If you recall, back on my second day in Lombardia, I mentioned that I met a whole lot of people, walking around Varenna with my bike after a ride up the Esino Pass. Well, one of those couples, Nancy and Steve from the Bay Area, California took some great photos of me by the Varenna Ferry Dock. It was a real chance meeting. They had just arrived and wandered over to the dock to find out some information for a ferry ride the next day and I was buying my ticket to get back to Bellagio for that memorable night-time ascent of the Ghisallo. They are avid cycling fans and in comunicating with Nancy over the last few days via email, I feel, although we only met briefly, in that time we made a great connection. One of the greatest things about traveling alone is that if forces you to talk to other people, whereas I see a lot of young couples or groups who seem so introverted. They can't seem to be bothered, and they want to do it all on their own. When you're by yourself, others quickly become friends, they can help you, and they, even more than all the scenery and all the monuments and all the gelato in the world, are what you will remember most about your trip.
Below are the photos Nancy took. The rare smile is a result of ascending and descending the Esino Pass, meeting Edoardo Bianchi's great-grandson, eating a pizza covered in arugula, and more than anything, Nancy and Steve's friendliness. If it's alright with them, I'll post their photo later as well.
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