Today we would train from Milan to Alessandria, a one and half hour ride, which would serve as the base of our biking trip. We will bike about a 350 mile loop from Alessandria over six days.

Our train to Alessandria left at 8:20am, so it was another early morning as we needed to take the Milan metro to the Central Rail hub to catch our train.

. . .we passed the bike rental station outside our hotel again and I noticed the bikes were all in REALLY good shape and al had a ‘direct drive shaft’ and no chain. Lots less change for breakdowns and also no chain grease soiling the pant legs of the stylish Milanese riders!!!!

. . . and there was a unique way of locking the bikes to the racks using a special clamp on the front of the handlebar basket that fit right into the locking mechanism. Nice!!!

Local art whose significance may have been ‘lost in translation’ for these art aficionado’s!!!

All major cities in Europe seem to have there street PACKED with overnight parking every night. Your car  doesn’t fit into a spot, no problem park sideways!!!

After making a metro change, we were soon at the Central Railway station. A building of beautiful architectural design. Art noveau, art deco, and a dose of fascism.

Interestingly, there is a salon, not open to the public, that Mussolini had installed inlaid floors with swastikas commemorating a visit from Hitler during WWII.

Train travel in Europe is really easy. Like so many things now of days you can buy your tickets ahead of time over the internet. I bought ours before we left Wisconsin. At the station you look for the schedules of trains on the ‘big board’ within about 20 minutes of your train leaving. Up until then the train may have not been assigned a platform number yet. Sort of like planes being assigned a gate number  . . .

 

. . once you know your platform number you proceed through the main entrance, show your ticket and walk over to your platform, where you can meet the nicest travelers! There were  Marci and BillyB  who had trained up from Lake Como this morning to meet us and we would all . . .

. . .proceed to Platform 24 where our train left right on time. We rolled along the Italian countryside on a direct ride to our town for the night, Alessandria. A note on the railcar passage door said ‘AC Not working’. No mention of how long it had be broken but the windows opened wide and it was a glorious ride into Alessandria.

Being a Sunday, and the fact it was August when most Europeans are themselves on holiday, the town seemed deserted. A short ten minute walk from the train station and we were at our hotel . . . which has AC!!! (many European hotels do not).

Nice large room and that bed was calling to my ankle . . .

. . . the others  ventured off for a nice little lunchy . . .

. . . .while I used the afternoon to continue in a mode of minimal movement . . . got to be ready to ride tomorrow!!!!

. . . however I was able to muster the strength to indulge in these little goodies my personal nurse delivered. YUM!!!

 

The group had a full afternoon of walking….17,000 steps were logged around Alessandria. To the left is the historic synagogue on the main street.

It was dang hot and not too many people were out, other than our intrepid group.

 

 

The cannabis shop was not open on Sunday, but it seemed to have many options.

 

Marci and Billy were shocked to find that the fresh water fountain was as warm as the ambient air temperature of 92!

We stopped before crossing the Richard Maier bridge over the Tanaro River.

 

The bridge and walkway led us to the Citadel, built in the 1700s and heavily used over the years. It is considered to be among the best preserved military compounds, and covers over 180 acres along the river. Even so, it is considered to be an endangered historical site in the EU due to the crumbling buildings with trees and plants growing up through them!

 

We enjoyed dinner down the road from our hotel at Osteria La Luna in Brodo. Sausage risotto….

Auburgine parmesan…

Rare beef with green salad….

…and an exquisite desert that shall go unnamed! Like beignets with chocolate and cream sauce! We waddled back to our hotel, fully satisfied. The streets were alive with people now, 9:30 p.m. after the heat of the day had passed.