Delayed from 3rd September…..After waiting patiently armed with my best welcome wave dad made it safely through to arrivals. We tried to be positive about the weather assuring him it must just be a one off storm. But as we made our way down the road we could see all the cars heading in the opposite direction had their headlights on charging away from the black clouds on the horizon.

We had great plans of finding a campsite with a little bungalow on the beach near Viareggio – where we were told the best beaches in Tuscany lie. A lot of the campsites out here are made up of about 50% bungalows and we thought this would be a great intermediary between camping and Tuscan villa. Alas, the image in our head of what we were going to find and what actually existed were very different. There were 4 campsite indicated on the beach road but each of them was in fact about 2km from the sea front. This meant that in actual fact were just in a bungalow in a wood and in all honesty the campsites were some of the ropiest we had come across. Ever positive we succeeded on the final site to find one decent bungalow and agreed to stay here for the night and use the wifi to find a new plan. After dinner at the campsite accompanied by perhaps a little too much red wine we all slept like logs only to be practically frogged marched out the following morning. The slightly scary Italian lady at reception apparently really meant it when she said we had to leave at 10 – and we certainly we not going to argue.

Luck was on our site and I had struck gold with a villa in between Pisa and Lucca. They had had a last minute cancellation and we were in need of some a little more Tuscan and a little less Butlins. After a lovely walk on the beach to blow of the cobwebs we got back on the road with dad safely stored in the back amongst our various possessions!

The views got better and better as we approached the La Casa Di Pietra and as we entered the village and then up to the house itself we feeling very possitive. We were greeted by Valeria and her lovely son who showed us around the beautiful villa and had left us some wine and local cakes as a welcome. Those who know me will know my love for interiors and antiques and so I was blown away with the style and contents of the place as it was so similar to my own taste. Having had the tour we waved them off and made our way into town to collect supplies – which mainly consisted of bread, cheese, meat and wine! We settle ourselves into lunch just as the rain started – not willing to give in we just moved slightly closer under the biggest tree and braved the rain for a slow grazing lunch. The first of many food experiences in the coming days!

We discovered the local cafe which was not only filled with some incredible cakes and savouries – it was also clearly the locals favourite place to nip in for a coffee. As coffee lovers Dave and Dad ensured that daily morning trips were taken here and it was brilliant to watch the locals. I loved this little old couple turn up in an old car and watch as they drank coffee like it was their nectar – each sip was savoured and enjoyed – there was no hanging about just get in get coffee get out! The way Italians serve, enjoy, house and use coffee is something still so unique to them – it is wonderful that they can maintain that.

On Sunday we went on the hunt for the traditional Italian Trattatoria lunch. We walked about 5miles into Lucca where we had seen a few great places a few days before. Annoyingly though we didn’t realise that unlike most of the more touristy places we had visited – much of Lucca was closed on a Sunday. With our hopes dwindling we took a peak at the guide book supplied by the villa and found a suggestions of Villa Bongi just outside the main town. With the clock ticking past 14:00 we hot footed it to the nearest taxi and spent 5 minutes trying to explain and pronounce Bongi before we were on the road. As we made the winding route up the villa we were feeling increasingly confident in what was to come. A large traditional villa was nestled in some trees with a stone balcony looking out towards Lucca. The large Italian family happily and noisily tucking into their lunch was the final proof we needed that we had succeeded. We all decided to go with the three course Sunday special which was mixed anti pasti (meats, shallow fried carrots, rice salad, risottos balls…and more)’ followed by two plates of pasta (rabbit and tomato) followed by beef and roast potatoes – all topped off with delicious local red wine. It was just what we had hoped for and certainly a must for Lucca visitors.

That night the heavens truly opened and we were met with 8hours of not stop torrential rain. By the morning there was blue on the horizon and after our daily trip for coffee we had at least 5 hours of delicious sunshine – thankfully for dad! The sun popping in for a visit was and added bonus to a few days of relaxing and food and wine indulgence in a stunning villa.

The following morning we waved good by to our lovely hosts and got on the road back to Pisa to drop dad off before heading back to the coast. The plan now was to start working our way north and onwards to my favourite place in the world…France!