Trying to keep cool in Lucca

Without looking like a nerdy tourist !
Lesson 1 - Do not wear "hiking sandals" in Lucca...yes there are cobbled streets but you are not hiking in the Lake District.
2) Shorts are acceptable only on children and teenagers and definitely not on women but if the mercury goes above 33 C(91.4 F) men can get away with knee length linen shorts but only if worn deck shoes or moccasins (without socks !)
3) Women should wear loose linen dresses or skirts - you will feel much cooler,especially if they are not lined with polyester.
4) Speaking of polyester or any other synthetic fabric(and this is not a point of style)only wear the lightest natural fabrics...cotton,linen etc unless you want to cook,have a face like a radish and emit an unpleasant odour.
5) Hats are fine,but do not wear baseball caps (unless you are a teenager)and risk looking like William Hague. A panama is fine for men (and women) but enormous wide brimmed hats on women make you look like a tea picker and are ill advised in crowded restaurants or shops.
6)Do wear sunglasses but not the flip up ones,or the reactolite rapid ones....
7) Try to learn some basic italian- please/per favore,thankyou/grazie,buongiorno/good morning or good day and after about 3pm buona sera/good evening....a little goes a long way !
Finally,if you don't want to be given the table by the loo or in the corridor,say so but try
to be polite but exude an air of confidence.
Easy after a few lessons in Lucca etiquette....
Tip on what to do in the evening - grab an early pizza at Sbragia,in via Fillungo...very hectic and very basic but has the best pizzas in Lucca followed by a gelato and a glass of Prosecco or a cafe (but no cappucino after 11 am,I know - even I love my cappucino after dinner, some habits die hard !)from any of the outside bars around Piazza Grande (also known as Piazza Napoleone -just to confuse you) and then head off to Lu.C.C.A Museum or Lucca Centre of Contemporary Art ( Lu.C.C.A - geddit ?!!) where Friday nights are jazz night and you can catch the new exhibition by Anthony Moman "Oh My God !" of his take on religion - italian style but with an irreverant English eye...a little Father Ted meets Angels and Demons !
Have fun...divertiti !
Luccalover....