The city of Lucca has always been my favourite. Not only because it is only 25 minutes away from our home and I go there at least two or three times a week, but also because you do not feel like a "tourist" there.
Gala Placidia's activity
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In this icy cold weather, hot drinks and comfort foods are a must. Preparing and consuming them are good ways to spend time when we cannot venture outdoors.
Wed, 02/08/2012 - 06:10
The cold weather is affecting most of Italy and creating difficulties concerning energy supplies. Russia, the most important supplier, has been reducing the provision of gas up to 30% due to increasing demand in their area.
Tue, 02/07/2012 - 02:22
The San Francisco Chronicle publishes today this most interesting article:
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 12:45
Whenever we are in Italy, we love to visit antique and vintage markets and fairs, looking for that special piece that we would love to have. Sometimes, we find it...
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 02:47
One of my favourite activities in Italy is to visit those markets that sell antique and vintage items.
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 06:38
Some members may have noticed that I have been fairly quiet for the past month and a half. The reason for this was that we have been visiting our daughters who live in San Francisco (CA).
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 02:59
The new ½ûÂþÌìÌà government has been announced and it is obvious that we will have a fight between technocrats and politicians.
Wed, 11/16/2011 - 14:24
A lot has been written about the dangers of overheating Teflon coated cookware. Toxic fumes can be extremely dangerous for our health. Personally, I have never liked that type of cookware and I do not buy it anymore.
Sat, 10/29/2011 - 06:24
In another thread, we were discussing Tuscan herbs and "funghi porcini". Tuscany is a paradise for herb lovers and many varieties, such as rosemary, sage and "nipitella" grow wild.
Thu, 10/27/2011 - 11:23
Comments posted
We have had hamsters, rabbits and other animals in the past running free in the old forum. Are we going to start something new with chickens?
Anyway, here is something to help you decide, Angie
I agree with Anne, an excellent film:Another one which we really enjoy watching and is easy to understand is "Il pranzo della domenica"
I agree with Lorraine, if the jewellery includes a platinum ring with a large diamond it may also include some other interesting pieces and gold dealers are only going to pay by weight. I would suggest that a trip to a Rome to see an antique jewellery dealer may be worth the trouble.
I just had a look and it is a great website for many things in Italy. Thank you as well, Alan.
Liam, welcome and congratulations on the forthcoming wedding.What you are after is what the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs call an "spiedo girarrosto", however, I have no idea where you can get one in Italy. A catering and restaurant supplier may be able to help.Anyway, I would advise you to contact a local caterer. Ask around, perhaps at your favourite restaurant, and they will be able to look after you with authentic delicacies.Best wishes
I must confess that we found Bagni di Lucca quite by chance on our first trip. We were renting an apartment in Lucca but the agent's office was in Bagni and we fell in love with the aream which we thought it was perfect for us. That did not stop us from looking at other places as well, but we always came back to Bagni.... until we found the property we were after, easy maintenance, within walking distance to all amenities and on the river. I saw it advertised, we took the car and ended up there buying within a week.If you want to know more about the area, this could help you:It contains a brief but also excellent information about the area.Another useful link that covers more territory:You will find properties in the area through Italy Magazine and the Property section. There are other agents in the area as well and my advice would be to see the all.If you have further questions you can ask me through this thread or you can send me a pm. I will be glad to help.Happy hunting!
These rights are not uncommon throughout Europe. There is an old Spanish which says "El que no tiene padrino, no se bautiza" (literally, the one who hasn´t got a godfather cannot get baptised") but there is an English translation which appears in any dictionary: "You cannot get anywhere without connections". Nothing new and Italy is not an exception to the rule.
One hour away from Pisa Airport would cover quite a lot of places in Northern Tuscany or Southern Liguria. It took us several trips before deciding on Bagni di Lucca. You should not rush into anything and look around until you find the right place for you. We made at least six trips and at different times of the year to see how the area looked and what it had to offer throughout the year. It is a buyer's market right now so you may find quite a bit to choose from. Good luck with your search.
That statue by Giambollogna about the Rape of the Sabine Women is one of my favourites. I always stand for a very long time in front of it whenever I go to the Piazza della Signoria in Florence. That one and Perseus and Medusa is the other one I love.
 Hello Claire and welcome. You will need some time before you find a property which really suits your needs. It is time well spent.Best luck and wishes regarding your future plans.