A perfect party on the piazza, and pedals

SUNDAY MORNING, October 20. The dress code is vintage (and so are the bicycles), the spirits are high and at least 1,000 cyclists from various parts of Italy and the world are about to set off for a ride of either 120km, 80km or 42km through the countryside around Anghiari, Tuscany. Their families and friends have come with them for this annual four-day event, L'Intrepida, bolstering the usual population (about 5,000) of the town. It's quite a scene.

Last night the restaurants and bars were full; stalls were set up in the Piazza Baldacci serving beer and wine, porchetta and sausage sandwiches. Music blasted from inside the archway across the road. My music – Bob Dylan, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Katie Melua and more. Gotta love the Italians – eating, drinking and being merry the night before such a big exercise. Would that happen at home in Australia? I sort of doubt it; but who knows?

Here are some of the scenes – and fashions – for you:

And they're off! Light rain started with them, became heavier a couple of hours later, and then the glorious sun came out another hour after that. Buona fortuna tutti!

Arrivederci bella Anghiari

This is my final post for this visit. I am a bit sad to be leaving and hope to return, but who knows? Thank you for coming along with me, those who have read this far.

I have noticed, on a social media site called 'Italy for the Aussie Traveller' that some people complained about prices here, others thought they weren't too different from home and sometimes they were cheaper. For your interest, here is what I found in September and October:

• 1 Campari Spritz, the equivalent of $A7.30, $8.12 and $12.99 depending on the venue.

• 75ml moisturiser, SPF 50, $A24.30.

• 1 double espresso latte, plus walnut pastry, $5.83.

• 1 bottle Orvieto Classico white wine, 750ml, $7.

• 1 hour gym session, $19.49.

• Lavazza Creme e Gusto ground coffee, 500g, $8.11.

• 500ml freshly squeezed orange juice, $4.79.*

*see pic right - what a great idea!

New museum in Anghiari

It's a Beatles museum, with the name of one of the nightclubs where they performed in Hamburg between 1960 and 1962. "I might have been born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg," John said later. Apparently it was quite an eye-opening experience.

Now, about the smoking...

It's almost a national sport. I know some Europeans think Australia is quite a nanny state with its rules about smoking (and dogs, for example), but honestly...

Without saying too much about that, here is an interesting fact that might help explain it: Italy is number 24 in the world's top 50 producers of tobacco. Why would the government discourage it? Just a thought.

Here in Anghiari quite a bit is grown and has just been harvested (see pics below, left and centre). I hear that it goes mostly to making cigars, but nevertheless some of the locals feel concerned about what it puts into the waterways and the air.

Personally, I would much prefer to see dogs in restaurants and on public transport than have to breathe in another person's smoke, especially after having fought to overcome my own tobacco addiction 20 years ago. (Full confession: Yes, I'm not perfect and probably drink too much – we all have our addictions.)

Finally, to the dear people of Anghiari who have welcomed me so warmly, thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart. I will always remember this visit as a very special time in my life because of you. Arriverderci? Vedremo. Vi amo, Mimi •