8th June 2000 Montecatini Terme and Alto
Trip Start
Apr 27, 2000
1
43
81
Trip End
Aug 09, 2000
Montacatini Terme,
Italy
Thursday, June 26, 2003
A relatively early start in order to get to Montecatini Terme by 9.00 am for the Thursday markets. Mary had advised that these markets have stands selling seconds from all the local shoe and clothing factories. Now on this issue, Ches and I have different accounts. Seeing as to how she doesn't have a rearview mirror, you should question her version of the events. Having turned off the main road and taken the road down beside the football stadium and racecourse, it does a big loop to the right and becomes oneway three lanes wide. I was in the middle lane. As I came around, I saw a car's reversing lights come on, so I slowed and stopped, with my indicator on. At this point a woman in a car coming up behind began hitting her horn, and when I eventually made it in to the parking spot (nose to the curb), she stopped and gave me a mouthful. Now Cheryl tells it that I had cut her off. I say I didn't, but that she came around and suddenly I was stopped waiting for the parking spot. In either case, this is standard Italian driving, and normally, people just wait patiently. My theory is that she say our numberplate, and took me for being French, so decided to abuse me. In that case, I can't blame her.
By chance, I had parked within 50 metres of the entrance to the first street of market stands. In we waded, and I do mean waded. Half of Tuscany was there. Parry and thrust, parry and thrust, I made it to a shoe stand with Bally shoes for L89000. Wonderful soft leather, but not in my size. Tried a few more and finally found one that fitted and looked smart. Ches insisted I try the second one on for size. Couldn't believe it, the leather was all wrinkled. He immediately dropped the price to L70,000. Walked away in my St Francis of Assisi sandals. Ches found a shirt that really suited her at a good price, and we found olive oil cans, that we intended on returning for later, but never did. From the markets, we walked into the centre of town, and up through the parks and avenues. Montecatini is quite different to every other town we have yet seen. The Medieval town is in fact on the top of the mountain. It is called Montecatini Alto, and can be accessed by road, or via the funicolare. The town at the bottom is much larger, called Montecatini Terne, and was only established in the eighteenth century as a spar town. What an elegant and luxurious town it is. Very wide streets, beautifully maintained Neo-Classical and Art Nouveau buildings , beautiful gardens, the most stunning spas and hotels. One of them were providing a late morning concert with orchestra playing in the domed courtyard. They not only believe in the curative powers of the water, but in relaxation. To cap it all off; no vespas. Now that the Hydro Majestic is being fully restored, it will be on the scale of many of the spa hotels in Montecatini. We walked the parks (in one was a fabulous modern fountain water wheel consisting of stainless steel funnels that release water into the funnel below which turns the wheel) and avenues to the funicolare, about a couple of kilometres, and then were hauled to the top of the mountain and Montecatini Alto. It is a beautiful 10 minute trip, with the car on tracks being pulled up the mountain by a cable. We stood outside on the front deck, and passed through woods, and cuttings through the cliff. At the top we did a photographic circuit, including a walk into the town where we got the surprise of our lives. As we turned the corner into the piazza, there was barely room for one car to pass through the middle. All available space was canvas awnings, shading tables and chairs set up out front of restaurants. There must be an invasion from the bottom of the mountain for lunch. We did not join them. Back down the mountain, a gelato while sitting in the park, and back home to Vellano by 2.00 pm.
Read and dozed the afternoon away. Mary joined us for a drink and chat from 6.00 till 8.30, when I fired up the BBQ. Well, I managed to generate some coals in one corner. We BBQ'd pork chops and had with grilled, pan fried vegetables. Very simple.
