At around 10am, the whole crew went to a nearby palazzo (small palace), about a 5-minute walk away from the Ostello. We met the grandson of the owner, who showed us around his home, which was now a museum. Before going up this nice stairwell, we saw their beautiful garden from a distance. As we went in, the main entrance-lobby was filled with fresco paintings and stations, which showcased medical instruments used years ago. We also saw the other parts of the palace, which included the bedroom with the cover on top (like the ones during Shakespeare's time), the kitchen which had spices and garlic hanging on one corner, and also the dining area which had a painting of a saint. After the brief tour, we all couldn't wait to see the garden. As we walked through the gates, we were greeted by Roman god statues on both sides.. Walking further ahead, we saw a small fountain surrounded by plants of various species. Red, pink, and white roses could be found near the statues as well. Still looking further, we spotted people walking and biking at The Wall. It was such a beautiful garden, which was well maintained. I felt like that little girl in "The Secret Garden!"
We headed back to the Ostello, bought Italia pizza (with mozzarella and tomatoes) and a Four topping pizza (olives, artichoke, baked ham, and mushrooms). Tolle, Emme, and I ate at the courtyard of the Ostello, with The Wall as our view. As we were talking about getting gelato, a gelato mobile (like an ice cream mobile) passed by The Wall. Unlike that of the US, this gelato cart did not have any annoying sounds.
I took a siesta after our afternoon class (we talked about immigration issues and ethics in Italian healthcare). Afterwards, I printed some confirmation info for our Florence and Rome trips. We then headed to Gigi's, a fancy restaurant near the Mercato (public market) and the tower we visited days ago.
We all were ushered in a private, red room with cylindrical orange and green lights that hung from the ceiling. Our maroon napkins were held together by a tied, brown rope. We all had a nice, candle-lit dinner with white and red wine. I ordered an herb-marinated (including rosemary) and lemon chicken, which tasted so much like the one we ate at Capricciosa in Guam. They also had bread with smooth butter and basil vinaigrette. We also ordered french fries with fried, crispy, green sage (twas a great combo)! Although I finished my main course, I yearned for a Tiramisu cake, which had a soft, thin cake layer that was sandwiched in between the delicate cream and cafe. The mixture was to die for, and I just had to share a bite with everyone! I will definitely eat at Gigi's sometime in the future!
As we had our last stroll of Lucca, we noticed waitresses dancing at another restaurant. Tolle and Jerald decided to showcase some moves while on the street, but the rest eventually walked ahead. Some stores were covered but the rest still showcased their best pieces--I.e. Max and Co. fall clothes.
We then ran across our professor, Janet Lenart and her Italian friend, Fabio, who was an emergency (hotline) nurse. During our short talk, he mentioned that about 2 Italians per day in the Lucca region call their department to seek help regarding their heart conditions. This, he thought, was already a big deal, which we in America would think is a rather small percentage. We also wondered if Italians are aware of cardiovascular disease symptoms, and Fabio greatly agreed. He said that Italians are quick to respond if such cases occur, and some even call the emergency hotline, if they have minute issues, such as a cold.
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| [Senora Lenart, Senor Fabio, Jerald, Helen, Maylena, Tolle, and myself in Lucca] |
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