Time To Buckle Down!

Still playing with Picnik.

I took this photo while in Lucca, Italy...it was just last year around this time.
We had an amazing trip which included a special visit with Vale and Paola from
Les Cotrions!

It has been fun to look through my photos and remember all the beautiful places we saw and all the things we did while on our trip to Italy.

I couldn't resist playing with some of the photos!

...in fact, it is getting hard to resist tinkering with every photo!

However...
it's time to tackle some big projects...

...so I better stop playing and get down to business!

Hope your week is off to a good start!
:)

Lucca Luminara di Santa Croce

We were very fortunate to be in Lucca on September 13th which is a Holy Day dedicated to the Volto Santo. The Lucca Luminara di Santa Croce is part of a series of festivals during September. It is a devotional procession in which the Volto Santo or Holy Face, a wooden crucifix figure is carried along the streets of the old town centre from the Church Saint Frediano to the Cathedral of Saint Martin, illuminated by thousands of small candles.
... As we walked about Lucca late Sunday afternoon we watched as candles were lit on the facades of buildings on the main streets of the historical center in preparation of this annual event.



...Vale and Paola took us to where the Lucchese gathered to watch the procession (La Luminaria) through the town. The procession consisted of groups representing all of the parishes around Lucca.

















...It was beautiful, each group walking slowly and solemnly, some were dressed in full ceremonial costume, holding candles, crosses or banners, and accompanied by chants or a marching band. Lucca appeared magical in the candlelight and it was wonderful to share this special event with our new friends...
...Afterwards there was the "Mottettone" concert inside the cathedral and fireworks on the banks of the river.
...As we lay in bed that night with the shutters wide open in our ancient villa...we listened to the beautiful music...and fell asleep with visions of candlelight and memories of our special time here with Valentina and Paola.
... We will never forget the beauty and friendship we found in Lucca.

Lucca, Italy

When we arrived in Lucca we took a taxi from the train station through narrow streets to the Al Tuscany Bed and Breakfast...



We went through this massive door into the stone foyer of this ancient building which dates back to 1200.....this was the entrance to our bed and breakfast...



Up four floors of stone steps we found our rooms....this was the view overlooking the burnt sienna, terra cotta, ochre and coral pink buildings and rooftops of Lucca...







Lucca is utterly charming....a jewel in the midst of the beautiful Tuscany region...



The very best part of our stay in Lucca was meeting our blogging friend Valentina and Paola, her partner in the online shop of Les Cotrions. These two lovely ladies were so gracious and welcomed us into their homes...



Vale fixed a fabulous, traditional and delicious dinner for us and we spent a wonderful evening getting to know one another in her mother's beautiful home. Both Vale and Paola are bright and charming with a quick sense of humor and sophisticated tastes. The evening flew by as we joked and laughed...it seemed like we were old friends and had known them forever....







The walls that surround the city of Lucca date back to the Renaissance...



They are wide and tree lined and provide a beautiful view of the city and the mountains beyond...





We spent a few hours walking and biking on the walls of Lucca along with many friendly local residents...a lovely place to take a walk, bike, jog, or just to sit and read or visit with neighbors ...









Everyone rides bicycles in Lucca, athletes as well as elegant women in dresses... old and young people alike...
You can see folks riding their bikes while holding umbrellas or with dogs on a leash running beside them...





Vale and Paola took Lynn and I to some of their favorite shops ...
... more about the shopping in Lucca to come in the next post...







Behind this door lies Valentina's lovely garden....



Vale enjoys spending time working in her walled garden and the result is a charming and peaceful space under the protection of the old church next door...















We were so fortunate to be in Lucca this weekend as it was their special annual celebration which included a candlelight procession of the Holy Cross through the streets of the city. There were people dressed in Medieval costume and fireworks and music through the night. Tomorrow I will post some pictures of this enchanting religious and cultural event.



Stay tuned for photographs of some of the shops we visited and also of Paola's new loft area which houses her rooftop garden as well as the wonderful decorative items and antiques that the ladies sell in their online shop...Les Cotrions...



I hope you enjoyed this first glimpse of Lucca....it is truly a special place! We feel so lucky to have had a personal tour by Vale and Paola and can't thank them enough for their generous hospitality!