riding a vintage scooter in wintertime: Ryo's snowy lambretta road trip to Hokkaido, Japan

a few weeks ago, I was working on a post about riding a vintage scooter during winter, when the images of an incredible and snowy road trip started filling my social newsfeed. they were the amazing updates of Ryo Mochizuki's journey to Hokkaido, the northernmost region of Japan. these pictures suddenly made me feel incredibly inadequate to talk about the subject, considering just my limited experience, so I've decided to ask someone who clearly knows a thing or two about riding a lambretta in wintertime, even in a snowy area: Ryo's himself. 

curious already?

here's my interview to Ryo Mochizuki about riding during winter and his lambretta road trip to Hokkaido. 

ひさしぶり! I'm back ♥

smells like forest spirit

long time no see! ひさしぶり です, the Japanese would say.
oh, I've been missing this place. I really thought that my blogging time was over, that the constant lack of time and the general incostancy had killed it. maybe they had, maybe not yet.
when I started this diary I was a post graduated student with a steady boyfriend with many dreams and longing for adventure. now, it's difficult to find enough time to go and live the dreams and adventures. but they are still there, along with the desire to tell stories about them, with words, photographs, illustrations.
so here I am, giving it another try. this little blog has given me so much, in terms of connections, inspirations, motivation, (I actually think all of my current jobs derive - in one way or another - from this blog) to leave it like that. (and, I confess, I still think it's really pretty.)
so, I hope you're willing to read i diari della lambretta again.
love,
Silvia

p.s. picture taken in the Cansiglio forest a couple of months ago

2016 first ride. January, Sunday 17th

Siena, made for travellers. February 21st - 22nd

Palazzo Pubblico - town hall in piazza del Campo

Siena is the Palio and the Palio is Siena. the first of the two most famous horse races in the world took place yesterday, July 2nd, as it has been for centuries, being the Palio di Siena the oldest continually hold festival ever. 

when it rains

as a kid, i had this book, called che cosa fare quando piove, by richard scarry. the original title, in english, is best rainy day book ever. you've probably already heard of it, or at least i hope so, cause it's such a great childrens book. if you have not, it is a collection of ideas on what to do on rainy days.

i cannot emulate mister scarry, but here it has been raining for days, so i had some time to make my personal list about that. i hope you like it, and want to share some of what you like to do when it rains {stay in bed all day: not accepted!}.

indoor picnic i am still a kid, i know. i should go back to richard scarry. but it's so fun! you know i love picnics, and i have to wait months (months!) before i get an outdoor one. go outside for a walk i'm aware this is not the "when the sun is shining" post, keep reading.  the only problem we have, while walking in the rain, is that we don't want to get wet {because we're going to do things like work}. but, if we expect that, and we're okay with it because we are keeping in mind the hot shower we'll take back home, it will be lovely. bring an umbrella, some colorful rain boots, make sure you're warm enough. enjoy the drops on the trees, the sound(s) and the reflections, jump on a puddle. if you're lucky, you can catch the best moment: when the rain stops and the sun comes out. isn't that light amazing? it's raining outside, so we're camping inside do you know that photo by tim walker? since i saw it for the first time, i have been fascinated. coziness plus camping! i had to try it, and that was the perfect opportunity. try something new it could be a recipe you've never tried yet. or the start of a new tradition.  marco and i made some canederli for dinner, a typical trentino dish, made of old bread, flour, eggs and salami.  plus, the idea of starting a bookclub with some girl friends is growing!   ice skating date a field trip to the closest (indoor) ice rink. this is the one point of the list i have not done yet.  visit a museum/exhibition we chose an amazing illustration exhibition, called Illustri, held in Vicenza. it featured eleven talented italian illustrators: shout, emiliano ponzi, olimpia zagnoli, bomboland, ale giorgini, mauro gatti, riccardo guasco, francesco poroli, umberto mischi, jacopo rosati, rubens cantuni. we loved it and a piece of it, a fine print by riccardo guasco, is now at home with us, a reminder of that heavy rain day.

Transilvania roadtrip. January, 18-20th

after a day in Bucharest, our romanian journey continued with a roadtrip to Transilvania, kindly organized by Anna {green holiday italy} and Dario, who hosted us in Romania.
like everyone i suppose, i had some images of Transilvania on my mind: the land of vampires, with castles, mysterious aura, spooky landcapes.. well, i cannot say it is actually like that, but, as in every legend, there is a grain of truth.

pinza and blackbirds

in italy, the last three days of january (29, 30 and 31) are called the days of the blackbird {i giorni della merla}, and they are traditionally considered the coldest days of the year. and i hope they will be freezing cold, because it is also said that if the days of the blackbird are as cold as they should be, then a fine spring is around the corner, but if they are warm, it means that spring will arrive later than usual. 

with such a weather, staying indoors and baking are the best thing. a typical winter cake in veneto, friuli and some trentino's valleys is called pinza. there is no recipe of the pinza. it  varies from location to location, from family to family, with some basic general features. the ingredients are simple, typical of the rural tradition: white flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, eggs, pumpkin, candied fruit, dried figs, raisins and fennel seeds.

the very special occasion to eat pinza is usually the panevin, when families gather togheter, and you can taste all the different pinza recipes they made! 

this is how i do it. 

ingredients
200 g cornmeal
200 g wheat flour
120 g softned butter
1 egg
130 g sugar
raisins* 
dried figs*
almond*
250 ml milk
a coffee cup** of grappa {grape spirit}
a coffee cup** of sweet wine
baking powder 
1 orange
salt to taste

* quantity as you like
** i mean espresso

method
put the raisins to soak in the grappa. knead the flours, butter, baking powder, egg, zest and juice from the orange, salt. add raisins with grappa, sweet wine, figs and almonds. add warm milk. the dough will have a quite liquid consistency. pur on a cake pan, bake for 1 hour at 170°. 

better served with hot wine, friends and the best stories from last year. 

