See Ya!: September 2011

Ventimigla is a place we will always remember, not for the suspicious illegal immigrants or the crumbling buildings barely holding on to life, but for the hot wine we shared in our old tin mug. We sat on the beach perched somewhat uncomfortably between the rocks trying to dodge the attention of the moroccans selling their shitty sunglasses and celebrated the begging of the end of our trip. In 3 months we rode our bikes through desert, over mountains through forests, followed Don Quijote's trail, We camped in some of the most  beautiful places, in fields of thorns and cycled through 5 countries in order to be sitting here and enjoying this moment. We drank our wine enjoying its meaning more than the taste,politely declining yet another attempt at selling us some crappy jewelery and then stripped off for a swim. it was a warm day with blue sky but the swim wasn't so much about cooling down but more for having a wash,and trying to look like we hadn't just spent 12 weeks living in a tent because today we were catching a train! yeyyy fast cheap?? and no pedal power required.. the train trip was bitter sweet, we travelled to Torino in just a few hours rather than days it would have taken by bike, but with only 8 days left on the Australian tourist visa it was a forced decision rather than choice, time was running out and we had to get out of the Schengen area faster than our legs would allow. Torino was ..umm torino was exhausting!!! A beautiful ancient city with a hectic modern culture. It was the first place in our journey where we had friends to show us around and it was five days overflowing with Italian passion for the city,music,food and drink. sightseeing till it was dark then drinking till it was light again was a shock to our system and it is possible we are still recovering.

to be continued..

And we're done with France.

we made it before the whole place fell apart. In Ventimiglia

Melissa wearing a dress. Monika - a girl who let us store our bicycle in her house for a day which turned into a week, who fed us, shared her beer and wine, washed our clothes and let us use her shower: Mirjam: Melissa (in a DRESS): Marilena - the best tour guide one could wish for in Torino! Thank you guys!

Senjoor Pino and Denis!!!! Their house was our home for a whole week - a week soaked in grappa, beer, espresso and wine and and PASTA!!!! :)

really???!!! in an italian household - estonian food and vodka!!

when every one else had a medieval castles and fortresses - Torino had to have one as well... so they built a copy

River Po and what you can see below the bridge is the area called Murazzi - must visit when in Torino. go on a Friday night :) (http://www.studentitorino.it/concerti/?page_id=138)

the cinema museum

short introduction to ballet by Marilena in front of the cinema museum

dance corner by the theatre

it's pasta time!

sleeping beauty Nemo

Melissa got decorated with an Italian poem..no idea what it says but a hangover Melissa is a good canvas


well..that's gonna be a long story..this is a young space engineer whom we met by pure accident while trying to find our way back to Pino's..we caught a tube to the last stop from town.then started walking with three beers each under our arms...with a map that Pino had drawn us to come back from town by bikes..which we didn't. so the tube and then asked some people directions and they gave us a lift to a street that Pino had written on the map..but from there on we still had no idea which way to go...so we decided to drink beer, while opening a bottle the lid flew and hit this guy while he was walking by, so I apologized and offered him a beer. We walked together, chatted away and drank beer. The second beer just disappeared into him within minutes and one could tell that this person was not really a person to be drinking alcohol and two very strong beers were obviously a bit too much for him. With his noticeable attempts to make physical contact as often as he could , specially after asking whether I was single or not and me saying that I live with my girlfriend..without having to say anything to each other, we both knew that it was time to get rid of him. As we had walked a hundred meters from him, he ran after us and asked if he could see us kissing, cos this poor little geek had never seen two girls kissing before..and he got his show. But he wanted more and asked if he could join in! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Melissa and Pino after another beer session. He took us to a pub where they serve beer made by prisoners. We drank.

washed our only clothes (because our bikes with all our things were in the town at Monika's), so had to hang around in their robes. good morning!

and she's asleep. Pino taking us to see a lake

the lake

Melissa and Pino by the Lake

.....and we've seen the lake - back to pub!

and then he took us to a rock concert somewhere near by where we met his friend Massimo who , I'm sure, was undercover Daniel Graig (performing River side and Anathema). great picture, hey?! :)

and this is a very important street where Pino fell in love, he was standing other side of the road and noticed a gorgeous girl, said to his mum that he likes this girl, counted to three and went and told to the girl. they got together. How romantic!!!