Today we headed into Scicli with a shopping list ranging from running shoes, to sunglasses, to food but it is Sunday and so almost everything is closed above and beyond the normally inconvenient closing hours of 1.00 - 4.00 or 5.00. There are no fruit and vegetable stands open, and no grocery or convenience stores either. But all was not lost as we arrived to find it was yet another party day of some sort. (Yesterday we narrowly escaped getting blocked in by some festive vendor tables of some sort too). Today was the Gran Fondo.
Gran Fondo is a roving cycling event that takes place all over the world it seems but definitely here in Italy. The cyclists range in age and ability from neophyte to professional, from young to old. I nearly whacked an old one and I tried to chase a pack of young ones but couldn't keep up - the streets are so narrow and my truck is so big. The kids were distressed because I was blocking a cyclist who had come up from behind out of nowhere and couldn't get past us. Everyone is wearing super tight, sponsor heavy, outfits. Some of the Gran Fondo are competitive, some are not. Most are from 165 - 225km long. The depressing aspect of the Gran Fondo is that we were stuck circling Scicli for FOUR FREAKING HOURS because the city is basically shut down.
We finally got home at 3.30 and on the off chance that a sole convenience store would be open at 4 or 5, Coco and I headed out again to find it. (Yes we were desperate). No such luck. Instead we walked into the old church that I photographed at night with the moon behind it (see earlier post). The church was open because this weekend is apparently special in all of Italy. On this weekend every year, (there could be a translation problem here so don't take my word for it), all churches and museums are open and free to the public. Here are some pics ... Forget it. I can't upload them and its been a long day!
http://www.biciveneto.it/granfondo.html
Gran Fondo is a roving cycling event that takes place all over the world it seems but definitely here in Italy. The cyclists range in age and ability from neophyte to professional, from young to old. I nearly whacked an old one and I tried to chase a pack of young ones but couldn't keep up - the streets are so narrow and my truck is so big. The kids were distressed because I was blocking a cyclist who had come up from behind out of nowhere and couldn't get past us. Everyone is wearing super tight, sponsor heavy, outfits. Some of the Gran Fondo are competitive, some are not. Most are from 165 - 225km long. The depressing aspect of the Gran Fondo is that we were stuck circling Scicli for FOUR FREAKING HOURS because the city is basically shut down.
We finally got home at 3.30 and on the off chance that a sole convenience store would be open at 4 or 5, Coco and I headed out again to find it. (Yes we were desperate). No such luck. Instead we walked into the old church that I photographed at night with the moon behind it (see earlier post). The church was open because this weekend is apparently special in all of Italy. On this weekend every year, (there could be a translation problem here so don't take my word for it), all churches and museums are open and free to the public. Here are some pics ... Forget it. I can't upload them and its been a long day!
http://www.biciveneto.it/granfondo.html
2 comments:
Italy sounds sooo inconvenient, I'll never go there.
However, your blog is making me quite hungry.
:>P
Hi Coco, Leo & Oscar!!!
You are funny Marc. I was just talking about you yesterday with Serena - she didn't know that we worked at Kilgour's together. I wish you guys were here with us!
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