File that under something you can't get enough of it: Carnival in Viareggio, part 2

I haven't gone there for ages and then in 2014 twice in a row, what's the matter? 

This time, a very tempting invitation by a friend, Serena Giovannoni of WishVersilia. She is a true and authentic Viareggina and she has organized the photo challenge "Snap the Carnival" and events for bloggers and igers, photographers to make the Carnival more "social".

Luckily, it was again a lovely sunny Sunday, we started with a good burst of energy for lunch at the beach club and resort La perla del Tirreno

Then, three shots of cannon to announce the beginning of the floats parade, so quickly a coffee and we reached the middle of everything, the centre of the universe: Piazza Mazzini. It is where the floats reach the highest point of beauty and fun. Here is the jury box, the judges have to vote to award the best float. So everything has to be more than perfect, every step, movement and dance.

We had a great point to take pictures, we were on a stage together with journalists, tv and radio broadcaster. I had just my Iphone5 with me but these are some of my shots... Let me know your comments and at the end I will tell you the Winner! ;)

Up up up get on board! 

Before and after... A revolution of LOVE!

Faces:

Such a well known face...

and more...

Carnival Faces 

Hysteria or Italy?

Head down...

Head up! 

How many monuments can you recognize?

...and finally here it slowly comes between the palaces... The Winner! 

A huge metallic spider titled "The Net/Web" by Alessandro Avanzini with a mouse head, it represents the Internet voracity and dangers, these are the main themes of the float. 

And that's it for this edition. Bye bye Carnival... See you again next year! Hope you will join the party with us! 

After many years, a return: Carnival in Viareggio

I don’t remember when it was the last time I went to the Carnival in Viareggio. Let’s say that it was a thing that I did not miss so much. 

When I was a child, my mum and my grandfather used to take me there every year and I have a lot of great memories and pictures, apart those where I was dressed as a Sardinian man (the folk, typical costume from the region of Sardinia, where my mum comes from), not even the female version, but the male one!

So you can imagine how it was disappointing! Nobody had a clue of what my dress meant and even if I was asked about it, nobody still could not really understand. All these kids dressed as superheroes, animals, fairies and princesses… and me? A proud Sardinian!

That's me! :)

Anyway, I had a great time especially when I grew up and that dress did not fit me anymore! ;) So I became a space woman, a clown and I enjoyed it so much!

Last Sunday, after many years, thanks to a lovely sunny day I decided to go back to the Carnival and what a surprise!

I did not have a costume this time, even if the atmosphere is so funny and happy, that you feel very tempted to put on a silly fluo wig on your head and start to dance following the parade.

The Carnival in Viareggio has a very long tradition for more information, I suggest you to read here Carnival Viareggio website

You have probably heard about the Venice Carnival, ok, that’s beautiful as well and worth to see, but if you are looking for something more fun and local, Viareggio is the right place! A must!

The most special thing about it is the floats parade. The float is made mainly in papier mache (water, glue, chalk and paper). There is a competition so there are 3 categories, they are incredibly huge works of art. They can reach up to 20 meters and they parade along the seaside for about 3kms, there are people on them dancing and singing!

Guess who is the main character of this float?

They are designed, projected and realized by what we call the Mastro Carraio (the float master). Each float needs almost a year to be prepared. Usually they are inspired by the present time: politicians, celebrities, actual issues as the war, the racism, the environment etc… represented in a satirical and irreverent way. That’s maybe one of the reason why foreigners, tourists do not enjoy it so much, because sometimes you do not get the message, as you do not know that Italian politician or artist.

However, I am sure you will be amazed by these pictures and you will want to know more about it…and you can be satisfied coming to Carnival next time, going to the museum and citadel to see and touch where these floats are made. 

Revolution  by Cinquini brothers.

The dreams catcher by Franco Malfatti

Children of a Lesser God "Somebody to Love" by Roberto Vannucci

A tank full of... Happiness by Breschi Massimo

The dreams stealer by Politi S. and Borri P.

I am pretty sure, you can recognize him very well...

Does he look like as a well known Italian premier, doesn't he?

Anyway, he is just a detail of my favourite one: The drowned peninsula by Bonetti brothers. 

So which one is your favourite?

