Ciao and Welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea…

My guest today is Debra Fast; her story is the stuff of dreams. When Debra graduated from Music School, she embraced the opportunity to play Violin with a string quartet on Cruise ships where she met the Italian pianist, Sandro Ivo Bartoli, whom she married, and started a new life in Italy. Debra speaks about her dedication to music, and in particular, her professional career as a solo violinist. She tells a mesmerising story; I particularly found her Suono Solo project, with its links to the 18th century Lucchese composer, Geminiani, fascinating. Debra is a very talented and creative musician and her enthusiasm and encouragement extends beyond her own career to that of others, for example, you will hear about her research into female musicians from her birth country, Canada.

**Debra Fast will be performing in "Lucca Classica" on the 24th of April 2025, at 3.pm at the Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi, Lucca.**

Connect with Debra

YouTube Channel: Debra Fast, Violinist https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNx_eSIve99gUKQH9In6lKg

Facebook: Debra Fast, violinist: https://www.facebook.com/debrafast.violinist/

LinkedIn: Debra Fast, violinist 🎻: www.linkedin.com/in/debrafastviolinist

Instagram: Debra Fast, violinist: Debra Leanne Fast (@debrafastviolin)

Website: https://debrafast.portfoliobox.net/About

Debra’s Recommendations

Trattoria da Nonna Clara… Via Santa Croce, 71

Trattoria da Giulio… Via delle Conce, 45

Pasticceria Bar Silvia… Via Argine Vecchio, 135 Vecchiano

Bar Restaurant Miro Vino (di Saviozzi Marco)… Via di Bandecca, 4 Vecchiano

Gelateria Andrea… Via G di Vittorio, 58, Pontasserchio

Do the tourist thing… just wander and get lost in Centro Storico

Visit the many Villa’s and Gardens in and around Lucca

The Anfiteatro… a circular piazza with shops, bars and restaurants

The Via Fillungo… the main shopping street

Montecarlo… a small village with a castle

Vino and Violino… see Debra’s YouTube channel

Ponte del Diavolo… the Devil’s Bridge, Borgo a Mozzano

Favourite Italian Word/Phrase

Come un fungo nell’umido…. Like a mushroom in the damp (meaning somebody is very comfortable in their surroundings)

Conosco il mio pollo….. I know my chicken (meaning you know somebody so well)

Ci penso io… I’ll take care of it

About the Host

Andrea has travelled the length and breadth of Italy. Having fallen in love with Lucca, she now spends a few months there each year. I self-fund this podcast, so donations are much appreciated via the Ko-Fi supporter webpage

ko-fi/lifeinlucca

Website: https://shows.acast.com/lifeinlucawithandrea

E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com

Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciao and Welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea…

My guest today is Nicole Cloutier. I first met Nicole at the Friends of the English Book Shop, Book Club meeting which is held each month at the International Cooking School in Centro Storico, one of Lucca’s many Clubs and Societies.

Nicole is originally from New York, very career focused, having established a freelance digital marketing consultancy for small businesses… and the mother of two adorable small children… so how did she end up in Lucca?

Well, Nicole actually met her partner, Guido, in Brooklyn and their relationship blossomed. After they had their second child they decided to uproot their family and move to Guido’s native country, Italy. A deciding factor in choosing Lucca was the excellent Bilingual schools.

In this episode, Nicole discusses her experience of moving from the States to Italy, and the array of opportunities for her children, not least as they are now more fluent in Italian than their Mama!

If you are thinking of moving to Lucca, or spending an extended period in Lucca with a young family, this episode is especially insightful…

Connect with Nicole

Website: www.nicolecloutierdigital.com

E:mail: nicole@nicolecloutierdigital.com

Nicole’s Recommendations

Trattoria Gigi… Piazza del Carmine, 7

Da Ciacco… Piazza Napoleone,10

Da Umberto… Piazza Napoleone, 24

Pasticceria Meucci… Via Vittorio Veneto, 12

Osteria del Bastian Contrario… Via San Paolino, 90

Osteria Da Rosolo… Corte Campana, 3

Gelateria Veneta… Via Vittorio Veneto, 74

Walk or cycle the Walls

Climb the Guinigi Tower

Basilica di San Frediano

Cycle around Centro Storico and explore

Maria Pacini Fazzi Editore… Local history book shop and publisher… Via Sant'Andrea, 12

