A very steep hill took us out of Arezzo….breakfast-less…and freezing cold (but sunny!). So our sore digits were pleased to stop for breakfast in the sun. A delightful cafe, packed at 8.15 in the morning… serving one of the best Cappuccinos ever! (Cappuccini actually!). So we had two each!
At 1.20 Euro a pop (almost exactly NZ$2.00)…& delivered in precisely 17 seconds (we timed the second round!)…we were left wondering why the price is 250% higher in NZ (they always blame the coffee bean price, but I cannot imagine it is any different here)….and often takes 30+ times longer to serve! Possibly due to that collection of oat-milk, half-shot decaf bollocks. If asked for one…surely the correct answer is “no”! Which is certainly what they would say here!
So a delightful ride today…sunny all day…and the spirits were back up again!
Lots of off-road – which Mr Google got half right – including a long riverside trail which he missed!
This wee library…..attached to a bridge…in the middle of nowhere!!
And a wonderful lunchtime stop. A wee bar…with just one thing on the menu. Pork sandwiches!! Delicious!
And so to Gubbio. Another of those extraordinary places I had never heard of! A delightful medieval town clinging to the hillside…with stairs and narrow alleys opening onto lovely roof gardens and little piazzas, graced with churches and palaces which would be really famous anywhere but Italy.
And the surrounding countryside is so extraordinarily green!! Almost jewel-like. I wonder how long it will last.
Our apartment was huge! And at the back opened onto a large garden, which somehow seemed so incongruous! This is the bike sitting in the dining room!
Folk often ask what I travel with! Well…two tiny panniers is the answer. And this one has not yet been opened!…carrying three months of medications (you know…heart pressure, cholesterol stuff…!), first aid, an emergency blanket even, spare glasses, spare shorts, together with all the cold- and wet-weather gear!! The everyday pannier has four spare shirts/underwear, sleeping gear, small wash-bag, battery charger and a box of “electrical” stuff….and that’s it! The trick is really…no spare shoes for they take up so much space! The trusty Keens do the trick everywhere!
Lovely few drinks in the Palace roof garden, followed by salad at a local bar…! Great day…the sun had certainly lifted the spirits!
Wonderful day 🤩
Just a side note to the packing tips……don’t be near Neil when he takes said Keens off 🤣
Looks like heaven!! And those pork sandwiches 🤤