Days 55–58: A thousand kilometres across Tuscany
Two years ago we had already been to the Macrolibrarsi Fest in Cesena, a fair for everything that is done differently: alternative school projects, books, natural cosmetics, showcooking. It was very inspiring and we badly want to go again. And the timing just about works. Only Cesena is on the Adriatic and we are on the other side, on the Mediterranean. Between us and the appointment lie four days, the Apennines and a thousand kilometres across Tuscany.
A car park right by the sea
In Marina di Castagneto Carducci we find something that is rare in Italy: a car park right by the sea where you are also allowed to stand with a camper. Behind a beach volleyball court, admittedly, but directly on the beach — otherwise the places are always a little way inland and we can hardly believe it. In the evening we walk along the beach, the sun is low over the water and Elba lies in the background. Sunsets never get boring and over the sea least of all.
The campsite next door had been recommended to us by friends from the kindergarten in Munich, who come here regularly, and out of curiosity we went to have a look. A very fine place, right on the beach. Partly because of the mixed weather, partly because of the feeling of being free and able to drive off at any moment, we stayed on our free pitch all the same, where there was even a shower, which we gladly used.
The Ottavia Outdoor School
Maddi had arranged an appointment, again at a scuola parentale: the Ottavia Outdoor School near Guardistallo, which moves its lessons outdoors as far as it possibly can. We first park at the (extremely narrow) roadside and stand at such an angle that we start to fear for Enea, then we are allowed to drive onto the school grounds. We are invited to lunch with the children and the teachers and learn a great deal about the school day, the shared activities and the difficulties. After the visit we go and look at the village itself as well, and it is very beautiful.
Pietrasanta and an aperitivo in the rain
Pietrasanta had been warmly recommended to us by our friend Rossella and so we absolutely wanted to go. From the car park into town the way leads past the station, which for the children and above all for Valentino is always a highlight. The town is full of marble: a white arch in the middle of the square, an egg to climb on, workshops in the lanes. On the way up to the castle we come past a giant green bench by chance, from which you can see over the roofs as far as the sea.
In the evening we are in Lucca, one of our favourite cities, and sadly it is rainy and cold. At least we have found a safe car park (in that area, sadly, that is anything but a given) in a residential district near the centre, where we got talking straight away to a kind older lady who lives there. We take a turn through the beautiful old town of Lucca. To finish we treat ourselves to an aperitivo in a pleasant place at the edge of a piazza. On the way back to the camper we then get the full shower 😉
The last three hundred kilometres
In the morning we spread out on the table what we collected in Apulia: small stones from various stops, the same ones the trulli are built from down there. In the souvenir shops in Alberobello there were finished trullo models and instead of buying one the children wanted to build one themselves. Now we go through the material and see how it might turn out. The building comes later.
Then three hundred and seventy-four kilometres across the country. On the way, at a motorway services, I empty the toilet cassette into one of those large gratings you can also drive the whole camper onto. There are more elegant and less disgusting solutions. In the end we arrive at the exhibition grounds and find a good parking spot right by the entrance. Tomorrow morning all we have to do is open the door.
