Cycling The Road Less Travelled

From Gubbio, we’ve been cycling through gorgeous towns like Todi, Trevi, Assisi, Orvieto and Pitigliano. The cycling in this part of the world is…what can I say…near perfect. The landscapes are incredible. I really can’t do them justice and neither do the all the calendars and postcards you see. The actual cycling itself is a dream; challenging but not too challenging, with long sweeping descents down quiet, winding roads. Then there is the wine and the food. Everything just tastes so much better here; grapes, tomatoes, basil, olive oil…all of it. You take a bite out of something as simple as bruschetta and you just can’t believe that anything could taste that good.

And then there is the people. They have been exceptionally warm and friendly, always smiling, waving, saying “Buon Giorno”, going out of their way to help us if they thought we needed it. Everyone just seems…happy. We’ve been wondering why that is. Is it waking up in such a stunning place every day? I can see how that would put a smile on someone’s face. Is it the wine? The food? I know I for one am much more pleasant with a belly full of gnocchi con gorgonzola. Hmmm…maybe it’s just living in a place where the pace of life is just a bit slower. Where people take the time to enjoy all the little things; fresh flowers, a nice bottle of Chianti, a walk in the morning sun with a friend, beauty for beauty’s sake. Yeah, that must be it.