If you can't beat them.....join them :)

So I decided to try riding my bike with a skirt on today!!! Just to see what its like to be a local :) Because I don't feel like flashing to everyone around me I also wore my spandex running shorts underneath which I think might actually be seen as cheating by the Italians.

We went for a long bike ride and found Lake Basiglio!!! Then we proceeded to ride around it on a tiny little dirt track that at times was overgrown and I will admit I was every so slightly concerned about viper attacks!!!!
We turned down a track into the rice paddies and we found this AWESOME old, run down farm house/barn that in true Italian style was graffitti'd to the hilt. But really cool place for pictures!!!! We found the path that leads into the back of Basiglio and then turned around and continued along the lake.
Of course no sunday afternoon ride is complete without a macchiatto and a gelato so we stopped in Milano 3 for those. Beautiful afternoon!!!!
This weekend was also a festival in Basiglio and the town square has been taken over by a market/carnival/dance party/fair!!!! It was pretty cool to see and the decorations look like Christmas ones. St Agatha is who we are celebrating and I *believe* she is the patron saint of Basiglio. The bells have been going insane all weekend :
The path around Lake Basiglio and Richard's awesome new bike!!!

That's right, when in Rome. Me perched on my awesome bike in a SKIRT. With cycling shorts underneath I assure you. It was an interesting experiment to ride a bike in a skirt. I think the Italians are so good at it because they start them young. Also, a picture of Lake Basiglio!!

Basiglio as viewed from the rice paddies!! The graffitti in the abandoned building we found. Yes I know, I'm obsessed.Along with a photo book about alleys I can also have one of random graffiti!!!

I just liked the smiley face! And one of Reese exploring, cautiously! 

Richard posing and him and Reese looking at the graffiti colours

No idea what the graffiti says! Reese looking adorable!! Hmmm I just noticed that some of the pictures look a bit distorted :(

Reese showing her happy face when she found the happy face graffiti

My pictures look weird!?! hanging out in front of the wall

Looking into Basiglio, fierce concentration from Reese on the gelato spoons, its like she's WILLING more gelato to appear on them!!!!

Cafe Macchiato, so yummy, and over much too soon!!!!

How to ride a bike in Italy-the female way

Step 1: Shower and dress as though you're going to the office OR to the clubs.
Step 2: Make sure that your dress is quite short
Step 3: Put on stiletto heels
Step 4: Make sure to put on a full face of makeup and all of the jewellery you own, and remember to do your hair, helmets are for the racers and North Americans. You are Italian so therefore you are the best bike rider in the entire world and you will not fall off.
Step 5: Get purse, cigarettes(if you smoke) and cell phone, put in basket of your bike.
Step 6: Maneuver onto bike in short skirt( this is made possible here by a very low bar in the centre, so no lifting of the legs required, you can step through rather daintily.***
Step 7: Pedel very slowly so as not to break a sweat, ringing your little bell every time you see anything that moves.
Step 8: If you see a friend, stop your bicycles right in the middle of the path and chat, and do not move even if people need to get by.
Step 9: If you must, have a cigarette while riding your bicycle, or perhaps do this and also have a conversation on your mobile. You are very talented.
Step 10: Arrive at destination, usually the grocery store, and proceed around store in a fashion show like manner in your stilettos and short skirt. Then load groceries into the basket on your bike and proceed home.
Step 11: Repeat as needed.


***If you have a child, you may strap them into a seat that is fixed to the back or the front of your bike. There is also no need for them to wear a helmet as the person riding the bicycle is Italian and therefore is the greatest bike rider in the entire world, and will not crash.


Ahhhhhhhh Italy.  Gotta love it!!!!!