Essentially, the flight over to Europe from NZ presented no excitement. Except for 3 Italian films. And the hilarious stand up comedy of Simon Amstel presenting his show "numb".
The first flight was noteable for the kids in the row in front of me who were both blessed with great green globs of snot. And also because we were on our way to Asia there were other mucus issues. The Asians on board had no issue I am sure. But I did, every time I removed my noise cancelling headphones there seemed to be another person walking past massaging a morsel of mucus in their throat. Shuking and Chuggling a nose Oyster. The second flight notable for the all too familiar (albeit never noticed or acknowledged) feeling of anxiety. Kind of an out of body experience.
" is this good for me?"... "have I slept enough?"... "have I slept too much?"... "are my motions out of whack?"..."or is it my emotions...?"
...it passed.
I never got to finish the amazing David Bowie documentary "5 Years in the Making" because the Austrian/Australian sat beside me got talking. I normally avoid this kind of stuff. But he was on his way to ride from Germany to Italy. Trans Alps. Just him and a mate. So we talked.
After 35 hours I touched down in Zurich 8a.m ( along with everyone else on the massive Airbus A380. Then I had a train trip to organise. Arrived at my apartment 9 and a half hours later. This was faster than it could have been because I built my bike on the train between Milano and Torino.
Got showered and changed and went out for the Passagiata with all the locals.Failed to find trifle flavoured Gelato so settled for the seasonal Mirtillo (blueberry). Which was devine. Found a suitable spot for dinner, and after a bit more walking felt that this was to be the place. What a find!! I was early in true Kiwi eating time style. The only one sitting outside at Bazaaar. I started with the Duck salad which was gorgeous. I think it was cured Duck, very thinly sliced. Like a cross between Roast Beef and Pancetta. Then the Pasta was...um. Unexpected. Fresh Pasta with blueberry. Mixed through it were Hazelnuts & Pork Salami which was delightful & so subtly flavoured. Interesting and lovely.
Monday started with a market mission, had an afternoon exploring the city by bike...and just as I was fading a storm came through in the evening with fantastic Thunder and lightning, so I stayed home to cook up all my fresh produce. The market at Porta Palazzo is the biggest open air market in Europe. And walking through the fresh produce was an assault on the senses. Sights, sounds and smells all amazing.
Tuesday was a big day. Eighty kilometres on a Singlespeed. Arse is a bit tender now. No hills so sat down working at the spin the whole way. The interlude in the middle of the ride was when I got to Pinerolo to visit Giampaolo at his wonderfully cool and independent Bike Shop, “BikeCafe”. Then I explored the historic centre while I waited for our 1p.m lunch to start. Nice wee town that seems to have more than its fair share of Toy and Gaming shops.
The ride out there was very nearly ended early by a very, very close shave with a bollard. I was distracted by a prostitute changing out of her nickers. The freshly relieved punter was in his car over the road, she was on the hard shoulder (no idea how it got its name)her nickers were down and it was either the sight of her strong African thighs... or the pink bits pointed at me as she bent over to step out of the soiled sensible knix. I looked back at the vital moment to miss the steel post sticking out of the cycleway. Speaking of Cycleways. Or routes. The whole route out of Torino was by cycleway until I got to the countryside. With a few extras scattered through the small towns on my way. My return trip was a bit faster. Maybe it was the Italian Beef I had for lunch. Or the Cheese. Or the Vino. Or the tailwind. But at one stage I drafted a tractor. Gaining extra points towards early onset lung cancer. The tractor was a bit smoky. But it was the drivers cigarette that I spent the most time breathing. There must be an aerodynamic anomaly with tractors. Dead air amongst the straw thresher.
Dinner that night was back at my wee favourite Bazaaar.
Torino Sunset
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