PRETTY GIRL ON HER BIKE IN THE RAIN

But for Blip I would have stayed home, barefoot and bedraggled, but I wanted to do a photograph away from the old homestead.

I once saw a dapper fellow in a suit and Panama hat riding his bike with a black umbrella held over his head. I wanted to do that picture. I did not find him, of course. I missed a woman not only with an umbrella but with a beagle in the basket on the front of the bike. She was too far away. This girl almost got past me. It is only drizzling in this picture. A few minutes later the rain was lashing down. The Lucca wall is right behind her and a few intrepid tourists are on their way up to have a wall stroll. I hope they had umbrellas.

Lucca is a pedestrian city -- except for residents and commercial vehicles -- which means that every other person rides a bike because they are allowed. I find women look best on bikes because they tend to sit upright whereas men hunch over. People ride with tiny tots on a seat behind them, dogs and shopping in baskets in front of them. There are several bike rental shops at the Santa Maria gate, where this picture was taken, but they told me business has been very poor this year. I wonder if it will ever stop raining?

The Italian government, in order to encourage bike riding, as opposed to car driving, offers financial assistance in the purchase of bikes.

The antiques fair/flea market looked to be a disaster. FAIR