Kilometri 120. Emanuele e Sonia

Unzipping my tent and facing the crystal calm waters of Cala Frana gave me goose bumps all over my body.
The night before I had dinner with my two tomatoes and the cucumbers, furnished with olive oil and salt, sitting on a smooth white piece of wood and facing an unbelievable sunset right in front of me.





Everyone had left, and falling asleep with the melody of the waves and my muscles screaming for the pain was easy as opening my sleeping bag. After such an effort I decided to spend the whole coming up day in that corner of paradise...and so I did!
At 10 o'clock in the morning the sun was already shining and burning like a lente d'ingrandimento on a dried leaf, and since I woke up, about an hour earlier, the beach was all for my self. Bathing naked to awake my senses is something I'm getting used to, but here was a boat with 8 persons on board...I have to get "dressed". Emanuele, Sonia, Diego and Loredana with their beautiful kids become quickly friends, and before leaving they offer me to pick me and my equipment up on their way back and invite me for dinner...how could I refuse?!





The fresh fishes and the octopus they caught made our dinner unforgettable, but the friendly chat around the table was totally the proof that I met some exquisite persons!
Thank you guys. You will always be in my heart!
And how can I forget to mention Argentiera?! Once you get here you feel like you're part of the movie "Back to the future". Everything here takes you back to a far west mood and the calm atmosphere given by the exquisite bays turns all the situation into a novel.
A must!

Kilometri 90. Cala Frana, Nurra.

Cala Frana...a dirt road to heaven from flamingshoe on Vimeo.

There are no words to express the toughness of the path I cycled through today, but at the same time there's no way I can describe how I felt looking at the landscapes I saw! At the maximum speed I could go with my bike loaded with about 15 kilograms (I reached 40 km/hrs and believe me the balance was not good at all), I paddled on these dirt roads going through nothing but wild nature with the best view I could expect. I was sweating my ass off and my legs and lungs were asking me to stop...but I knew I was about to face something unbelievable. I passed next to some amazing spots, where I could definatly stop and feel satisfied with my self, but no...the next bay could be better I kept telling my self! All of a sudden the dirt road ended. I reached the limit (with my body as well). And down there...the heaven!

Waking up where you'd never expect from flamingshoe on Vimeo.

How the fuck am I gonna get there with my bike?! I looked around for a path and I spotted this tiny fucking steep way where I could kill myself, but hey...I got this far, can I give up now with such a beauty blinking at me?!
I don't think so many people on this planet would have been so insane...but I was, and when I reached down the beach, the few people that saw me struggling started clapping and cheering at me.

A light dinner on the shore at sunset from flamingshoe on Vimeo.

A light dinner on the shore at sunset from flamingshoe on Vimeo.

I felt like a hero, and my first thought was to push the bike to the shore and get the front wheel wet with that water...and swim till my last strength!
I will never forget today!

Kilometro 55. Andrea e Nina

What is going to be the coming up month like if the beginning has been this way?! Andrea and Nina are two amazing guys living their dream in the Sardinian country side, hosting me and allowing me to pinch my tent in their field. The land is in the area of the wonderful Baratz lake and from here you can see the Capo Caccia lighthouse and the astonishing bay of Porto Ferro.

Portoferro con furore from flamingshoe on Vimeo.

But the surroundings are not the highlight of what is happening to me here...the persons are making this experience unforgettable. At my arrival I meet Giancarlo, a local shepherd that later in the afternoon will invite me to take part to a magical ritual consisting in cutting off the wool from the sheep. It will be here the I meet 4 other sweet persons and will live with them an unforgettable time! My fellows are Maurizio (the wise one), Lorenzo, Mauro and Nando! They're all shephards giving a hand to Giancarlo in this though job. At the end of the day we're all invited to stay over for dinner at Giancarlo's and Daniela will feed all of us with great tasty food including tipacal cheese and mirto!
All this can only happen if you're ready for everything to happen!