București. January, Friday 17th

Stavropoleos monastery | mănăstirea Stavropoleos

Bucharest could be a beautiful city. my friend Anna {the pen behind green holiday italy} warned up with these words, when M. and i arrived in the capital of Romania {flew there with Wizz Air, about 2 hours from Treviso}, where she and her mate hosted us for a lovely weekend. it could be indeed. such a culture's crossroad, with one foot in europe and the other still in the former soviet union, with a latin language, russian words, balkan food and middle eastern influences. but not yet.

there are charming corners, as the Stavropoleos monastery. all that remains from it is a little church, which looks lovely from the outside {first picture} but is way better inside: velvety atmosphere, hand paintings lit by candles, dark and gold. it was the first thing we stopped to see while sightseeing in the historic centre.

Lipscani district

Lipscani is the heart of the city centre. it used to be the most important commercial area of the city. many streets still bear the name of their trade, as can be seen in many european cities. looking at the old buildings {a nice mix of art nouveau, neoclassical, near to medieval memories}, it seems clear why, in the interwar europe, Bucharest was nicknamed little Paris. nowadays Lipscani is recovering from a long period of degradation and neglect. most of these buildings need to be restored, but the whole recovery of the district seems to be going towards the creation of a modern noisy area of bars, strip clubs and cheap shops, without any vibes, any traditions. i think it deserves better.

neoclassical building detail

women near Biserica Curtea Veche

the best moment of our day in Bucharest was a visit to the old princely court church {Biserica Curtea Veche}, the oldest of the city. it started like a normal visit of a tourist site, but we soon realized that there were a few tourists, and most of the people was in the queque, waiting for praying in front of holy icons. with fervor and emotion, they lit up dozens of votive candles, kissed the icons, then went away, in silence. the most authentic moment of the day. 

we had just one day to visit Bucharest, and i'm sorry we didn't have the time to see two museums which seem quite interesting: the museum of the romanian peasant {muzeul tăranului român} and the national village museum {muzeul naţional al satului}, but our weekend continued with a roadtrip to Transilvania, which i can't wait to share with you!

p.s. good news! i diari della lambretta has been shortlisted for the Italy Magazine blogger awards, category best travel ♥ so, if you like it here, that's the link to vote!

christmas market in Bruneck. December, Sunday 1st

shiny brezel, cups of hot beverages to warm up cold fingers, holiday mood until your head spins. 

in small doses, i love christmas markets. 

i usually pay my visit early, when they are just opened and not so crowded. this year, i went to Brunico/Bruneck with my family, on the first sunday of december. Brunico is a lovely town in South Tyrol, a good place for a stroll or outdoor fun, both in summer and winter. 

needless to say, my favorite market stalls where the food & beverage themed ones. from candies to hot dogs, from local cheese (!) to local salami (!!). i had my nose frozen but a warm feeling inside.

 so far it had been the only christmassy thing i've done this year. all the big lunches and dinners are going to start next week.

what do you do during the holiday season? any nice tradition?

campfire. March, Saturday 17th

the air is still chilly, but we're back outdoors.
we went to a place not far from where we had the fall picnic. i used to come here a lot with the Scouts years ago, cause it's a good spot for campfires.

we had a little picnic, and cooked on the firewood. i've missed the smell of the crackling fire's smoke! i've missed breaking the dry wood with the knees, and making the tip to green sticks. 
in the Scouts we called this direct-heating method trapper cooking, which i think is in the name of north americans explorers, but i'm not sure.

sausages give their best, but potatoes, onions and eggs, too are delicious cooked this way!
special thanks to the firewood for keeping us warm while we ate and played cards. 

{olympus om10 + fuji superia 200}

March. 2013 first ride and other spring-y happy things

these days are full of the small joys that accompany the change of season.
it was finally time for the first ride of this year with our Lambretta, which was as good as always.

then.. the first outdoor barbecue, seeing the baby donkey just born in the neighborhood, collecting wild chicory in the fields with grandma, having coffee with gelato in the porch.
goodbye winter. 

{olympus om10 + fuji superia 200}

Snowy Valentine. February, Sunday 17th

it's still too cold for outdoorsy sundays by lambretta.
so we celebrated the day of lovers hiking in Cadore's mountains.
♥

white path, magical silence, scent of snow.
besides all the lovey dovey details, we walked from Valle di Cadore to the cozy Rifugio Costapiana,which offers tasty homemade meals and a stunning view
{to know what a rifugio is, check out this page}

{olympus om10 + fuji superia 200}

info
Rifugio Costapiana
Località Costa Piana  
32040 Valle di Cadore Belluno
www.rifugiocostapiana.it

Analogue Switzerland. January, the last week

i feel embarassed to say it, but i had never been in Switzerland before last January, when i visited Basel and Bern by train with my dear friend Annalisa.

Switzerland is little and organized, so you can easily run from one town, even the smallest one, to another using public transport {here, the informations about swiss pass}
we took a lot of photographs, but here with you i want to share the two most memorable moments.

first, the grey morning we spent in Affoltern in Emmentaler, where we visited the famous cheese factory.
(the country houses obsession returns) 

and second, a snowy sunday morning (yes, the weather wasn't always nice, but it was always charming) in Basel: the streets were empty, the silence disturbed by the wind.. it was just us, our cameras, and the snow.

{olympus om10 + fuji superia 200}

some of the works i did after this press trip here *italian only*:
Berna, Cosebelle Mag
Basilea, Cosebelle Mag
Berna e Basilea, Sguardi 87 - Nikon Italia