Will be back

Why on earth did you come up with this now?

Well, I don't know.

Maybe it was that poster hanging on the wall in some cafeteria, it was too much talking about going up in air, it was just an undefined thought in the realm of possibilities.

Yet, sometimes in the realm of possibilities, one of them materilises for lack of a better idea, or for lack of an excuse not to do it.
So, yes, I guess the answer is: why not?

Why are you going to the middle of France for a week to learn how fly a glider?
Well, why not?

Just an earth bound misfit.
See you soon again, my friends.

Staccando l'ombra da terra

Today we disconnected our shadow from the ground. Our hope being to take full control once in the cockpit, nose up and joystick in our hand.

A little Coavio DF 2000, an ULM according to Italian standards, lifted itself up in the sky as if that was the most natural thing to do. As if its place was never meant to be on the ground.

But windy weather converted us wannabe pilots back into simple tourists of the air.

Piloting would have been amazing. But sitting in the little plane, floating in the blue sky blessed by the sun is far from being a disappointment - even when hit time and again by a sudden wind blow.

Up to 2000 feet, our lady pilots-in-command headed south over the Lake of Bracciano, turning over the peaceful blue waters, then pointed at the background mountains covered by the recent and unexpectedly abundant snow and finally towards the brown woods, still incredulous of the outburst of a gorgeous March day.

Another of those days when you look down and wonder how you can possibly not have started yet your PPL - money, logistics, north European weather or just lack of resolve?


In any case, it won't be for today that we become pilots, so perhaps a check of the Bracciano lake from a little closer may be a good way of filling our spirits with yet more beauty - as well as our stomach with some tonnarelli alla ricotta and torta della nonna.

The world upside down

Another weekend out of Brussels and another change of perspective.

People boarding on a plane and regretting not having booked an Alitalia flight seems an interesting start.

Heading south Italy to ski also sounds interesting, if not a little funny. Even more so when friends complain that east to west in the Alps, from Aosta to the Dolomites there was no snow. But the Divine Providence rewards people who dare and allow them to ski some 1.000 km south of Mont Blanc, with temperatures of almost 20 degrees and a clear blue ski. The Divine Providence above even made me go down a slope on my own and with no panic. Wonders of Laceno.

And a little nightime earthquake, just to shake up things a bit. And to remind us that we are children of a terra ballerina and must learn to keep vigilant to survive.