Preparation is sometimes everything! Stage number one: Chiemsee, Lago di Garda, Lucca

Day 9 of....
Our planned departure, as usual for us, was a bit turbulent and with a slight delay.
In short, the packing process and last-minute errands took a bit longer.
Departure on Sunday, January 29, 2023 from Dresden. This one was already a bit special. Everyone was on board and there was nothing standing in the way of our departure to Gößnitz. However, Mathennsi noticed just as he started the engine that he had left the most important thing in the apartment, his fanny pack with all the important things. All keys had already been distributed to the designated mailboxes for the care of flowers and mail for the next few weeks. All the ringing and knocking did not help. Sleeping until 8 a.m. on Sunday morning is more than legitimate. Luckily, we still have a very good friend with a baby who should be awake early enough to help. Thank you Linus for keeping Karo busy early on Sunday morning and for being able to reach someone who had the right keys for us. Raced to Königsbrücker Avenue by bike, picked up the keys, took out everything important from the apartment and off we finally went.
On the A4 towards Altenburger-Land, the motorhome just wouldn't warm up. No matter how we turned the levers, the temperature of just above freezing wouldn't change. So Monday morning we went to the trusted workshop and explained the situation, ordered a replacement part, and two days later we received the ready-to-travel motorhome. Finally, on Thursday, February 2, 2023, the journey began.
We drove with a functioning heating system on the A3 and A9 through a snowstorm to the first stop, Prien am Chiemsee. Through a recommended internet portal, we had booked a cool and affordable room with breakfast for lunch. We arrived at around 6 p.m. and all our expectations were exceeded. During the evening walk with Hundi and the search for a suitable dinner, we were able to get a nice little impression of the small picturesque tourist town.
On Friday morning, the four of us indulged in the breakfast buffet until we couldn't eat anymore. Then we went for a walk along the shores of Lake Chiemsee to digest and discuss the day's route. Off to Italy via Austria. We don't really have a specific destination yet. First, let's drive and see how far we get. At the end of the day, we end up in Peschiera del Garda. It is supposed to be a parking place right in the city center for 20€ per night. In the evening, we take a short exploratory walk through the city and decide to stay one more day. The night is very cool and we have to bundle up really well to keep our feet warm. Saturday is sunny and warm and half of Italy seems to be on the move to explore this beautiful little port city on Lake Garda. The motorhome parking lot fills up more and more every minute, and in the end, there are more than 120 motorhomes parked here (98% Italians), and the parking lot is closed due to being full. We were not aware that Italians are so crazy about motorhomes. Saturday evening is supposed to be the first Italian pizza. This plan turns out to be a bit more difficult than expected. The first pizzeria is closed, the second pizzeria only offers delivery service. Ok, then Lidl for dinner. The tortellini selection is so diverse that it makes up for not having pizza. Back in the motorhome, we have Italian pasta filled with ham and cheese. Later, we watch a movie and go to the ice cave to sleep.
Sunday means packing up again and securely stowing everything for the trip. We abandon the plan to take the toll-free route and travel the leisurely country road after 10 km. The road conditions are somewhat questionable, making the decision to take the highway very easy. Google promises us a great coffee with delicious pastries halfway there. Unfortunately, it's not worth the detour to the cafe. So we continue with chocolate from the fridge. In the late afternoon, we reach Lucca, a city located between Pisa and Florence. Lonely Planet promises us a lot of culture and great impressions here. We found a parking space on a farm on the outskirts of the city. The owners run an organic farm here and rent out rooms and parking spaces. No other motorhome in sight. We are alone and it is unusually quiet at night and the next morning.

Today, Lucca is on the to-do list. After a short time, we realize that classical sightseeing is not our thing. So we put away the city map and explore the city on our own.