And so it is.
Immediately upon arriving our friend/neighbor Marianna came over to update us on her going’s on. Seems her daily bus ride to work has become more entertaining thanks to a new bus driver for her commute.
Yesterday, while commanding his craft through the Dolomite’s tiny valley roads, he got on his mobile phone and with the entire bus listening in, proceeded to detail his previous nights sexual exploits.
Being held hostage in a bus, minus an iPod as protection against such things is not what I found so odd about this tale. Rather, the fact that the bus driver could drive a bus while talking on his cellphone while behind him sat dozens of commuters – this is what I found comical. And the road he was driving was not your straight American thoroughfare but one barely wide enough for two cars side by side, much less a bus driven by a sweaty, smiling, shoulder holding the phone to his ear bus driver. Reminded me of the time I was on a bus in Tuscany, the driver had the Rolling Stones on full blast for a cargo of old Italian women headed to town for groceries. He pulled over and with the radio AND engine still on, jumped off the bus and ran into a cafe for a coffee, cigarrete and fondling of the barista while we all sat and waited. Classic Italy.
Also of note upon our arrival were two emails from visitors to our new website DolomiteSport – they found it helpful and inspiring to visit this place – and now they are making plans for 2009. This makes my day.
Finally, our return to Brunico had me on my bike right away. Dropping into town I found myself amongst the hoardes of other cyclists enjoying a crystal clear fall day. While riding out of town, I passed the parapenter landing area, saw a friend and stopped to check out the scene as dozens of parapenters were packing it up after a morning of flying over the valleys. Next up was the hang gliders DZ where I was buzzed by one coming in for a landing. And finally, I rolled into the parking lot of a furniture store that is also the parking lot for a major sport climbing crag immediately behind the store, so close in fact that one belays from just outside the cars. And there, on the vertical wall, one pitch up, is a picnic table on a ledge on the wall. A picnic table to take your lunch with a 5.10+ approach. But no worries, bolts are on the wall so you can stay clipped in while you enjoy your panino.
Feels like home…
