Tour 9 / The North West Tuscan Way / Viareggio / In Pictures
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North West Tuscany for the independent tourist
I N P I C T U R E S
Tour 9: Viareggio
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Of all the major stops along the North West Tuscan Way I found Viagreggio to be one of the most outwardly friendly and inviting. Far from saddened by it’s inevitable decline, as with many of its forlorn northern European counterparts, this lively little popular resort retains a strong sense of grandeur, even as the masonry crumbles, or not, as the case may be. Throughout the three months of my stay I had reason to pay Viareggio many a visit, usually arriving by way of the railway station – not so conveniently located across the small, compact, narrow grid of a downtown. I did however get to know of many a superb bakery, bar and the like tucked away here there and everywhere within the maze of astoundingly similar streets. There is ever a very splendid open market – flourishing and doing a brisque trade each time I explored it’s tight packed canvas stalls. But enticing as these things are none of these tantalizing pleasures form the reason that we are here, in Viareggio, today. For today we ourselves are here for the same self-satisfying reason as everyone else – to take maximum advantage of the first, lovely, exquisitely warm and sunny spring day of the newly emerging season. To stroll our way up and down and along the magnificent pedestrian walkway that is the promenade and pier. That’s about all the billing I will give it: There’s a certain self-explanatoriness about these images. Certain pleasures we know to be universally true: “To be beside the seaside, to be beside the sea!”. Such bliss. Not a care in the world, eh ? Ah, the waves, gently sweeping, rolling and splashing in the background. Hmmn, just take in that moist, warm air – straight off the Med. What need is there of talk? But, however, should you be in need to hear what I have to say about all this you can simply click on my Rogue Carver on the Loose in Italy dispatch; Viareggio, A Stroll Along the Prom. Otherwise, please, carry on, stretch your legs, breath-in deeply and….enjoy your scroll.
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To those visitors following the North West Tuscan Way in chronological order I feel I must apologize somewhat for the shock that must have resulted from the previous tour, Sant’Anna di Stazzema . Doubtless many of you were as deeply saddened and disturbed by the images, and the unimaginable violence they revealed as was I when I myself unknowingly stumbled across the remote mountain village one day when simply in search for a spectacular coastal hike. And so, given the savage nature of the imagery, along with the painful lessons portrayed, I did not think it appropriate to add much to the commentary beyond a necessarily brief introduction. But I will say this: if you are to understand this region, and more importantly it’s people, then I strongly suggest you do a little research of your own accord. History is very much alive and well in North West Tuscany, as we are to see, and none of it is simple. History is both very recent, very complex, very involved, and very real around these part; and I urge you to show caution and sensitivity before asking too many seemingly innocent, random questions. Given time however, and a little close attention, much will reveal itself simply of its own accord. So be patient – we are just setting out. But when you know – you’ll know, as did I, that finally, at last, you are fully in tune with, appreciative of, and in slight awe of The North West Tuscan Way. Curious little independent tourist that you are !
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A Stroll Along the Prom in Viareggio, Rogue Carver on the Loose in Italy Part 3. Having settled into my comfortable lodgings at Da Pia Bed and Breakfast over in nearby Pietrasanta, and having explored the immediate vicinity on foot, the time came for me to rent a car and explore further afield, and so I hopped on a train and made the short journey over to the port of Viareggio in order to pick up a rental car. However, my timing was such that, this being Italy, the office was closed and would not reopen until three in the afternoon, which meant I found myself with a couple of hours to (as we tend to blithely put it) kill. And so, with no particular plan in mind, I found myself drawn towards the harbor, beckoned more than anything by the strange sight of a forests towering over the cluster of buildings tucked around an entrance. To my surprise however I soon discovered a canal running at a ninety degree angle to the beach, spanned by a tall bridge which I duly crossed, took a sharp right, and headed out towards a harbor packed to the gills with small to medium-sized craft of every description; old, new, mint and patched condition, but as I made my way towards the lighthouse located at the end of the pier, a whole other world immediately seeped into view: yachts… huge, ginormous, gargantuan yachts. Actually I’m not even sure if ‘yachts’ presents an adequate description, these things were more the size of ferries, gunships… battleships, but clearly, by the absence of any commercial inscription on their massive hulls, these monsters were held in private hands, and clustered together in such numbers they made for an astonishing sight, if somewhat disturbing, sight…..click for more.
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and now
the slideshow
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next
The North West Tuscan Way: In Pictures
Tour 10: Forte dei Marmi
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Cheers Everyone. Here’s to Viareggio. A most lovely, interesting, and refreshing place, indeed.
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thanks for visiting martincooney.com
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Μå⌈†¡∩
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