When in Rome... again

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  Rome, Lazio, Italy
Saturday, September 27, 2008

After a cozy sleep on the floor of the ferry atop the staircase between the deck exits, I arrived back in italy, to Livorno. The ferry was surely staffed by Italian crew, as we went through the whole sailing without a single announcement including when the boat arrived at Livorno.  This being an overnight ferry, many drivers were still deep asleep upstairs when the cars had started to unload. But that's ok in Italy, everyone just rushed for the exit however they could, causing a traffic jam on the ferry composed of cars, buses, motorbikes, foot passengers.. and me.

Riding in Italy again now, after having done the round in many other countries, only confirms my feelings of frustration towards the Italian civil and geological engineers. I truly believe they are the most incompetent and I guess the tower of Pisa "stands" to prove it.
Italian roads are terrible for cycling, from grades to pavement condition, and the drivers don't make it any easier either. Though I wonder if everyone drives so fast here because the roads are so bumpy and they are only trying to get "in sink" with the vibration from the road.

But the roads aside, my inland route through Tuscany gave me an opportunity to ride through some breathtaking landscapes and visit some pretty towns. I have now arrived in Rome and am officially done!
The count is 11,415kms and I plan to do my best to round it up to 11,500 before flying home.


Riding around Rome today I met a cycle-tourist who has been riding for 10 years and has one more to complete his ride around the world! Pushkar rides for world peace, he has ridden over 200,000kms so far and will finish his trip by climbing Mount Everest...  However humbling this encouter was, it was also one to create motivation. Please visit his website at www.pushkarshah.com


As far as my trip goes, this isn't quite the end yet. One of my dreams was to visit Venice this trip and though the earlier attempts to visit it by bike didn't go through, a little while ago I found an airplane ticket for €15 to make my dream come true. So I'll go do that in a few days and will post some final notes on the trip before I say goodbye!

For now, I lay over at an Italian campsite, run by Romanian seasonal workers.

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Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

02. Tuscany 1	03. Tuscany 2   Comments!	04. Tourists pouring into Piazza del Campo, Siena	05. Lone olive tree   Comments!
06. Lago di Bolsena   Comments!	07. My French lady friends I met at Sutri   Comments!	08. Camping on Lago di Bracciano	09. Sheep grazing around some ruins   Comments!
10. Rome, t = today - 205days   Comments!	11. Rome, t = today   Comments!	12. Pushkar, riding for world peace   Comments!

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