BELLA LUCCA!

Friday was a long day with some overly talkative students and a frustrating Italian lesson way too early in the morning (seriously - my brain is not meant to speak this language)..so I was determined to get out of Florence and see more of Tuscany..especially since the weather has been so beautiful and it's so AUTUMN here.  So Saturday Meaghan and I went to Lucca.  For once, the fact that the buses here are perpetually late ran in our favor, and we were treated to a beautiful drive throught the Tuscan countryside.  It was GORGEOUS!!  Amazing Fall colors and the quaintest little towns I have seen yet.  I think it might just beat Florence for beauty, especially this time of year, as Lucca is covered with trees.  It's an old medieval town with the original walls still surrounding the city.  You can bike or stroll on top of the walls, and every path is bordered by trees and parks and grass and a forest and playgrounds - all on top of 17th century stone.  We reveled in the beautiful weather and stunning scenery with the rest of the town for our passeggiata della mura (stroll along the wall).  
We also found a local culinary show, where we got to try some of the most amazing honey, olive oil, bread and jams made in Lucca - who knew that acacia honey is my favorite.  I also learned not to try anything from the meat stands because I always end up tasting things like lard on bread and having to spit it back out.  We had pizza for lunch and my favorite cannella gelato for dessert topped off a wonderful day!

 Autumn leaves and city walls

Beautiful architecture everywhere

I think every town should be required to have at least one carousel

I'm sorry - but I just can't get enough of Fall!!

 

Meaghan riding her bike - we rented some and rode on top of the wall for the 4 km loop - my bike skills are not what they used to be but it's also not such a good idea to try and take pictures while riding..but it just kept getting prettier around every turn..

 

 

Some pics of the city walls and the town inside and outside of the walls.

And a stunning sunset, or course..perfect end to a perfect day! 


Random things: I saw my first Christmas lights turned on at a cafe this week!  They're going up all over town and I am so excited to see them finally get lit one day.  Christmas decorations are going up all over.. I made myself a pretty good burrito with chili beans and pecorino cheese, the quesadillas were even better - but I can't wait until I get a taste of some real refried and black beans.  I saw my first movie since I've been here - New Moon (popular with all the young girls here as well) - it was a little overly dramatic but the scenery was great and I understood most of the Italian.

BELLA L'AUTUNNO!!!

Autumn is definitely here!  Although it is very quickly disappearing.  While I was running Saturday morning, I was amazed by all the fall colors in the parks by my house.  I even found the street that I want to live on - at least this time of year!  It was beautiful!!  I had to go back and take some pictures of Fall before it left us here.  It's been mostly raining and chilly but I think I can last until I get home to buy some warmer clothes..although I did buy some boots so everyone can stop asking me if my feet are cold.  Other than that, it's been mostly teaching and lesson planning and trying to learn some Italian so I can one day have a real conversation...I love my business english class that I teach at the business school.  I have 15 students that are 18-22 years old.  They are a challenge to entertain for 2 hours but I think we find each other mutually entertaining for the most part.  Teaching English really is fun - as well as teaching math for the SAT and GMAT and such (which I am so glad I don't have to take).  It will be even better when I am better at it.  And I have my first private student - a professor here that wants to know English for a project.  He just quizzes me for an hour and tests my Italian skills, since he speaks almost zero English.  It should be interesting to see where we hit the point at which I can no longer understand his questions..So things are good!  I would love to hear how all of you are doing!!


FALL PICTURES FOR YOU!  Sorry there are so many but they are all my favorites!

 

These pictures are from the Stibbert Park by my house.  It is a beautiful strange little park even without the fall colors.  Lots of Egyptian artifacts everywhere for some reason.

What a perfect fall day to be sitting on a park bench.

 

 

A different park by my house - the Botanical Gardens

I think this one is my favorite!  Look at those colors!

 

My favorite street in Florence at the moment - this street was absolutely stunning with all the fall colors - and the point at which my perfect fall day turned into lots of rain and a wet walk back home..