Vinci, Italy

We left Pisa and headed for Lucca.  A place that was recommended to us.
When we got there, it was another walled city, and we drove around trying to find somewhere to park.  Instead we found ourselves driving through narrow, cobbled streets, with nowhere to go!
In the end, we decided that we were actually cathedral'd out and basilica'd out anyway, and shoved off.
Very soon the golden arches of the "M" for McDonalds appeared.  A handbrake turn in the van, and we were in their car park.
McDonalds!
Here we find an oasis for our travels.  A place of water.  A place of food.  A place of tea.  A place of wifi.
A cuppa each, and a cakey, and we were well happy!

I got on with sending the holiday blog while Ruth read her book.  She has a strange line of sight when it comes to reading!

Soon we were in Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci.
This was another "Wow" moment!
It is simply beautiful in Vinci.

A bit of a lunch-break, before going in search of the great man.
So in order to have lunch, one must find somewhere to park.
The handbrake turn having been perfected, allowed me to sideways park, like Clarkson on Top Gear, into the smallest of spaces.  A group of passing teenagers nodded admiringly at my expertise.

After lunch it was off in search of the actual birthplace.
Then a gallery where copies of his art works are displayed.
And then the museum in town, which housed models of his inventions.
Absolute genius this bloke, Leonardo.  He was way ahead of his time.
He had even invented a kind of mediaeval tank!

From there we drove up into the hills, to a hamlet call St Lucia.  Up and up and up and up we went.  The back wheels skidding as they lost grip on the hairpin bends.
What a place.

Awesome!
We were treated to a magnificent thunder storm while at the top.
Fantastic!
But it meant a loss of cracking photos of the amazing scenery.

A great day though, topped off by an unplanned visit to an olive oil refinery, and were treated to a personal education from the girlie behind the till, Veronica.  She was simply wonderful and gave us a 10 minute video, explaining the process of making extra virgin olive oil, from this co-operative establishment.