You can find more pictures: 

Follow the Carnival on Facebook

Follow the Carnival on Twitter @carnevalevg

And search on Instagram #carnevaleviareggio14 #carrocarnevale #maschera #viareggio 

Ps: If you come to Lucca in August, you might have a chance to see the floats parade as they organize a Summer Carnival, please ask for more information to Debora or Paola. 

NYC: We don't mind - You Pay!

Astonished!! I am really astonished today! O___O

It means: I probably made only mistakes in my life! 

I have spent last 10 years taking care of all my clients as they were all sons and daughters of mine! Owners on one side, Tenants on the other side… but I have to admit that a special care has been given to Tenants.. without any doubts!

Are you arriving late? No worries! 24/7 checkin for free. 

It means: midnight, 1 or 2 am…. 9 pm without dinner.. no problems…  yes you can. Yes i will reserve the table for you!  yes I will buy some food for you. … Are you getting lost? No worries. I will wait for you! One hour? No problem! Two hour? Did you take the worng exit and you're now in Pistoia? No worries. I am here waiting for you! …

Ohh my!!! will they be hot? Cold? Water with or without gas? Will be thye thirsty? Will be they hungry? Maybe angry? Do they like white or black? Pillows soft or hard? ….

- GoodMorning Wendy! Have you left tenish of trash bags in the kitchen? No worries!! Never mind! I will take care of them!!

- Hello Sue! Oh your children have colored the sofa with their oil- colors? What’s the problem? I will go to Ikea ot buy a new one! Don t worry be happy!!!!! Enjoy your stay!

I have ruined my family and friends summer weeks with their paranoic matters…

- Wifi is slower than at home? Ok let’s talk to Tronchetti Provera

- Air Conditioning does not cool as at home? NO problem, I 'll talk to AD at DeLonghi

- They don’t like our garbage collection system.. They say it is crazy …. Yes yes they're right!! Let’s write to the major.

- My knee cannot walk up so many steps! Ok let’s go to Hospital all together to replace a new knee…

I run run run.. my loved colleagues run  with me.. … all our time we run for them.. and their crazy mind… but at the end we are happy! We have chosen it! We love our job and how we do it! 

But I could not belive what I have read today! … the first time I try to rent an apartemnt in NYC I read: … Uao!! I don t find the words… Just to let you understand:

- After 8pm you need a late (and fast)  check- fee usd 75. If you need a good late check in with our manager plus 75 euros for a total of 150 usd.

- Have you lost the keys?  Guests will be charged $50 for every set of keys lost.

- If you smoke in the apartment? 1000 usd fee – ok you are absolutely right. But in my contract you read: Please don' t smoke in the apartment, Thank you!

- If you leave a card trash in the apartment - 250 usd fee – ok You are right . But I write:  Please don’ t leave trash bags in the kicthen upon departure, Thank you!

- If we have to repair the coffee maker and you haven’t told us anthing 1000 usd fee… even though it’s not your fault. We don t mind - You Pay. In my contracts : Please, don t forget to notify any incurred damages, Thank you!

- We observe quiet hours from 9:00 pm to 9:00 am. We do not allow parties or any noise disturbances inside the building. Violation of this policy may result in a $500 fine and possible eviction. 
Me: Please respect your neighbors. Thank you!

… I was wondering: do they know the meaning of words like Please? Thank you???

have they heard about Kindness? Good manners? Education?

Oh my!!! Have you ever read a rental agreement regarding an apartemnt in Manhattan?

Yes probably you have…. That may be the reason all you want to stay with us! J

Tourist for a Day: Siena.

Last Saturday 28 dec,  I was free from arrivals and business matters so I decided to take a day off! … A whole day only for me and my boyfriend. We decide to be "Tourists for a Day": we will go to Siena!!  … just like all my guests do… just to understand if it is really worth it! 

Last time I visited Siena, I was very young. I went there on a sunday - trip with my parents and sister.. 25 years ago? Maybe 30? I know! It’s unbelievable … but as always happens…. you choose to massacre yourself with a 24 hours flight … and you leave the beauty of your country to the others… we are really stupid.

Anyway!! Yes. Siena is beautiful as described in all the books, guides, websites …blogs and so on. It is worth it. And if you come to Tuscany you cannot miss a day-trip there.

