Gio Blogs IV

Righto, after a long hiatus and perhaps forgetting quite a bit of my journey, I have finally returned to my Italy trip photos with a vengeance. The time spent on the wedding photos wasn't all bad, taught me to sharpen up my colour balance skills etc, and that sometimes oversaturation can add dramatic effect to an otherwise dull photo. Not that any of my photos are all that exciting to begin with.

There as a huge feast thrown for Gio's Birthday at her grandma's house. I have never eaten to excess like I did there, so many tasty foods, including a Tuscan speciality called "Lardo". Might not sound tasty, but it was mouth wateringly flavoursome with garlicky goodness.

Gio, could have romantically spent her birthday with her boyfriend, but instead she had to drag my sorry arse to a lovely town called Lucca, which, once upon a time, was a direct rival to Pisa. We walk through leafy boulevards and along the protective walls of the township, apparently they were built at the time when Cannons were all the rage and hence were much thicker and sturdier than those of Pisa.

Inside were spectacular villas, piazzas and churches. I was blown away. I met some of Gio's friends (Hullo!) and we had coffee in a secluded piazza not frequent by tourists as it was tucked out of the way.

Villa Bottini

Torre Guinigi

Duomo San Frediano

Duomo San Michele