Where to start? Pisa airport where my wife and I landed on the start of our Tuscan adventure no frills quick baggage reclaim and out into the glorious sunshine. We decided to take a taxi to our destination instead of waiting for the service bus that runs regularly from Pisa to Lucca. Our driver was unfamiliar with the village of Santa Maria del Giudice, where our apartment was located, but he was friendly and helpful and finally got us there. The apartment was up a set of narrow stairs and on two levels, a kitchen, bathroom and small living room/bedroom with a double bedroom on the mezzanine above. Outside was a small terrace with a table and chairs that was sunlit throughout most of the day. Cozy, comfortable with all that was required to look after oneself. The village itself is just off the main road from Pisa to Lucca and boasts 3 grocer shops, 3 hairdressers, 3 restaurants a sports bar and a pasticceria. A regular bus service runs to Lucca with a reasonably frequent one to Pisa (see www.lazzi.it for a timetable). The apartment we rented, Il Gelsomino, can also be viewed at http://www.luccastay.com it is owned by Jenny and Mauro Lantschner who are excellent hosts. The area is beautiful, the people are without doubt the kindest, friendliest people I've ever been priveleged to meet and the food in the two restaurants, that we tried, in the village was quite excellent. The grocer and his wife in the Mini Market round the corner from the apartment are charming. Although they speak no English, and why should they, they went out of their way to ensure we got what we needed, in spite of my little and poorly pronounced Italian. This attitude prevailed throughout the area smiley helpful bus drivers (!!!!!!), charming, patient shop assistants; wherever we went we were greeted with friendship, courtesy and helpfulness. Lucca is a beautiful walled city, which if visiting and wishing to have a bite to eat, I would recommend that you go to the Trattoria da Leo. It gets very busy, as many of the locals eat there, but the service is quick, there is a wonderful atmosphere, it is comparatively inexpensive and the Pasta al ragu boasts quite simply the best Bolognese sauce I have ever tasted. In Santa Maria del Giudice the three restaurants are Quercia, Locanda and Hotel da Carlos. We did not eat in the Locanda but the grocer assures me the you can "mangiare bene costa poco" - eat well at small cost there. The da Carlos is run by Giuseppe Giorgetti a famous chef who also teaches from time to time in the International Academy of Italian Cuisine in Lucca. The food is magnificent and there is a wonderful ambience about the hotel. His son Andrea speaks a little English and looks after his customers as if each were a personal friend. While there is no 'night life' as such in the village bars, discos etc can be found a half hour drive away in Viareggio and Forte De Marmi. Finally, and for no other reason than it has just occurred to me, the Pasticceria Moriani on the main road serves sandwiches and snacks, delightful cakes and pastries, delicious ice creams and drinks of all sorts. This was a wonderful, relaxing place made more so by the fact that we had no television and did not bother with the radio (supplied by our hosts) or the newspapers. I can certainly understand why people up sticks and go to live in this wonderful land.