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
 It will take you quite a bit of time to find the right location and the right property for you. Take it easy and don't rush. Some areas are quite expensive in Italy. If you are looking at the Amalfi Coast, it has always been prime real estate and this will not change even with a recession. Was your family originally from that area?
 A bit ambitious and hectic, but you can still make it. Lucca is really worth a full day. You have to park outside the walls. There is a handy parking lot to the right of the train station and you will find the Porta San Pietro, which is excellent to access the city, about 200 yards away.Enjoy your trip!
 Yes, Gromit, our weasels are about 8 inches long. They look a bit bigger when they are swimming because of their tails. But larger birds like the ducks or even some water rats keep away from them and they simply disappear the minute they show themselves. Their reaction shows that they are scared.
Hello Catherine and welcome to the  Community. Best wishes regarding your future plans.
 Congratulations to all. I'm glad that the weather decided to cooperate. A great achievement you can be proud of.
Welcome back, Pauline. Good to see you in the Community.Â
Ciao Marco. Benvenuto.Â
Yes, Ron, we have done the same thing, also with homes in Spain, France and Italy. All very interesting experiences and all different. Good luck with the bougainvillea, I am sure that it will thrive in Northern Tuscany providing you plant it in the right spot.Â
 Ciao Maria, benvenuta.Â
 Russ is right, the weasels we have are real predators and you can see that they are feared by other small animals who may become their prey. I observe them from my window and everyone leaves the minute the weasels appear, even if I am feeding everyone some bread. But they are very pretty to watch. They also like to eat crusts of bread.