MAMA MIA!!!

You know people actually SAY THAT here! Its funny the first couple times then you catch yourself saying it and its even more funny! Its crazy how much has changed about my own personal culture here this summer, and how courageous it makes me feel.

That said, I felt courageous enough the other day, having seen the demonstration on tour for making your own pasta and thought to myself, "It cant be THAT hard!" I was also craving a big lasagna so I thought I would give it a try. The end result was ugly, and non-traditional...but oooooohh so tasty!! Not bad for a gringo...or whatever.



All You NEED!!!



kneed it, roll it and mark it with a B!





I chewed every one of these olive pits out...don't tell anyone here at the Farm



The ricotta here is amazing, spice it up a bit and away you go!



YUM!!

Today I did another last minute delivery to my favorite area of Tuscany, got a little lost, met cool bike tour guides on vacation, gave a nice lady and her quilted GOLD Gucci bag a lift to another villa, picked up Sara after her tour and brought some bikes back to the farm.

You know I LOVE Florence...



Out on the road I see certain things so often I have started taking them for granted...

Like Castles...



Old bikes in vineyards...



Funky bikes used as cargo transport....



Small cars...



Huge groups of cyclists on a bridge over the highway...



Amazing vintage race cars...



and fields of tobacco....



But every once in a while I see something that confuses and amazes me. This was one such instance. Lost in Tuscany, out of the car on the side of the road pacing while talking to the boss, trying to figure out where I was, and how to get where I was going, and along walks a strange new form of exercise. The picture does not give justice to the bobbing, high swinging arm, march this lady was doing, all in the middle of freaking nowhere! It really wasn't that hot today.



If you can explain it Ill give you a kiss!

S.

coast to coast with bikes for most

So I got back late last nite...LOADS of deliveries all over "Italy's green heart - Umbria" and Tuscany as far away as Pisa di Mare (the beach near Pisa). No pics of the leaning tower but a much needed and EPIC west coast sunset. Met a ton of people, from Canadians on vacation, to a trio of British dudes who cycle from coast to coast somewhere every year on rental bikes (last year they did Iceland north to south!) a couple who added a bit of time to a business trip to do a little riding around on the big tandem bicycle built for two, and a whole tour headed from Assisi to Florence this week. I got rained on, went to the beach, froze my butt off in the mountains, and managed to squeeze the van into some amazing streets in medieval villages to deliver bikes to happy vacationers. An amazing trip with tons of cool stories to add to the photos

But alas we are swamped in the bike shop with prepping for the next few tours.

However, I realized something today; some of the bikes passing through the parts washer and the tired and greazy hands of this mechanic might not pass my way again before its time to fly back to the states. It was a realization that made me both excited to see all of you and have a burrito, but also a bit sad and forlorn at the thought of all the things I have not done yet here in Italy. Never fear, it seems as though I will be coming back again next year. Ill keep you posted, sounds like he powers that be, Monica, Igor and the visiting Maria Elena - are supposed to make a collective decision by the time I gets back from Barcelona one more tattoo in. SHIT! Im leaving for Barcelona in 4 days!!

So much to do this next week!!! Have a look at these until I get another chance to post. these should keep you panting for more. Better yet, inspire you to save a few latte dollars during the week (or "Professor's" at Eliot's Bar in Fort Collins if that's your thing) and come for a visit next year. I got a bike waiting for you.....







































































See you soon,



S.