Discovery Abroad: Italy: Lucca Weekend

Heading up to Lucca by train. I was dropped off in the town of Anguilara (Train Station). First stop Rome Ostienze Station. Then a three hour ride to Pisa(you know, the leaning tower town). Then took a train to Lucca station where I was picked up by a friend and host Catia. I gotta tell ya, the train system is odd here, at least different then the states. Mainly because you are dealing with ticket vending machines. There is no human contact so its hard to ask any questions that a foreign traveler might have, like "where can you buy a ticket for the train?". Sounds simple right? I asked a lot of locals to help me and everybody has been so kind. Once you purchase a ticket you must validate the ticket(at another vending machine ) before you board. Here's how I found out. The ticket taker came around checking everyone's ticket. He looked at my ticket and asked if I spoke Americano. I said yes and he told me that I must validate my ticket before I board. Then he proceeded to tell me that he could fine me 40.00euros because I did not validate my ticket(holy shit!!!). He said this time he will only fine me 5 euros but next time it will be the full fine. If there was a human to advise travelers of how the system works it would be awesome but they would not get the revenue they need(extortion). What are your thoughts on this.

First night in Lucca was a simple night. We headed to her house and waited for her daughter to get back to the house. I never met her daughter, only on skype. She is cuter then you can imagine "cute as a button" in person.

Where did this saying come from??????I was famished after a 5 hour trip so I made a plate of pasta when I got to her house.

I used what I thought was crushed red pepper from her spice cabinet, wow was I wrong!
I rubbed my lips and nose after touching the peppers and I realized it was not what I thought. I ate the pasta and the peppers had the strength of a habiniero pepper. It WAS habiniero peppers!! But all was well :). Sorry for rambling on. None of my blogs are planned.

Here are some pictures of my first look of Lucca.