Alpi Apuane

Stacy and I took it up a notch, literally and metaphorically, that is. We escaped the the hectic streets of Lucca for one of the most difficult route finding and next-level driving tours yet. Suffice to say the drive into the mountains of the Alpi Apuane region is an adventure in itself. You'd think the mountain roads would be simple but they wind their way through the tiniest of villages with only inches to spare for 2 lanes, providing a thorough adrenalin rush. The reward? - the most amazing scenery with surreal abandoned stone villages, a 600 yr old hermitage built into a remote cliff side (updated bizarrely with a neat little solar panel) and nippy mountain air. Way cool (the whole experience not just the weather).

Now if we can just get some of our own photos onto the blog, hmmmm.

Road rules

Getting off a long flight, stoned from jetlag and stepping onto some crazy foreign roadway with a small runabout car with a race car pedals ( super close together) is super fun. We made it through the windy, confusing streets and the plethora of insane roundabouts to our hotel in Lucca. A gorgeous town with an insane street system. The old part of town is surrounded by an amazing rampart walkway- lots of kickass senior citizens riding clunky old bikes (no cars on the ramparts). The old town is a maze of narrow streets and if that doesn't confuse you then the staggering quantity of shoe shops will....

I'm ready for some sweet leathery dreams.

Clothing for Europe

Q sent this link about proper clothing options in Euro-land:
www.slowtrav.com/europe/wear.htm