Tulip Time 2024!

With our early Spring, we beelined it to the tulip fields the day after we returned from Tuscany to see the beauties before they were all headed. No better remedy for post-vacay blues! Some fields were already past peak, but we still found some stunning fields. I love that every year, we just drive around and discover new fields to photograph. 

The first field was past its prime

This one was peak! 

Still some hyacinths

How many Maeve's do you see??

Our final stop was a very touristy bulb shop. The kids enjoyed the very rickety swing!

The Let's Amsterdam social group planned an outing to Keukenhof. It had been three years since I'd visited during COVID and I was excited to go back. The weather did not cooperate so we didn't last long, but still fun to take in the splendor for a few hours!

Kid-Free in Lucca

We were very grateful to Oma and Opa who stayed back with the kids on our last day in Tuscany so Pete and I could have a kid-free day trip to Lucca. Oma and Opa had spent a few days there before meeting up with us and the kids protested another "city" day. 

We scheduled the kids for some riding lessons in the morning so they would have something to do while we were gone. They were offered to take the horses for a ride down to the lake on the property, but apparently had their heart set on riding in the ring. 

Meanwhile, Pete and I headed north for the hour and 15-minute drive to Lucca. The new Taylor Swift (double) album had just dropped and the sun was shining. Things were off to a great start! And even more reason for the kids not to have been with us- a lot of F bombs dropped there! 

Snow-peaked Alps in the distance

Lucca is a well-preserved walled city in a valley and you can rent bikes to circle the old town walls. We did a loop and a half before winding our way into the city. 

We toured the Duomo di San Martino- lovely ceilings and stonework! and climbed the neighboring clocktower. 

Love climbing a European tower!

Sweet spot for lunch

Pasta every day keeps the doctor away. Something like that? 

So many churches!

We stopped for drinks in Piazza dell'Anfiteatro. There was some antique car procession happening in the city that day so periodically, an old car would drive through the center of the piazza. Sadly, we did not see Dustin Hoffman or Helen Hunt who were filming a movie while we were there. 

Incredible mosaic! 

Loved the tower with the tree growing out of it!

We drove home, rocking to the T Swift bonus album, in time for our last meal in Tuscany back at the Agriturismo. Another lovely evening and yummy food. The staff took our kids to the ice cream hut for dessert and they came back with bowls bigger than their heads! 

Maybe the truffles we found?

The rains returned as we packed up the next morning. There were groups of Vespas riders from around the world all along the roadways. World Vespa Days. Who knew that was a thing? 

Such a lovely, relaxing trip!