One more blog in the world, mine. Does anyone really want or need to read the musings of a middle aged American ex-patriot who has been busy living in Italy for the past twenty years? Excellent question. Then again, Italy is always a popular topic amongst people who do not live there but love so many things about this country. I can hold forth on many of these topics and have a lot of opinions, just ask anyone who knows me.
What I will probably touch on most frequently though, is cycling. As in bicycling, which is what I spend much of my time doing here. Either in exploring the countryside, designing and guiding cycling tours or simply running errands in order to avoid using the car. I have been a serious, passionate cyclist for the past twenty-six years. It helps define me and keep me sane, slows down the forces of aging as well as maintaining my sense of humor. Without my minimum two to three weekly rides I gradually become sullen and withdrawn. Even my prodigious appetite for Italian food wanes. By rides I mean at least three hours, generally seventy-five to one hundred kilometers and during the summer months, up to and including entire day outings that can cover as much two hundred and fifty km.
However, I am also the chief cook and bottle washer at our house. My family in Italy consists of two adults, Donatella and myself, plus our fourteen year old daughter, Daria. In the USA I have a thirty-three year old son, Duff, who is married to Meredith and lives in Ferndale, Michigan. I am most fortunate to have the time to construct many of my days around when and where to ride, based on what sort of projects I have going on at home. There is always the ordinary administrative job of running a household to work around, ask any mom and she can tell you what that entails.
That will be another aspect of this blog; sharing the reality of being a house-husband of sorts. I mean, I do have my own work but what I do most is run this house and take care of the three of us. So it’s not the only thing I do, just the most important.
Being a total new comer to blogging, it may take me some time to become proficient at it. So I’ll try and be patient with myself, you might too. I will do my best to post frequently.
Thank you for checking back from time to time. Please leave a comment, be nice if you are able to. Be grumpy if you aren’t. Grumps are welcome too, I am after all a member in good standing of the PPP (Prospect Park Peleton, Brooklyn NY) which has any number of grumpy old cyclists.
Mark
Leggiamo volentieri il tuo blog, vecchia volpe. Metti da parte un po’ di quell’olio bono per me! Un caro saluto a te e ai tuoi cari da oltreoceano. — Oirad
Ciao Mark, this is almost a book, not a blog, Think about it!! I mean write one!! ……. complimenti and hugs, Annette
This is Great Mark! It is like reading a book, am waiting for the next chapter at this point. Love the pictures.
Kathy
You’re a fantastic writer! Love it.
Thank you for your kind words! I hope you keep coming back to read the blog, I’ll keep writing. Mark
Hi Mark. Congratulations on the blog. I’ve just spent a good 30 mins reading about all your riding! I found it while trying to find an email address or number. I’m on vacation for two weeks, heading to NYC on Wed and then next week I’m planning a few days riding in southern Tuscany. Are you around next Wed to do a loop around CC? It’s be great to catch up after a long year. Send me an email: Stephen_Farrand at yahoo.com.
Ciao Marco! A voice from your distant past, writing to say I hope you are well, and young, and fit (that’s how I remember you, anyway). I was with Ben Serotta the other day, and he mentioned your name . . . we both had stories to tell. We both also thought to include you in a Tuscan adventure that Ben and I are planning for this September. We’d love to catch up again, and discuss some possibilities, even if it only amounts to a few good rides with good friends. Reach me via email if you have the time: john.teaford@gmail.com. All the best, my old friend. John Teaford (aka, “Sarge”).
Ciao Marco,
Nice reading, thanks. We need to meet up one way or another, perhaps during Strade Bianche 2015 or l’Eroica Sud? Or if you’re down in Rome for some reason as we’re here for the winter.
http://cycleitalia.blogspot.it/
larry@cycleitalia.com
Hey, Mark, We used to ride together in NYC’s Central Park waaaaay back in the old days, so drop me a line sometime if you’re so inclined and we can catch up. Durer – durer999 [AT] yahoo.com