Life is returning to normal in Bagni Di Lucca. Most places have electricity, although we lost power again last night for a while. I thought the worst of the damage was in La Villa, but it seems several other villages have been badly hit. In some, every roof was damaged and I have heard that insurance may not cover all of the repair costs.
It seems a chimney on my roof is broken, so I will have to get a brave soul to venture up there to fix it, but that is minor when you consider what others have been through.
Casa Debbio survived without a scratch, making me pleased we cut the pine trees around the house last year. It looks a bit bare, but with a bit if luck and the arrival of spring, things will look better soon.
The good news is that spring is definitely on the way. In Lucca the other day we saw the gorgeous magnolia flowers appearing on the trees in Via Garibaldi.
The daffodils in my pots are looking beautiful.
Spring makes everything look better…not long now.
Despite your efforts (thank you) Bagni di Lucca and Beyond did not win anything in the Italy Magazine Blog Awards.
However, Bella Bagni di Lucca, won runner up in the Best Single Art and Culture Post for a post I did on a delightful business here that still makes by hand the figurines the area was once famous for.
I am really happy that Arte Barsanti will get a bit of extra attention as a result.
See the post here.
The magnolias and the daffodils are very beautiful
By: Lyn on March 9, 2015
at 6:04 am
Spring is on the way.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:01 pm
It is so sad tornado how damaged in there. We all miss Spring days… Beautiful photographs, and amazing blossoms… In here, seems that the winter comes back 🙂 Thank you dear Debra, have a nice day and new week, love, nia
By: niasunset on March 9, 2015
at 6:06 am
It is still quite cold here, but there are definite signs of spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:01 pm
Congratulations again – you should have won for some excellent posts 🇮🇹
By: Liz Litzow on March 9, 2015
at 6:11 am
Thanks, runner up is just fine.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:02 pm
Lovely spring flowers. It’s good news Casa Debbio wasn’t damaged. Good luck with the broken chimney. I didn’t know Italy had tornados. It must have been quite scary when it happened.
Cheers, Robyn
By: italia4ever on March 9, 2015
at 6:29 am
I didn’t know Italy had this kind of weather either. I don’t want another.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:02 pm
Thank you, Deb, for the update. All the damage can be repaired; however, those beautiful old trees cannot be easily replaced and I will be very sad each time I will go past Countess Casalini’s park. In any case, with Spring coming, everything will look better.
As I said on another post, your entry about Arte Barsanti is superb and deserved an award. It is also good to see the work of this family promoted, as they are the only ones who carry on with this beautiful craft in the traditional way. The figurines that we see nowadays are mainly resin and “made in China”. The paints and techniques are the same that their great-grandfather used. And the business used to employ 40 people in the good old days! We should all go and buy a “presepe”. Then, we would have that in common with the Pope, Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother and the Nativity Museum in Bethlehem…. And they are gorgeous!
By: Mulino Dominillo on March 9, 2015
at 7:08 am
I am thrilled for Arte Barsanti. It is great that they get some recognition.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:03 pm
My cousins house in Forte Di Marmi got hammered! Trees fell onto roofs and garages. What crazy weather. Now I see there are more cyclones on the way to Australia….ah!
By: leticiakondos on March 9, 2015
at 7:54 am
We saw some of the damage on the coast. I grew up with cyclones on the Gold Coast…very scary.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:04 pm
How lovely to see the magnolias again. None up here yet. Glad you survived with little damage – must be a nightmare for those who have to get bake to normality!
By: Catherine on March 9, 2015
at 8:02 am
Some trees here are quite advanced, but it is still cold.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:05 pm
sorry to hear about the tornado and the damages but you were lucky not to get hurt and now you have a beautiful spring season coming up 🙂 congratulations too for your post!
By: Mrs. Bingles on March 9, 2015
at 9:02 am
Thank you. It was nice for Arte Barsanti to be noticed. Things are on the mend here after the tornado.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:06 pm
In our small village the community was wonderful. The shops and restaurants stayed open and everyone pitched in to help. Congratulations on your post. The figurine have been part of local life for over a thousand years in Bagni di Lucca and the closure of the market around the tower of Pisa has brought hardship to many makers . What might be considers as tourist tat by some is infact an ancient craft.
By: Celia Prosecchino on March 9, 2015
at 9:52 am
I didn’t realise all the stalls have been removed in Pisa. There is certainly room for some souvenir stalls.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:06 pm
Congratulations on the blog getting the award. Well done. What a beautiful time in Lucca….the magnolias are a lovely sight in the street. Look forward to more Spring posts.
By: Jim & Kerry on March 9, 2015
at 12:50 pm
I’m looking forward to spring too. The mornings are still very cold. I can’t wait to get things planted at Casa Debbio.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:07 pm
Beautiful photos Debra📷well done on the award.
By: Anonymous on March 9, 2015
at 5:27 pm
Thank you, Italy is very photogenic.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:08 pm
Hope the beautiful magnolia blossoms signal a full recovery for the battered villages Debra. Congratulations on the award!
By: Madhu on March 9, 2015
at 6:18 pm
There are still people without power, and many roofs to repair, but work in underway.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:09 pm
Congrats on the runner up award, Debra. 🙂 Lovely magnolia and daffodil and pics. Glad your house wasn’t damaged.
By: anotherday2paradise on March 9, 2015
at 7:42 pm
Thank you. We were very lucky not to have damage at Casa Debbio.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:09 pm
Hooray … spring has sprung! Getting one award winner is a feat in itself. Stay the course!
By: aFrankAngle on March 10, 2015
at 12:57 am
It is still cold, but there are some lovely signs of spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:10 pm
Congratulations on being runner up! And even better news is that Casa Debbio survived fully intact! 😀
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on March 10, 2015
at 9:09 am
Now I am pleased we cut the pines down last year…a good move.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 10, 2015
at 3:10 pm
So glad that Casa Debbio survived with no damage. As for the award you are already a winner to us!
By: paninigirl on March 10, 2015
at 3:40 pm