So, I have a different take on Charlottesville: I’m disappointed but not disturbed. By way of background, it was really weird to arrive home from Germany, where Nazi symbols and slogans are banned, and read about Charlottesville. It was really weird to see the above video, particularly the interviews at minutes 2:43 and 19:42. And,
Döner Kebap
We did one more overnight in Munich before flying back on Saturday. That last family dinner after a long week of cycling is something that I try to make special. So, after looking at a bunch of menus online, I decided on an Argentinian steak place called El Gaucho. It is in the “old city”
Josef Mayr-Nusser
“Hey, there’s a church. Want to go in?” she asks you. You have some time to kill in Bolzano before a train ride back to Munich. So, you’re walking around town, arm in arm, wandering, really, with no destination. You enjoy the cool mountain air and the charm of a town plaza filling with Italians,
The Long Day
During a week of biking with Backroads, there usually is "the long day." Every day, you start in the morning and have the options to keep on going. But, on the long day, the route is not only far, it also is very challenging. There is no pressure to max out, and you just see
Predoi Prettau and St. Pietro
High in the Italian Alps, most people are Germanic, and a lone road winds up the mountains. You're next to Austria, and this area became a part of Italy only after WWI. It is the northern-most area in Italy. A thing about biking through alpine ski towns is that, the further up you go, the
Austria
Wow. Amazing rivers. Majestic mountain peaks. Green valleys. Words cannot describe the beauty of Austria while bicycling. Fresh mountain air, the occasional whiff of barnyard animals. The scents of many trees. Depending on the angle of the sun, the colors of the mountains change. So, it is a constantly shifting panorama. Very beautiful.