Friday Oct 3

The day started with an illustrated lecture on how to order coffee in Italy in all its various shapes and sizes. We learned that if you order any of the varieties with milk after noon, it marks you as an American. 

Part of the amazing breakfast spread!

This was a "loop" day. And a shorter bike ride because there was a tour of Vincenza acheduled for the afternoon. The famous architect Paladio designed many of the buildings in the area. He influenced the design of Jefferson's Montecello as well as the White House. 

One of the many Villas designed by

Palladio. 

We ate lunch at a Bistro on one of the large Piazzas in Vicenza. Deb and I had the very typical Italian Spritz Apero. Such a great color!

We shared a salad niceoise and a buffalo mozzarela caprese!

After lunch we met our guide Giovana at the Teatro Olympico, last building designed by Palladio, but finished after he died. It was built over a much more ancient theatre. 

Giovana

A falconer was flying his bird in the theatre courtyard. 

Theatre courtyard. 

View pf the stage from the amphitheatre semi circle.

 The stage consists of  7 "streets" all illusions of great depth and different ones visible from different seats. 

More walking around town learning about architecture. 

We took a bus back to the hotel. I swam 20 laps in the big pool! So cold getting in! But really refreshing!

A bus took us to an Agriturismo (farm). Where the delightful chef Amadeo gave us a cooking lesson before dinner. 

First he showed us how to

Make beautiful "presentation" of the antipasto. A cheese ball with greens and roasted peppers. 

Bob and Deb in their aprons. 

We learned how to make gnocci! So easy and delicious. Hope to try it at home. 

Pinching and striping the gnocci. Fork works as well as the little wood board. 

Desert was stewed apples in pastry..

So tired! Late nignt bus ride home to

Villa Michelangelo. 

Marostica on the way to Bassano del Grappa

Dave here ...

We left Hotel Villa  Michaelangelo and our bags should be waiting at our next hotel.

We're having a leisurely lunch in this tiny town of Marostica. Only 10 K to go today so we are lingering over our doppios.  The weather is truly perfect-- high 60s, blue skies.

It is tiring but feels good.  People of all different cycling abilities are on the group, so tend to ride by comfort level.  Bob Kessler is most always near the lead. 

Stay tuned.

Back to you in the studio.

d.

Thursday

This was a "transfer" day. We had to put our packed bags outside our rooms at  7:30 am. Then we had less than a half hour to grab breakfast from the sumptuous buffet before getting on the bus. We were driven for about an hour and then were dropped off in a more rural area were the van had deposited our bikes. 

We were right next to a dog training park. 

This is the estate where we stopped for lunch. It belonged to Antonio Pigafetta who circumnavigated the world with Magellan. It still belongs to a noble family and a countess lives in part of it snd the rest is used for weddings and receptions. 

We were treated to an olive oil tasting. 

The frescos are all from 1749 when the villa was built. 

There are painted symbols of all the arts and sciences. Below is "painting":

Looks like one of Cara's brush paintings remarked Dr Bob!

Tasting Olive oil. This is the northern most region that olive trees grow. They say the quality is the finest! Bob and Deb bought a bottle. 

We rode another 20K after lunch and arrived at pur Hotel: Villa Michelangelo. Above is the view from our room which also has a loft with two more single beds!

Some people swam in the gorgeous pool. I fell asleep! We had coctails on the terrace and then a scrumtious dinner. It's amazing that you never see a fat Italian! They seem to spend hours eating, but you also see all ages riding bikes around town and across the country side in street clothes carrying groceries etc. 

The dinner choices:

Wine:

Vicenza on the Credenza

Me again.

Today was mostly downhill from our villa to the town of Vincenza where we are having a relaxing day mostly eating. What else is new?

Bob deserves a big meal since he is the walking wounded of the crew today. Only minor collision, no broken bones.

Austine using her Eye Pad.

A perfect sunny day.  

I think a theme is developing…

More later..  Ciao.

d.

Another Interruption from Dave

Hi everybody.  Dave here.  Steen has faded and is currently in dreamland.  

This is what 55 K looks like

We just finished about 55 kilometers with some pretty steep uphills.  Everybody is really tired but completely excited and feeling a huge sense pf accomplishment.

Today we biked from our 5 star hotel to a lovely ancient villa-- the Hotel Villa Michelangelo.  Huge room with a loft.  Tonight we are having a cocktail receptipn so I will wear my formal

 biking outfit. 

 We are taking a well-earned rest befire we taste some more local adult beverages.

Today we visited an unbelievable 18th Century huge villa that the Germans took over in WWII as their headquarters.  They make olive oil there and we had a nice oil tasting session, then a very nice lunch.  

 

Bob & Deb at my new summer home

Making lots of new friends!  What a great group!!

Getting started this morning.  

Snack break half way to lunch.

Eating again?  

More later.  Back to your regularly scheduled program.

A Few more photos from Yesterday

At the winery estate where we ate lunch. Dave with Barbara. 

Learning about the wine making in their cellar. 

More biking in the afternoon. 

Cute little town of Borghetto. 

Interesting sculpture. 

Outside the restaurant where we had dinner: Classique. Right on the shore of Lake Garda. In Lazise. 

At our table on the balcony of Classique, the restaurant where we had dinner. 

Beautiful Rainy Day of Biking

It was foggy and drizzling as soon as we woke up. We walked out into the rain while we waited for breakfast to start at 7:30 on the dot! Leaders had told is there is a lot of German influence in this part of Italy, thus the exact timing!

I wish I had taken a photo of the breakfast buffet. It was amazing! A veritable feast. After breakfast we had a meeting about the day's route. Dave is reading the directions. Nevertheless we got lost right out of the gate with about 8 other people. It was actually my fault since I was in the lead and missed the turn! Dave finally called one of the leaders who confirmed where we had gone wrong. But the others had gone even further in the wrong direction and we could not find them. More calls to the leader who went to find them while we found the right route. 

Dave stopped to attach his camera to the handle bar. 

Met up with the van for snacks about half way to lunch. 

Yummy snacks in back of the van. 

Deb posed in front of the castle near where the van was parked. 

Lunch was at a beautiful winery where they served us Proseco and apetizers and then an amazing lunch. 

Proseco before lunch. 

Lunch

Exhausted after 35 mile ride!!!

Town of Borghetto

Dinner ar Classique by the lake

Roses. 

After dinner gelato!