No Two Alike – September 27, 2026 

  • Lucca: Day 2 (Travel Day 18)
  • Weather 55-85° / sunny & winds 5-10 mph

Each Duomo di San Martino’s exterior column is unique.  Legend has it the people of Lucca had a contest for the best column design. Artists submitted carved columns.  Lucca inhabitants decided to keep them all.  Without paying the artist, all the columns were used. 

No Two Alike
No Two Alike
No Two Alike

Geyser – September 25, 2026 

  • Monteriggioni: Day 1 (Travel Day 16)
  • Weather 50-80° / sunny & winds 2-10 mph

The pool cover announced the end of summer.  Lost (brother of Found) was playing “cat and mouse” with something under the thin blue cover.  What will happen when he unsheathes his claws?  GEYSER!  

The cats and dogs find their way to ll Piaggione, Rebecca and Vieri’s home where they find kindness, endless food, and free range. Phantom, their dog of many years, has sadly been missing for three weeks. During the night Sarah heard backing and hoped it was Phantom. Alas, it wasn’t Phantom’s powerful bark that had kept all prey from the chicken.

Kinda like walking on water.
Reclining on a waterbed.
Prelude to pouncing.

Friends – September 25, 2026 

  • Monteriggioni: Day 1 (Travel Day 16)
  • Weather 50-80° / sunny & winds 2-10 mph

Friends are timeless so why do we look forty years older?  

Vieri holding two hen eggs laid today.
Followed by linda, Sarah, and Fredéric
Vieri, Rebecca, Sarah, and Fredéric.
Vieri scrambled these eggs for my breakfast.
Vieri holding his prized David Austin Rose varietal.

From Fiesole – September 25, 2026 

  • Monteriggioni: Day 1 (Travel Day 16)
  • Weather 55-80° / sunny & winds 2-10 mph

I joined Sarah and Fredéric in Fiesole for a picnic on their patio before a backroad excursion.

Lunch on their patio.
Picnic view overlooking Florence.
Cappella dei Pesci, Chapel of the Fishes
In 1510 two fish were miraculously caught to feed the Pope.