Orsago @ 4-30-2016

I am so grateful to the those in Italy who have opened their homes and hearts to me. You’ve each made my experience, once again, so exceptional. For our last day in Italy, we drove up to see my Orsago family (by way of Treviso in hopes to scope out a Pinarello only to be confronted by un altro pistolino!) Here’s everyone who met up for our pizza dinner. So many came out and my heart is overflowing with love. I wish I could stay longer with all of you. For those I didn’t see, I will come back to see you soon (io spero!).

Mantova @ 4_29_16


She’s going to faint a bit more after having lunch with the Mantova Football Club.

Renaissance bike rack.
Dream bicycle.
Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Te, Basilica of Sant’Andrea, lunch with the Mantova soccer team.  This was followed by a ride to the strip malls of Mantua and a visit to Italian Home Depot for some bubble wrap to start packing up our bikes. This was such a necessary evil made more tolerable because of the two aisles dedicated to vine growing and wine making. Italy, please don’t let me leave.

 

 

Dorf Tirol @ 4_27_16

There are few, if any places, I’ve experienced in my life that hold the magic and memories of Dorf Tirol.
We biked all the way through that valley!

So fortunate to have had tea with Mary de Rachewiltz
Crissy gets escorted out of the Brunnenburg castle grounds by bouncing goats.
Palm trees and the snow capped Alps, Bolzano.

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Festa della liberazione @ 4_25_15

Today is Liberation Day in Italy, which means everything is shut down. The train ticket systems barely even work. After two hours of waiting in line and negotiating a train ticket exchange for our bicycles (you can’t bring bikes on high speed trains), we finally got on a train up to Trento.
An aside, in Italy, dogs take priority over everything. You can get easily get a ticket for your dog for any train, however, if you want to bring a bike, it involves lengthy negotiations and my strategy is  just pretend I’m a lost American girl who doesn’t speak any Italian.

“Really, Americans don’t take their dogs on motorcycles?”
Crissy, forgive me for leading you 30 miles astray up into the Alps.

 

You can’t bring your bicycles to Venice! @ 4_24_16

When I told people that I was doing a bike trip through Italy, and one of the stops we’d be making is Venice, everyone was a bit confused. But, Crissy had never been to Italy, and Venice is a must see. So we left our bikes with Mamma Lucia, and enjoyed a rainy day in Venice. Including spontaneous opera tickets at La Fenice to see La Traviata.
Libiamo ne’ lieti calici!

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Como, a Milano, a Dolo @ 4_23_16

This morning we had to ride the funicular up the hill to Brunate for our morning cafe.

And we’re off to Milan on our bicycles, to catch the train across Italy.
Como has been beautiful. Thank you to our wonderful host Georgio who shared his hospitality and amazing bike garage with us.
Now it’s off to Dolo and Venice!

Como @ 4_21_16

I just packed my bicycle up and flew to Italy and now I’m in Como.
We have to put the bicycles together, but first, some walking and site seeing, and of course, some wine. Let the Tour de Lini commence!