Marina di Massa

It was raining and dark when we arrived in Marina di Massa, but we were pleased to have found the Hotel Italia with a wonderful Italian host.  He was delighted to see my brand new passport with its flash microchip and Maori text.  He had been watching a Discovery Channel programme about Polynesia and asked us about the Maoris at every opportunity. He laughed when we showed him how to hongi.  Massa is a large town, just the next one along from Carrara where all the Italian marble comes from, and Marina di Massa is its waterfront.  The hotel was built as a private villa about 100 years ago and would have been magnificent in its day.

Hotel Italia is the tall pink building – it was a really peaceful time to be in this location

This is how it looks in Summer – why would you wanna?

Looking up the main street of Marina di Massa from the pier

Shampoo left behind on the local fountain (not ours!)