Pietrasanta/ Cararra

[edie heller <edieh@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

hi clive - when will you be in pietrasanta and cararra?  i'll be there
in september thru mid october & would love to take you around.  if
you're going sooner, i would recommend contacting lynne streeter -
she's from norther california but has lived in pietrasanta in the
summer months for about the past 20 years & speaks fluent italian  -
her info is as follows:
lynne streeter
casella postale 244
55045 pietrasanta (lucca), italy
phone in pietrasanta:  (011-39) 0584-792004 from the u.s.
fax lynne at hotel palagi:  (011-39) 0584-71198
email:  lynne_streeter@---------

she's one of the best people you could find to introduce you to both
pietrasanta and cararra - must warn you though, she's a working gal and
charges for almost anything she does - but it would be money well spent
because she's a pro - she's also a marble and clay sculptor - she was
my intro to pietrasanta many years ago and it was one of the best uses
of my money, ever - she directs marble sculpting workshops there, using
local artigianis (artisans) from the old school - sadly they are a
dying breed but lynne knows almost all of them - you could inquire
whether she would take you on a "full" tour of the artist's side of
pietrasanta - be specific and ask to see a "working" marble quarry,
working marble sculptor studios, various artigiani studios, tool makers
shops, and the best places to purchase tools (she may take a small cut
of whatever you spend, but her expertise is well worth it) - she really
knows them all - if you have the time, i highly suggest spending at
least one night in pietrasanta - hotel palagi is still sort of
affordable, comfortable, friendly and right in the center of the old
town - tell lynne that edie said to be nice to you, it's your 1st trip
to the area

good luck and let us know about your trip ... edie