Monday...Marco's birthday!

Yesterday was Marco's birthday, and we had a small celebration at school - a little singing, and a fruit tart that I had brought him as a treat. I had thought that he would take it home and share it with his friend Giovanni in the evening, but he insisted on sharing it with all of us.

Afterwards, I headed to the train station to go to Lucca, stopping on the way for a panino (turkey, cheese and tomato) and a fruit salad. I got to Lucca in the mid afternoon and tried to find the restaurant that Marco had recommended: Buca di Sant'Antonio. He had told me that it was closed on Sundays, but they must have changed their day off, because the sign said that it was closed on Mondays. So I decided just to spend a couple of hours in Lucca and then head back for dinner in Florence.

Then I set off on the main purpose of this trip: a Puccini pilgramage (as Lucca is his home town). I first tried to go to the Puccini museum, which was his childhood apartment originally, but that too was closed on Mondays.

Then I headed to the other side of town (after a bit of a detour which was caused by an Italian giving me mis-information!) and finally found Palazzo Giunigi, where a Puccini exhibition was being held, in honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth. This exhibition filled 7 rooms of the Palazzo, mostly with documents, pictures, and letters of his. I saw a letter from Mascagni to Puccini expressing condolences after the death of Puccini's brother. I saw the census from 1861 with the list of the family. I saw Puccini's certificate for first prize in organ school. I saw scenic and costume sketches from the premieres of both Le Villi and Edgar. I saw a piece of music manuscript with Puccini's handwriting on it, reading "Ms. so and so, please wake me at 9 am". It was really wonderful, and I could have spent hours there, but I wanted to make sure I caught the 7:30 train back to Florence.

A panino for the train (and a little prosecco!) and the ride back to town took no time at all. I went to Pizzeria Dante for dinner, and then to Gelateria La Carraia afterwards (chocolate-orange gelato!). Home to bed....