Island #1 report

Giglio riding from flamingshoe on Vimeo.

While Italy was loosing 4-0 to Spain in the finals of Euro 2012, I was grilling prawns and fishes with my dearest friends Silvia and Ruggy in a wonderful porch facing a quite bay. I know Giglio island by heart but still I feel sick right after watching it fading away from the ferry. I will always have a special connection to This place either because I went there for the first time during a tough era of my life, either because it's always been faithful to me never disappointing me. The warmth of Giglio Porto and its colorful houses, the chilly air of Giglio Castello and its amazing medieval atmosphere...and above all its endless spots with deep blinding waters. At the moment I'm on the ship taking me to Sardegna sipping on an icy beer ignoring what my next month is going to give me, but my positivity and my traveler state of mind will do it all, sure that I'm gonna remember this journey for ever. I prefer thinking at my self old, hanging out in a park with lots of kids listening to all my stories, instead of taking care of the people paving the streets being sure they're doing a good job!
Let the real story begin.
Cheers

Costa Concordia

I think the whole world knows what happened last January outside the coastline of Giglio island. Captain Schettino and the Costa Concordia were on every news and the images of the huge cruise ship laying on its side hit everyone with it's massive impact. Oh well.



As you might have understood from my previous posts, I'm spending some days on this island before heading to Sardegna for an outrageous challenge. Before landing here I promised myself that I would have never taken a picture of what made my country ridiculous to the world, but as I was approaching with the ferry to the peer I was just shocked from what I saw and changed my mind! I know these pics are not going to be anything new, but as a witness I want to express how sorry I feel for all this and share with all of you followers the views of this disaster from as many angles as I can. Sit down and take a deep breath!

65 km/h on the edge

When this stupid app will allow me to publish videos too, you will probably understand much better the title of my post, but since then just enjoy my pictures and my storytelling. The outrageous speed was reached during my ride on one of the most beautiful roads I've ever seen in my life...from Castello to Capel Rosso. A series of curves hanging on the most delicious view you could find on this island, surrounded by silence and a wild nature! And hundreds of meters down the bluest sea. Wow!

Giglio riding from flamingshoe on Vimeo.

Where can I go recover after such an emotion? Which path will I follow this time? I heard Cala Sparavieri is a quiet amazing spot, and the walk (about 15 min) is not even tough. Going up and downs few times, passing through a pinewood and climbing some rocks, you will get to this "crowded" spot which will not disappoint you at all. Deep all of a sudden, the water here is blinding as usual due to its color and if you won't burn yourself and make it to the end of the day, you will see a damned good sunset! For dinner I suggest you to try the world famous grilled chicken from the "macelleria da Franco". With 10 euros you get a tasty chicken and some great potatoes...and you choose the table! I chose to eat at Giglio Porto on a bench to feel some "chaos" after a whole day in the quietness of the island.
Stay tuned and maybe you'll get some videos too!!!

A slice of life from flamingshoe on Vimeo.

In a Super Mario pose. Capel Rosso.

There's no way I can miss the chance to start my tour on Giglio island from my favorite spot ever: Capel Rosso!
This tip of the island at its very south is part of the marine park of the Arcipelago toscano made of 7 other islands among which Elba island is probably the most famous. To reach this secluded spot you have to go through a 30 minutes breath taking path (I noticed the community here did a great job improving the signs all over), passing next to one of the two lighthouses present on the island and finally getting where the silence is king!

Due to the toughness of the walk (especially on the way back after a whole day swimming) there's no one here most of the time,and that's why I get naked right away spending my day feeling free as a bird...just like the many ones flying above my head choosing this place as their nest. The turquoise waters make this spot unbelievably beautiful and once you jump into the water with your snorkeling equipment you will be even more impressed by the amount of fishes. Today, for example, I ran into a huge school of "occhiate" made of hundreds of fishes!!!