Etta’s English book shop… Chiasso Barletti, 16

Watch a film at Astra Cinema… Piazza del Giglio, 7

Dinner at Buca di San Antonio… Via della Cervia, 3

Favourite Italian Word/Phrase

Bene… buono… bello/a… good

Mosto fiato…. Breathtaking

Fazzoletto… tissue/handkerchief

Arcobeleno… rainbow

About the Host

Andrea has travelled the length and breadth of Italy. Having fallen in love with Lucca, she now spends a few months there each year.

Subscribe, Follow, Review, Donate

I self-fund this podcast, so if you enjoy listening, I would be ever so grateful if you could visit the Ko-Fi supporter webpage ko-fi/lifeinlucca and DONATE the equivalent of a gelato or two, as this helps me to produce further episodes. You could also hit the SUBSCRIBE or FOLLOW button now so that each new episode will appear, as if by magic, in your podcast library. And, if you’ve a little time to spare, please do leave a REVIEW.

Website: https://shows.acast.com/lifeinlucawithandrea

E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com

Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca

Twitter: @mountains46

Ko-fi: ko-fi/lifeinlucca

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciao and Welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea…

My guest today is Diana Stidl. Diana is of German origin and lived in the States for many years before making Lucca her permanent home. Listeners to this podcast will know that there is always something happening in Lucca, and you can guarantee, if it’s worth attending, Diana will be there, and, as a consequence, you are always guaranteed an interesting conversation when you are in her company. So, I was delighted when Diana agreed to be interviewed…

Diana’s Recommendations

Trattoria Gigi… Piazzo del Carmine, 7

Nonna Clara… Via Santa Croce, 71

H&G Lounge… Via San Giorgio, 36

Restaurant Mecanate… Via del Fosso, 94

Gelateria Momo… Via della Fratta, 11

Gelateria Piero… Via Roma, 25

Pasticceria Stella… Traversa II Via Pisana, 50 Sant’Anna

Pasticceria Tiffany... Via Gaetano Luporini, 1054

Bar Fuori Controllo… Via Santa Croce, 94

Inside the Walls

Walk the Walls

Anfiteatro… just off Via Fillungo

Climb the Guinigi Tower… Via Guinigi, 29

Palazzo Pfanner… Via degli Asili, 33

Palazzo Mandi… Via Galli Tassi, 43

Take in an evening concert

A guided tour… resident tour guide Paola Moschini see S1 Ep2

Outside the Walls

Villa Reale… Via Fraga Alta, 2, Marlia

Nottolini Viaduct… Via Tempietto, 388

Tour of the Carrera Marble caves

Lotus Lake… Massarosa

Pietrasanta

Viareggio

Favourite Italian Word/Phrase

Meravigliosa… wonderful

In boco al lupo… good luck… respond with ‘crepe’… to seal the luck!

Connect with Diana

Email: dianainbellaitalia@gmail.com

Keep updated with events in Lucca

https://www.luccawhatson.com/

Subscribe, Follow, Review, Donate

I self-fund this podcast, so if you enjoy listening, I would be ever so grateful if you could visit the Ko-Fi supporter webpage ko-fi/lifeinlucca and DONATE the equivalent of a gelato or two, as this helps me to produce further episodes. You could also hit the SUBSCRIBE or FOLLOW button now so that each new episode will appear, as if by magic, in your podcast library. And, if you’ve a little time to spare, please do leave a REVIEW.

Website: https://shows.acast.com/lifeinlucawithandrea

E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com

Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca

Twitter: @mountains46

Ko-fi: ko-fi/lifeinlucca

Grapevine Magazine

Discount Code: GVLIFE10

Website: www.luccagrapevine.com

Click Subscriptions > Grapevine on-line… complete the online form

Our Italian Journey

Website: https://ouritalianjourney.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.