Lucca and Steak Florentine

After our first night in Montegufoni we headed out to Lucca, one of those little towns I've heard about and wanted to visit.  We had a lazy morning after the big drive from Rome the day prior so sleeping in and a little one hour day trip drive here was perfect.  Lucca did not disappoint.  The town has a great vibe, quite affluent, with narrow streets for walking or biking and rich in history.

We had lunch at a nice little place next to where preparations are underway for their big music festival, Snoop Dogg and Bob Dylan among many others. Sounds like a great party to me, but alas, our trip is not long enough!  However this town is really cool, check out some of these shots:

 

 

From the Guinigi Tower, I don't have any of the tower itself.

 

The Guinigi family planted a garden at the top of the tower, either as a kitchen garden or to symbolize the rebirth of the city when they took over, you decide.  The view was incredible regardless.

 

The night ended with a great meal at Trattoria Il Focolare, a must if you are in the area.  Enrico was as inviting a guy as you'd hope for and honestly the food was even better.  I had spaghetti pomodoro con aglio, olio e peperoncini, Kathie had tagliatelli con funghi, both were great.  But the real star was the steak Florentine, a full kilo that was cooked and cut tableside for us to share and devour.  Ron was gnawing on the bone in the car on the way back to our little apartment. Thanks for the great meal Enrico!!

 

 

Beans and fried potates as a contori, who needs salad, that's what the cow eats!