If you like climbing a little bit you can lay on the smooth granitic rocks and be right in front of the infinite horizon, otherwise you can take advantage of the steps sculptured in the rocks and reach a sweet bay with calm waters...either ways you'll be oastonished! You can get a better idea of what I'm talking about taking a look at one of my older posts on Giglio island too if you want.
After watching Super Mario last night showing off for his second goal against Germany in the semifinals of Euro 2012, I decided to use those steps as a training tool and start my wellness process right from today...stay tuned for the videos on my next post!

Santo Stefano...a bridge to Giglio island

I've been waiting this moment for months and now I'm finally at the peer waiting to be boarded on the Giuseppe Rum ferry to reach my dear island. My friend Silvia (met in Nicaragua in 2005 during one of my world famous journeys) is waiting for me there! I haven't seen her for a while now, but real friendship is when you meet someone again after a long time and it feels like you hung out just the night before...and that's what happens with her.

She knows how much I care for the Italian soccer national team and that's why she's already booked a table at a restaurant where we can cheer for our team and get drunk with some cold white wine...landing time 20.30...match time 20.45...just the time for a warm hug and the suffering will take place. Let's go Italyyyyy!!!!!!!!

Grottaferrata is where everything starts from

I've just downloaded this new blogger iPhone app to figure out how helpful it could be during "The Islands Tour", and to tell you the truth I'm not so disappointed. From the reviews I read people were pretty pissed at Google for it, but let's see how it works when the post will be published and I will check it on a real browser. Let's try adding a photo...and you guys please leave a feed back!

The Islands Tour

Sorry for my English speaking readers, but this post has to be in italian since it's the opening one of a series talking about my next traveling project that is gonna take part entirely in Italy and to be more precise on some of the best islands we have in this country. If you're curious about anything or want to ask questions in general, please fell free to leave a comment and I'll be right back at you with the best answer I can.

Eccomi qui, pronto per la mia prossima avventura! Prima di tutto voglio iniziare col dire che sono molto fiero di me, perchè ho preso piena coscienza di essermi evoluto come viaggiatore. Questa volta, infatti, avendo i miei canonici 3 mesi a disposizione (io considero viaggi solo quelli che hanno una durata superiore ai 2 mesi) non sono stato lì a farmi troppi problemi su dove andare, quale angolo remoto del mondo visitare o quale cultura andare a sentire mia, ma la scelta della meta si è basata solo ed esclusivamente su cosa sarebbe stato meglio per me e quale area del mondo avesse avuto le migliori condizioni metereologiche. Il viaggio sarei stato io non la meta, sarebbero state le persone che avrei incontrato, le mille deviazioni di percorso che avrei fatto, le incognite che rendono il vagare affascinante. E così la mia scelta è ricaduta sull'Italia, il mediterraneo nostrano e le sue isole incantate.
L'emozione di prenotare i biglietti è sempre la stessa, sia che si tratti di aerei, treni o traghetti, e quando ho ricevuto la conferma dell'avvenuto acquisto delle tratte Civitavecchia-Porto Torres e Cagliari-Trapani la tipica pelle d'oca ha attraversato la mia cute. 340 Km in bicicletta seguendo la costa, accampandomi con la mia fidata tenda dove capiterà e dove gli scenari saranno mozzafiato, cucinandomi materie prime locali nella solitudine di una baia sperduta. Già so che i chilometri saranno molti di più, ma questa volta c'è la sfida nella sfida, quella con il mio fisico e quella col fato che mi porterà dove solo lui vorrà.
Lasciata la Sardegna l'isola più grande d'Italia, la Sicilia, diventerà la mia nuova casa per i successivi due mesi con le sue isole minori a rappresentare tappe intermedie agognate: le Egadi, Pantelleria e Ustica.
Inutile dirlo che questo è il disegno generale, ma poi solo i tacchetti della mia mountain bike potranno disegnare accuratamente su una mappa il percorso più fedele a quello che sarà il definitivo.
Posso solo dirvi STAY TUNED e provate a non perdervi neanche uno dei miei futuri posts, nonchè i collegamenti Skype con la number one web radio "Wasabi Radio"

P.S.
Ah dimenticavo! Per iniziare una 4 giorni al Giglio era d'obbligo visto l'affetto ed il profondo legame che ho con quest'isola.

