May 1978: It was my first time in Italy. Walter, a friend of my Swiss host family had suggested that we go to Vernazza for the weekend. Kris, another foreign exchange student and I went along with him.  Vernazza was a magical place. After two nights our host had to return to Switzerland, but the two of us were still under Vernazza’s spell, and decided to stay a few more days.

Today is the 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia. The course runs from Parma to Genoa., and passed through our town a few minutes ago.

Emilia Romagna love cycling. We bike everywhere. In the town center, in the mountains, in the hills, at the beach, on the plains. Bikes are found everywhere. It doesn’t matter how old or young we are, we are on bikes!