27th August, 2006

We are now coming to the end of another "rest day" which is, of course, not really very restful as we are in Florence, a most beautiful and fascinating city and were guests of the mayor's office today to visit the placcio vechio in the heart of the old city. We are currently being shadowed by a German tv crew who are filming us for a prominent tv programme on "people who try to change the world"!!!!!! Very grand! They are with us for the next 3days.
Actually it was fortunate (or as I prefer top think of it, very well planned that we have a rest day today as we are all completely shattered, aching and sore from yesterday, which was the absolutely hardest day of the Peace Cycle so far for all of us. The mountain route from Bolgne to florence may have kept us from straying onto the odd autostrade, but it was far more difficult than the Alps in terms of climbing and steepness. Personally I really enjoyed all but the last 25kms, when the pace got a bit fast at the front and I made the mistake of trying to keep up with the leaders. My earlier enjoyment was partly due to this particular piece of road being a favourite spot for motorcyclist attempting to get their knees on the ground on the bends. Great stuff!!
The day's riding ended in a fantastic down hill just before the light faded, with top speeds in excess of 70 kms!
We were met in Florence by Imad, representing the local Palestinian community, who escorted us to a very nice restaurant right by the Dome, where we enjoyed a good meal and good company albeit with some of us struggling to stay awake after our exhausting day. We were all suitably humbled by Imad's insistence on paying for our dinner, and the warm welcome we received. In fact the welcome has been warm throughout italy and we are getting through flyers, conversations and of course Gelatos, like nobody's business. In fact I think we are all getting a bit fat!!
Well that's it for now, will write again in Rome.
We miss you absent cyclists, your gaps cannot be filled!!!
Salaam
Sheridan