Lucca Lovin'

“Imagine a beautiful little Tuscan town protected by massively thick 16th-century walls, featuring some of Italy's finest medieval and Renaissance architecture, superb dining, antique markets, classical and rock music festivals, easy access to stunning nearby villas in the surrounding hills and with endless beaches less than half an hour away. Lucca is one of Tuscany's best-kept secrets.”

This description was the only reason I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning. Apparently it still didn’t suffice for the rest of the roommates, as Sophia and I were the only two that managed to be at the train station early enough to begin our adventure. As lovely as sleeping in sounded,“we have a world of pleasures to win, and nothing to lose but boredom.” (Quote cred. to Court).

I have, and always will, loved riding on trains. There is a certain tranquility that comes with observing scenery speeding by from your own comfortable solitude, free to read or snooze, or whatever you want, completely at your leisure.

People have complained that they get bored too quickly traveling this way, but I never run out of ways to entertain myself. At the very least it beats the hell out of LA traffic.


We arrive to Lucca too soon….and are immediately disappointed. It doesn’t look like all it’s cracked up to be. The walls are literally the size of buildings, completely enclosing the entire city, and we can’t figure out how to actually get in.

But alas we find the secret path that leads us beneath the giant brick wall and after a brief climb we are overlooking fields of green from ten stories high. We come across a bike rental, which is the “thing” to do here, and cycle around the entire city.

I must say, after wandering all of Florence, this mode of touring gives a wonderfully different perspective of seeing the city; almost like a bird’s eye view. But not quite.

After our peaceful cruise, we sit in a sunny little piazza and grab a beer. (Note to family: I am aware that these last couple posts make me sound like maybe I drink kind of a lot, but I’m really just living every moment as enjoyably as possible. And if that involves one…or two drinks, well then that’s what it’s going to be).

We catch the train home before it gets dark, and as the steady chugging puts us to sleep, I get a glimpse of the sun setting in Tuscany.