nehal : Sep 2, 2008
We decided to take advantage of some “low” airfares and visit my sister Neha in Colorado over Labor Day weekend. We got in late Thursday night and I worked from home on Friday. Saturday morning we headed west toward Grand Junction, through the beautiful Glenwood Canyon and stopped for lunch in Glenwood. The geology in this part of Colorado is amazing – the canyons and mesas were truly unlinke anything I’d seen before.
We arrived at our campsite in Grand Mesa National Forest met Doyle and his kids, and set up camp just in time for some rain and hail. Luckily, it didn’t last long and the rest of the evening was pretty dry for hiking and cooking. Ian, Doyle, and I went out to explore the area’s lakes nearby, and when we returned, Ian and I hiked down a trail to one of the lakes. Ian later returned with the girls for a couple hours of fishing while the rest of us prepared the campsite for cooking, etc. We made some brats and corn for dinner, after nearly polishing off an entire bag of tortilla chips, salsa, and queso.
We woke up the next morning to quite a bit of rain. Since a campfire was pretty much out of the question, we set out to drive into town for some breakfast. Instead of stopping at a coffee shop, we went to a restaurant. We put in our order and drank coffee for an hour before they told us they couldn’t serve any food due to a fire earlier in the day. So we set back out on the road to Grand Junction to find a restaurant that a) wasn’t insanely crowded (Sunday church crowds I guess); and b) would actually serve food. Luckily we found the Good Pastures restaurant and had a delicious breakfast (and made use of their clean bathroom!).
We made our way to Palisade and stopped in at the Garfield Estates Winery – the owner lives in Neha’s neighborhood – and tasted some wine while the kids played on the tire swing. After that, we went back to our campsite, packed up our stuff, and went on a short hike around a lake. Doyle took his kids further up the hill for a different hike as we headed home. We stopped for coffee at Blink Coffee in Mesa and watched the downpour start. As we headed back towards I-70 we saw rainwater form brown waterfalls as it ran off the mesas.
We spent all day Monday doing some shed-building. We pretty much finished all the necessary carpentry, and all that should be left is painting. It’s actually a pretty simple shed built under a staircase; we just had to deal with some weird angles along the roof line.
nehal : Dec 18, 2005
Patrick took a tumble as we rode down from Volterra. It took some time to make sure he was okay, load his bike in the van, and continue on our way. Mike drove him ahead to San Gimignano.
nehal : Sep 20, 2005
Got up and had breakfast before meeting everyong for our half-day tour of Volterra with our guide, Giulia. She took us around the city while covering 3000 years of history – the Etruscan gate, the baptistry and cathedral, and the (relatively) recently-discovered Roman theater. Afterwards, Lisa, Fred, Maria, Ricardo, Tom, Beth, and I went to find the Acropolis. After searching for a bit, we found it and explored what was left of the ancient cisterns. Fred and Lisa went to explore the Roman theater while the rest of us got some lunch where Maria had the best tuna fish sandwich of her life. Lunch was promptly followed up with a trip to a gelato bar. This was was quite interesting – although well-lit and causally decorated, it had a plasma TV over the entrance showing what seemed to be some type of heavy metal videos.
Now refueled, Tom, Beth, and I set out to explore the town and the Roman theater. It was awe-inspiring to be walking around a structure that was in use thousands of years ago – imagining the lives of the people who climbed it steps, sat in it seats, and performed on stage. What was even more amazing was how much of it was still intact! Over time, it had added a bath house, and then in Middle Ages, it became a garbage dump, only to be unearthed in the 1960s, I believe.
After relaxing for a bit back at the hotel, we set out for dinner. Pedro and his father recommended a place called Da Badó. The food was interesting and different, and very tasty. However, I think many of us just wanted a simple meal – like a plate of pasta. Fred, Lisa, Maria, and I went to Web and Wine for a drink before heading back to the hotel and calling it a night.
nehal : Sep 19, 2005
Two cappuccinos, three croissants, and a yogurt were among the things I ate for breakfast before we started on our way from Casciana Terme to Volterra. The first part of the ride was mostly downhill and flat, with a brief climb to Lajatico. Garry, Lisa, and I stopped along the way to snap some fun photos. In Lajatico, we relaxed in the square for a bit and I got another capucchino (and boy, was it good!) before riding out with Tom and Beth. We rode down and flat again for a while. I tried to race a scooter for a bit , but thought better of it as the climb to Volterra was approaching. The long (6 or so miles) climb was rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding countryside and the city itself. I actually managed to miss the turn for the hotel and rode downhill for a bit before realizing it. So I got to get a little more climbing in for the day.
At the hotel, I helped Huibertha unload and sort the luggage. Fred was already there, and Lisa and others arrived shortly after I did. We ordered a confusing lunch from a confused waitress in the hotel restaurant before I checked in and sent my laundry down for cleaning. At 5PM we met downstairs for a wine tasting with Pedro, the hotel sommelier. A few glasses of wine later, we made our way to the dining room for dinner. I think we were being a little obnoxious, since we were getting funny looks from the other guests. Dinner was nonetheless delicious – papardelle pasta with wild boar sauce, pork chops, and a tuscan cake. Oh, and whatever wine was leftover from the tasting.
A few of us went into Volterra to “Web and Wine” for a while but it was late and we were drunk and tired, so we didn’t stay out too long. Web and Wine was definitely a cool place – very interesting decor and atmosphere, beer on tap, hot chocolate, wine, and, of course, coffee.
nehal : Sep 18, 2005
Met everyone for breakfast after almost oversleeping. Hit the road to Pisa around 9AM. As everyone was milling about, finding their bikes, I took the opportunity to stash the stuffed puppy into Beth’s bike bag. The ride was a little wet but not rainy, and the cool, cloudy weather definitely helped. We stopped for bit at a coffee house along the way, where I had myself a capucchino.
Pisa
Pisa was a total tourist trap. Peddlers (not the kind on bikes – the kind that want to sell your Roleks watches) and tourist shops and, of course, tons of tourists. We went into the Baptistry, where I played den mother to the 11 of us who opted to go in. Luckily the sun came out for our short stay in Pisa and lunch, and I managed to get some nice pictures, along with the photo I wanted with the tower.
Pisa to Casciana Terme
This part was a little tricky, but we did a good job sticking together. The roads stayed mostly flat nearly the entire way to Casciana Terme, passing through farm land and small tows. Along the way, I tried to snap a few pictures of the group as we rode and I noticed that someone had left me a present in my bike bag – a calendar of artistic penises. I eventually figured out the culprits were Fred and Lisa, so at the next stop I snuck it into Anna’s bag. After another pit stop and more espresso, we started the long climb to Casciana Terme. The road went from asphalt to gravel and back to Asphalt as we approached Sant’Ermo. The road took us down briefly from Sant’Ermo and back up to Casciana Terme; there were some amazing views along the way.
Casciana Terme
We pulled into the hotel and I were helping unload the luggage when I heard, “You’re going to die a slow, terrible death, Nehal” from Anna. Made it up to my room, threw on my swim trunks and joined the others in the lukewarm hot tub. I also decided to swim a couple laps in the cold pool. Before long, I decided I needed a shower and a snack before dinner, lest I pass out. The kind man at the front desk pointed me to the hotel bar, where I had some crackers, chips, and water. Fred, Lisa, and I went across the street to the park where we heard a live band, saw Anna and Patrick dancing, and got a cup of coffee.
Dinner was fun because we were all together, but none too impressive, save the risotto and the gelato. Turned in early again to rest up for a day of hills to Volterra.