It is very similar as Lucca and at the same time very different….It is slightly smaller than Lucca.  Lucca is completely flat. Siena is "up and down". I am sure my guests will love to know it. It is much more crowded than Lucca. On the other side it is a jewel… and when you start walking throughout the daedal of medieval streets … you forget everything, you forget similarities and differences, you forget where you have parked the car, and you forget how to come back to the train station… (now I can understand why so many guests get lost so often!!) When the cathedral  appears to your eyes  at the end of the narrow and shadowed road.. it is vibrant…. it is really exiting. It’s beautiful. Nothing more than beautiful. 

After a first quick glance to the cathedral, we went  straight to Piazza del Campo.. almost desert in this end of the year.. ( a very good reason to come to Tuscany off season is that the number of people you share your emotion really decreases. In my personal opinion this increases the value of your experience) 

..  We walked all the Palio track… admired the majestic buildings overlooking the square .. until I found myself to take pictures to pigeons on the Fonte Battesimale more than to the monument itself. We all are always surrounded by pigeons. Tuscany must be the favorite place of all the pigeons on the world… … while taking pictures to pigeons.. I felt..  from my shoulders something was calling me: Sure! La Torre del Mangia was calling me. With my passion of climbing everything is possible to climb.. could I miss it?  So we decided to walk up to the top of the tower. Almost 90 meters high.. I don t know how many steps… I haven t counted them..  but many!! We were so lucky to find a sunny and clear day.. without any wind.. despite it is the end of december the weather was really pleasant… it helped to enjoy the breathtaking view on the town and the surrounding countryside. Unforgettable. 


We stayed on the top for 20 minutes… ( have a look at the couple! They have kissed for 20 minutes. I have arrived and they have already kissed. I was going away and they are still kissing. Twenty minutes is a very long time, isn't it?) 

We took our way back to the Square… Some Shots in the Square… a quick piece of pizza.. and go!!! Straight to the Museum of the Cathedral… Could I miss the just restored marble mosaic floors and the Libreria Piccolomini? I could not!  Amazing. The Church is incredibly decorated, pretty impressive. You realize that the 2 euros paid for the visit become acceptable. I mean:  it's not good you have to pay for visiting a Church. I have never liked it and I have always though that art and history must be open to everybody and free.. but when you get into such a place you immediately understand that the strength and the work to preserve everything from the time and the ruin must be rewarded. The restoration of the original pavement is the result of an enormous work… The preservation and the maintenance of the decorated walls in the Piccolomini Libreria is another enormous art… this room is a huge treasure..  We were really astonished.. If I can use an italian common say: A Bocca Aperta… … without any mentions to all the other riches in the church… from the marble pulpit to the the cupola with its golden stars, the altar itself…  The visit to the Cathedral took more or less an hour, maybe slightly more… and it was becoming late… but it has not finished yet….

We have been miraculated. Just out the Cathedral we were admiring the simmetry, the colours and the sunset light on the culumns of the facade… and our eyes bumped into … never the less than Steve McCurry exhibition  which I knew it was ended at the beginning of november. I have accepted it: I’ve lost it!! I could not imagine such a gift from this Christmas!!  It is still open til january the 6th. It was my day. Memorable.

Season Greetings from LUCCA!

I wish you all a   M e r r y   C h r i s t m a s  .. and a very Happy, Healthy, Peaceful… New Year.
All my best to all of you!

Merry Christmas

Happy New Year

Peace

Joy 

Health!!!

.. maybe some Luck???

Children always Welcome!

Walking Tour of Lucca for KIDS

Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of entertainment for kids in Lucca, so I’ve thought of a tour just for them!

We will discover together the city through the exciting legends and stories of Lucca, discovering the fascinating animal and mythological figures that ornate the churches, visiting the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ of Lucca and finishing off by tasting some of the best chocolate in the city, or during the hot season, a great local gelato! This tour will give your kids the possibility to learn something on the culture and history of the city, but in a fun and unusual way, while also giving you a chance to enjoy a couple of hours to yourself! 

Not Only: 

What do you think about a "cooking class" for kids? 

This is another fun entertainment for your kids! 

We will get together at one of your apartments (the most appropriate) and make some simple but fun traditional food, like a Ricotta and chocolate cake, biscotti, home-made focaccia or fresh pasta/gnocchi (we will decide together beforehand). 

Your children will enjoy the art of cooking fresh, genuine dishes, while making new friends and getting busy in the kitchen. To finally enjoy the result of their ‘hard work’!