Komatsubara Claus

Oh well! Few months have passed since my latest appearance on Waratte KoraeteWaratte Koraete (the name of the show in Japan), but it's been worth waiting!
First of all because in the era of trilogies, this is gonna be a duology and I'm happy it all happened and took place during some special holidays in a very perticular time of my life.
And second, because watching these two episodes I can finally scream to the whole world and the net that I'm proud of my family.
Some people might think it was kind of a show off posting on my blog such intimate moments (and it actually was, since it doesn't happen all the time to end up on a national japanes channel while taking a walk downtown Rome), but this is the proof that having a positive attitude and being surrounded by special persons sharing and being part of that positive way of looking at life make everything happen.
I'm glad all my relatives had the chance to live such an experience, and I hope in the future we'll all be able to look at those events like something that could have happend just because of a moltitudes of circumstances.
Thanx mom and dad for being such open minded persons...I hope one day you'll be proud of me as I am of you.
Enjoy.

Dolomiti...what a beauty!

Waiting for episode 2 of the world famouse Japanese series "Daniele San", here's another post about the endless beauties my country has to offer.
From unspoiled beaches to soft hills, from majestic mountains to secluted islands, Italy has got it all and this time I went visiting an area of my country I've never been before: the Dolomiti mountains.
This time it was me, my sweet E and our amazing friends from Molenhoek (Holland) Pieter and Manon and we were all based in Levico, a thermal, shiny and quiet location set on the Levico lake just 20 minutes from Trento. It was the perfect location for an healty vacation, giving us the chance to do pretty much everything, from skiing, to trekking, to visit museums and ancient castles...everything!



As a matter of fact, after settling our stuff at home and enjoying the first evening with good food and grappa, the day after we all woke up with a great need of high altitudes and very cold air, so we all packed our equipment and headed to the Panarotta peak (2002 mt above the sea level) to rent some ski and face the steep slopes. I'm not a great fan of skiing after I broke my ligaments few years ago playing soccer, so I waved at everyone after they bought their ski passes and looked around for the highes peak to reach. With a map in my hands (the paths here are very well shown with signs) and an amazing will of sweating my ass off, I looked at the time and realized I could reach the Fravort peak (2300 mt high) and come back on time for a warm grappa with my friends. And so I did!!! The sky was blue and the sun was hiting so hard that I didn't even realize how long that walk was, and by the time the sun was going down I met everyone at the hut as planned to get buzzed with some local spirits!
The day after we were all a little bit stiff and with a little hang over to repeat the sporty day, so we decided to have an easy trekk through the Sella valley and visit Arte Sella. In the middle of nowhere, there's this quite impressive piece of land settled in the woods all surrounded by masterpieces some artists created afetr being invited by the owner of the land in change of a three week stay in their place. It's quiete useless to say that you can breath peace and cretivity all over, and once your tour will be over (there's two path you can follow: one is about 40 minutes long and the other a couple of hrs...we did both) you will feel reborned and with a sense of freedom...definatly a place to go!



To make a long story short, the remaining three days waere made of walks (we took a whole tour of the Levico lake one day, and went visiting Trento and the Pergine castle another one) and some culture (we couldn't miss the chance to visit the Rovereto Museum of Modern Art, totally worth a look!). In less then a week we tried to get the best of our staying, without forgetting to rest a little bit and just taking it easy enjoing our passion for food and good living.
For the food lovers, as a matter of fact, don't forget to visit the "Crucolo" hut and taste their world famous "Parampampoli". We loved it so much that we ordered through their site four bottles...already gone!
Cheers.

