The Vacation of 2008

Where to start? Well it was a great trip and a fun time by all who went. We started when we gathered at Fresno Pacific University parking lot at 7AM and then went on a 4.5 hour bus ride to LAX. After getting our E tickets and then standing in line for about an hour to turn in our luggage (Homeland Security was operating only 2 x-ray machines in that part of the terminal so all flights had to be cleared by one of two machines), we wanted a lunch. So here we are at lunch all 8 of us that would be traveling as a sub-group of the larger group

(notice the photographer in the mirror!)
We then flew to Dublin, ran through security, immigration and jumped on a plane to Bolonga where we did the same, but jumped on a bus to Montecatini, our staying point for 3 days:


It was and IS a pretty town. It is an old spa town. In past centuries "taking the waters" was a very refined thing to do in Europe. Royalty and famous people would flock to these spas to drink the waters and take the cure. The cure being a great laxative from the minerals in the waters! They were cleaned from the inside out! The waters would be consumed in the morning and by noon, all would have passed. they then would walk the gardens have light foods and have great music to listen to and enjoy, then off to bed and early to rise for another session of the waters. Today we just go to Mexico and get the same treatment.

From Montecatini we visited Florence for a 1/2 day. Since Cathy and I had seen the tourist sites we wondered off from the group and did our our walking of the city. Great shopping day for us!


We also spent a day exploring Montecatini and I found this GREAT vintage Vespa! Notice the spare wheel in the rear of the bike!


And pretty fountains too!


We also spent a 1/2 day in Lucca. A place I had heard of all my life as many of the Italians in the neighborhood were from there. It is a WONDERFUL city! This is what remains of the Roman Circus. The Luccasi turned the area into a market area.




We then packed our bags and left for Venice, via Pisa. But that is another entry I hope to get to by Friday or Saturday...keep looking as I will be updating!