2009-10 the story part 4

-

The next weekend we moved to the new factory and a very busy time began once again to take over all activities. I had to wait at Christmas to go to Valencia 2 days before to catch the flight going home in Italy.

After spent Christmas at home, I went to Russia for few days. The idea was to meet Lenochka that I have been knowing for some time and whilst there to see if it was possible to organize a future trip to the Kamchatka Penisula , on the Far East of Russia and Siberia, two of the places I would like to go. I saw it is very difficult -still – to get by to organize such a trip in Russia without a group of people and some guides. It is surely not the kind of fly and drive I

usually do.The highlight of the trip was obviously meeting with Elena, in the far city of Yoshka-Ola not far from Kazan, one of the

biggest Russian cities.Me and Elena are planning some vacation together in 2010.

Below Pictures of Moscow taken in 2005

Yoshkar-Ola, Republic of Mari, Russia

Winter in Vitoria

And we are now in 2010.After Russia I spent couple of days in Italy before flying to Valencia, where I spent 3 days before to go to Vitoria and to

work.At this time I did not have a flat to stay , so I preferred to spend some days in the warmer winter of Valenci rather than

Vitoria. In fact just few days later, on the 10th we experienced already the first of many heavy snowfalls of this past winter

At the end of January I put my skis back on after so long, and I spent a weekend in Italy skiing. I wanted to tame the “Gran Risa”, one of the most spectacular piste of the World Cup in Alta Val Badia. Absolutely an incredible icy steep

slope. I did it three times in a row, and the second time I had a huge crash. But never mind.Right after I also tamed 3 times the Sasslong, the World Cup Downhill slope of Val Gardena

Not long after I was in Italy again for the Venice in Carnival. It is now the third time I have been to this event , which is heaven for photographers, even if is a real challenge to find your own spot with all the

other thousands of photographer around. Anyway it’s a real great spectacle, but next year I hope to go to the Viareggio Carnival, another very big carnival in Italy. We will see.

-

-

-

-

-

-

.

.

.

-

Mid February was the beginning of the F1 testing season, exactly in Valencia. I got organized to attend to see all the news and technoligal updating, but a snowfall kept me locked for a full day in airport in Bologna and I turned up in Valencia only for few hours !!

The World Series testing season begun at the end of February, and I took part of all tests, to make sure I did not leave anything unfinished before to be released from the Team (at races, because at the factory I still do a lot of work for the Teams)

Between one test and the other, we had three days break, and I took a chance to go to Norway again to try to chase Northern Lights. Once again.

This time weather was atrocious. It was a week where heavy snowfalls hit all Europe, closing down many airports (again), but that did not bother Norway at all. Everything was working almost as normal despite 85 cm of snow in three days!!!!!!!!

Definitely not what we experience in centra and Southern Europe, when 2 inches of snow paralize everything

Despite the bad weather, I listened to the advices of the locals, which told me that if I was going inland , close to the border of Finland, I would have probably find clear sky. So I did. I took the rental car I had and drove 300 kms on the ice to reach the border, and they were right!!!! Sky was clear on that spot!!! And I spent until midnight to see a possible Northern Light, which turned up even if not very strong and also a disturbing cloud covered it partially . I drive back and after about 50 kms I was again in a snow storm .