Japanese Easter

As I said in some of my previous posts, there's no need to move too much to feel like traveling...and this post proves it one more time.
I had just come back from my one month and a half unforgettable trip through India, Hong Kong and Seychelles, and I was taking a nice walk downtown Rome to feel finally back home when I ran into these crazy guys from a japanese TV network. Komatsubara was standing in the middle of Piazza Navona with a sign saying "I'm Japanese...do you want to be my friend?" and I just couldn't resist from stopping and trying to talk to him. I could never imagine that he was from a TV show and that hiding somewhere were his fellows with cameras and a translator.
The chat among the four of us was going just great, I was happy to bring some of my life experience into the show, when I suddenly thought about inviting them over my house for our family Easter lunch...and they accepted!!!
That's the way it all happened. We all ended up on Nippon Television Inc on a show called "Waratte Koraete".
I still can't believe my eyes!
Enjoy*

Er sor Mario e la sua dolce Teresa

I'm sorry for my english speaking followers, but this is gonna be a post in Italian and it wouldn't be fair translating it due to it's spontaneity when it first came out of my mind. I hope you'll get it translated from someone...and I'm sure you'll love it!

Sono le 6.30 e sono già in macchina. Er sor Mario alle 5.30 mi' sveglia chiedendomi "sei sveglio bene?!?!" ed io, per non risultare distrutto agli occhi di un vispo ottantenne mattiniero, faccio finta di essere già sveglio quando in effetti chi gli risponde si è una mummia sonnambula incapace di articolare i suoi gesti. A tentoni disfo il letto e piego tutti i lenzuolini, per scendere giù dove c'è... Mario con la gamba tremarella che mi fa col suo accento toscano, il baffetto hitleriano bianco tagliato tutto storto e asimmetrico :"siamo in ritardo sulla tabella di marcia!!!". In quel momento suonano le campane che rintoccano le 6, quelle stesse campane che ieri notte fino alle 00 hanno tuonato nelle mie orecchie con il campanile proprio di fianco alla mia finestra. Siamo in ritardo?!?! Mi ripeto autisticamente Mentre il rintocco ancora rimbomba tra un neurone e l'altro del mio cervello spappolato. Nella mia vita di tutti i giorni quando sono in ritardo sono le 11...cazzo, fra 5 ore?!?! Mentre tutti questi pensieri (tutti...è uno solo ma a quest'ora il mio Pentium cerebron ha le performance di un pallottoliere) mi passano per la testa, mi volto e guardo Mario muovere le labbra e gesticolare senza però emettere suoni; È li che racconta dei suoi viaggi in macchina con la sua dolce Teresa, che snocciola numeri manco fosse Berlusconi...ma sono numeri che fanno tenerezza perché sono la loro storia. 1973, 23 ottobre, orari, vie, nomi di paesi assurdi!?! Ho davanti a me due persone che hanno un energia tale da avergli fatto girare in macchina, fino a poco fa, mezza Europa. Addirittura ad Amsterdam sono andati! E Mi immagino Mario, tra quei canali, con un bel cannone che spunta da quei baffi smozzicati...si perché loro so gajardi! Torna l'audio e i labiali di Mario riacquistano un senso...bene, il mio cervello ha finalmente ripreso a funzionare. Teresa mi fa strada e scendiamo x le scalette della loro casetta, la più in alto di tutta Roccatederighi piace dire a Mario. Fuori è buio!!!! Ma non quel buio pallido di quando uscivo per andare a scuola, il buio nero quello pesto. Mario continua a raccontare e Teresa ogni tanto fa dei ridolini squisiti che riecheggiano fra le viette deserte del XII secolo, mentre io fra me e me penso che vorrei un giorno essere come loro.
E così iniziò la mia seconda giornata di un week end di novembre alla ricerca del mio terreno perfetto.