Giro d'Italia!

Sortino!

Over a dinner of appies and local white wines...

...we watched the sunset...

...and made plans to drive to Sortino to watch...

So, we we were up and away to first see the archeological site, a waste of €20 given the primary item, a large amphitheater was covered in wood so they could hold performances there. There were many, many bus tours there and I felt badly for them (for once) because the site with such promise and hype was a total disappointment. It's apparently covered from May to July and looks like a construction site. No warnings. I took not a single photo, enough said. We then wandered to a very modern church beside our humble accommodations which was much more interesting. Look at this puppy! It's huge!

You could play 20 indoor soccer games at the same time in here:)

A quick visit to the supermercato for some lunch supplies and we were in our car with Dolly and heading into the hills to find the town of Sortino on a bright hot day to see if we could watch the Giro fly past. A few days ago we were in the town of Caltagirone which is the end of the fourth race stage, the first stage to be run in Italy this year. The first three stages have been strangely run in Israel this year, the 101st year of the Giro. Well, we had fun looking at the preparations there.

They have done an amazing job of placing these flowers on the tiled stairs (look closely) in prep for today's finish. I wouldn't want the job of watering all of these pots!

Pink is the colour of this tour and the leader's jersey. In France yellow and in Spain I think it's green.



Returning my thoughts to today, Annemarie had done a great job of plotting our route as we were concerned about crowds. The road she selected was so windy and twisted that I was pretty sure we were the only ones approaching town from this direction. We arrived, saw one single road barrier and decided to park and walk into town. We needn't have because cars kept zipping past as we walked, but we needed to stretch our legs and thereby qualified this post for my walking blog:)

At first we thought that it was going to be pretty quiet, but as we approached the middle of town we saw the beginnings of what promised to be some fun.

It's the 101st year that the race has been held and is generally considered to be one of the big 3 cycling Grand Tours...Le Tour de France, Giro l'Italia and the Vulta a Espania. Ryder Hesjedal from our city of Victoria was the first Canadian in 2012 to win any of the three Grand Tours. Neil and Sarah from Canberra, I know you are big fans as are our friends David and Linda in Vancouver and my sister Kathy and Bob also in Vancouver. We watch La Tour each year and bits and pieces of the others. Neil has been known to watch in the middle of the night when an Aussie is winning:) The kids getting involved.

The Gardia were out every where in their finest uniforms for the occasion. Very stylish!

At first it was a big quiet, we ate our lunch, wandered around and waited. However, eventually things picked up with the front end vans selling Giro stuff. Erin, I know have a hat to go with my Tour hat you gave me for Father's Day and I hope to get the third in Spain this fall when we walk there as that race will be underway then!

Annemarie was hilarious...so excited today!

The entertainment arrived to warm the town up and get things in gear!

Dancing to country and western songs and handing out drinks and stuff to everyone. The party was truely underway!

Hot cars, pretty ladies. A very slick production and everyone was having fun. Lamborghini.



Then the advance team cars roared through town, horns honking! So much fun to see this live!

Followed by a break-a-way group who had left the peleton behind...later to be caught as per usual.

The cyclists race past. I've always said that it's better to watch the race on tv because the racers pass by so quickly. True, but it was great to experience the excitement and atmosphere in the country where it happens. Completely satisfied with this experience!

For you Neil.





And as the team support cars past us by, it was suddenly over. Just like a parade that leaves you wanting more. But what a way to spend a day. The other option was to go up and climb on Mount Etna, but it's top is still covered in snow and plenty of cloud most of the time. This was a very suitable option. We drove back to Siracusa to write up the day, and I decided to turn on the tv, a rare event when travelling. We caught the last 100 kms of the race and it was a very exciting finish. Michael Woods from Canada was just edged out for the stage win! Wow! It's been a while since a Canadian has done really well in any of the Grand Tours! Perhaps Canadian racing has found its way back? We will watch with interest. Now drinking a nice glass of vino and soon to wander out and find dinner...and a sunset:)