LUCCA AND THE MOTHER OF ALL FLEA MARKETS

We've been in Lucca, Italy for a few days now.  When we learned that our cruise ended during Holy Week we changed our earlier plans to go to Rome and headed north to Tuscany.  We have never been to Lucca, so why not?  It is situated between Pisa and Florence and still has the old walled city with small winding streets.

There are tons of tourists here but they are mostly Italians.  I have been asked twice, in Italian, for directions, which makes me feel great that I don't stand out as a foreigner.

Today we woke up to light rain and as we were wandering back from breakfast we noticed a market set up in the piazza ahead of us.  It's Saturday so this seemed normal.  As we got closer I said, "uh oh," to Jim, as it was obviously a Flea Market.

What we didn't know for quite awhile was that it was a REALLY BIG flea market.  We would finish one piazza and see a tantilizing stall set up in an alley on the way to the next piazza.

There was EVERYTHING at this flea market.  Bronze statues

Other great figures

Paintings

Vases

Coffee pots and grinders

Furniture

Odd things

And beautiful things.

Great people watching

And poodle watching

After 4+ hours even we had to give up.  We understand this amazing event of over 230 vendors is once a month on the "3rd Sunday and the Saturday before."  I wonder if this includes Easter Sunday?  We'll see.

Did we buy anything?  Yes we did.

Audrey