we make our way into town, window shopping and grousing about the fact that all the food stores (i.e., the great sausage store) are closed for siesta until 3 or 3:30.  Bummer!  We end up stopping alongside on of the cathedrals (don’t know the exact name!) for another beverage – and get some great photos – the lighting is absolutely perfect!

The church and some other awesome architecture…

…completes our hill town tour day. Back to the ship we go, even finding the right port on the first try! yay!  This is a first – after all the times we’ve been here – we’ve never made it back on the first try.  There is hope for us – and the Alices of the world!