We made it to Elba Island after driving all the way from La Ciotat. To break up the 9-hour road trip, Jean-Marc organized two overnight stops: one in the Ligurian town of Albenga–and the other in Lucca. We didn't get to see much these famous Italian towns as it rained non-stop (the pluie turned to hail as we crowded beneath a tiny portico, in Lucca, along with a handful of other pedestrians surprised by the downpour). Day three on the road and the rain would not let up. The threat of aquaplaning was on Jean-Marc's mind as he carefully avoided every freeway puddle, or flaque d'eau. For once, we appreciated all those never-ending tunnels that northern Italy is known for. They offered a stretch of dry, non-slippery road!
Bref (for this is, after all, just une carte postale), we're here, and dry! I have a story for you when we return from this little island off the Tuscan coast, where the sun is so bright it's warmed the shallow coastline inviting us in for a winter swim….
Ciao, ciao, ciao, ciao,*
Kristi
*I counted twice as many ciaos as I overheard one Italian saying goodbye over the telephone, before finally hanging up.
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Our dear Kristi,
Your wonderful descriptions took us right along with you both on your long,exciting,callenging drive!
But so eorth the effort!That view is gorgeous!
Looking forward to the next installment, many fun activities, and yummy delights!
Love
Natalia. Xo
Bonne vacance!
Good to know you are safely arrived.
Thank you for the news and the photo.
Wishing you peaceful days in the sun in Elba and clear skies and roads for your trip back home,
Elaine
Hi Kristi,
We drove from Venice to Cortona in the middle of an amazing storm one summer, and remember those tunnels, they are life-saving! Also remember the huuuge trucks barreling by, forcing us to get scarily close to the edge of those steep mountain roads, in the dark… and the torrential rain…not ready to do that again anytime soon!!!
Best wishes for clear skies for the rest of your trip!.
Amicalement,
Suzanne
Able was I, ere I saw Elba… a famous palindrome. Enjoy your stay!
I think most Italian phone conversations go like this:
“Prego? Si si si, ciao ciao!”
I’ll bet I heard that same conversation a dozen times on our trip through Italy. I almost felt fluent in Italian phone protocol.
Such lovely people, the Italians. They are great lovers and they love good food. They take their time enjoying it, making for a very social time, not hurrying, no tables booked back to back, just sit back, eat amazing food and talk to each other, sometimes very passionately. Then they take a wonderful stroll around the square with their dogs and see their friends and family and they talk to each other. The French do all of this, too.
I hope when I do my DNA test some day I find that I have even just a smidgeon of Italian in me. And French, too, of course! Bien sur!
Have a wonderful remodel-avoiding time. Hope you come back to a kitchen that you can cook in. I also hope I can come visit you again someday, in your new digs this time.
Thanks for sharing – it looks wonderful but no more writing – just enjoy the surrounding beauty and your vacation.
Enjoy your vacation! Elba always looks so beautiful! I am sorry that you didn’t get to do much in Lucca. My son spent a couple of weeks in Italy 2 years ago and Lucca was one of his very favorite stops!
Relax!
Bonnes vacances!
Profitez aussi de Piombino, en face de l’île d’Elba et son quartier médieval. Quelques kilometres à norest de Piombino il y a des très belles ruines étrusques.
Luiz Novaes
Cité du Méxique
Kristi, The photos are dreamy! I am delighted to hear that you and your love are off on an adventure! I look forward to more postcards from you. Enjoy! P.S. I loved the sound of the bells of Lucca you shared via Instagram. xoxo
Coincidentally I am reading a new book by Rhys Bowen call “The Tuscan Child,” set near Lucca. Rhys Bowen is British, living part of the time in California and the other part in Phoenix Arizona. I met her numerous times at book clubs and readings and adore her writing. If you have time for reading, I highly recommend this book. I’m a friend of Karen Cafarella and was in her writing group. (She gifted me your books, which I very much enjoy.) I met you for breakfast in Phoenix on one of your visits. I’m currently living in Ashland Oregon.
Lucca is one of my favourite places too!
I enjoy your blogs very much. I would gladly send you a donation but is there another way besides Pay Pal. I do not have an account. Thank you.
Hi Kristi,
Enjoy your vacation!
Glad you returned safely..
Sounds like a nice start to a trip despite the rain. I loved Lucca when I passed by there in 2010. It is on the list for this summer. I want to see the old stopping ground of Puccini. Looks like Napoleon had a beautiful place to be exiled. Enjoy your vacation!
I don’t know.much about Italy, but it sounds like you will have a fantastic vacation. Unfortunately sometimes if is harrowing to get there. Bon vacances.
Kathleen
Kristi, so glad you got to Lucca (even in the rain) and that the sun is shining on Elba. Hope it comes this way! Eat delicious food and have sweet dreams.