This week has been quiet and nice, with a morning trip to the pool, then a little work, a long walk, then enjoying some fish from the market cooked in the apartment.
It is perfect to just live life here in this beautiful environment in our tiny apartment on the beach.
We have had some nice sunny days although it is raining now. I walked to the Wednesday “gypsy” market this morning – a nice chilly and windy early jaunt. When I arrived, they were just setting up and seemed to be in no rush. I guess the crowds show up later in the morning and not at the 8am opening, as I did. I got some nice warm sweatpants for 5€.
I’ve been swimming every day which is wonderful. The facility is nice and the pool is top-notch. I feel lucky it’s so close to where we are staying.
I also feel lucky that this city is so walkable. I don’t count my steps, but they’re certainly over 10,000/day.
[view from my walk earlier]
[ Christmas village is packed away]
Today we explored the seaport city and found that it is wonderful. It was a nicer day that yesterday, with the sun occasionally peeking through the clouds.
We went to the yacht building area alongside the Tyrrhenian Sea and checked out some of the huge boats in progress, getting as close as we could near the off-limits work area. The nearby marina was chock-full of fantastic-looking boats. I cannot imagine what summer must be like here, since even with few tourists around (well, we saw none aside from ourselves) the city seems bursting at the seams.
We walked along the beach and the sea was sure acting like the ocean today, with waves one right after the other. The temperature seemed to be about 60 degrees F, and it would’ve been fun to take a dip if I had thought to toss my suit in the car.
We had lunch at Trattoria Giorgio, a charming restaurant that was on a side street from the beach. My spaghetti with squid was excellent, as was my traveling partner’s spaghetti with clams. In talking with the owner, we learned that his father started the restaurant fifty years ago. He got sad talking about his dad, who must have worked so hard to get the small restaurant going.
Yesterday, our Airbnb host suggested a patisserie in town, so we stopped there before going back to our rental house. Well, I jumped out of the car since there was nowhere to park and tons of traffic at 5pm.
photos: Viareggio looks a little llike parts of Florida. The bike lane is as busy as the road at some times of day; a part of the marina; a hangar for mbvaking huge yachts. There’s one in progress on the right.
Still Carrying On 