October 22, 2009
Volume 2 | Issue 21
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EXCLUSIVE: Vietnam Cycling for Families this Winter
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Exclusively for 2009, Ciclismo Classico will be running a very special family departure of our popular Vietnam trip.
Take your kids on a vacation this winter they'll never forget. It's guaranteed to be full of exciting activities everyone can enjoy!
December 28, 2009 - January 7, 2010
Adults: $4,295
8-16 years less 15%
4-7 years less 25%
up to 3 year $750
Vietnam Family (11 days): Trip Info | Detailed Itinerary
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Save 15% off a Customized Training Program from Fit for Trips
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Sign up for your 2010 trip by November 25 and you'll save 15% on a
customized training program from Fit for Trips. Developed for Ciclismo
by fitness experts, these training programs will help you get ready for
the best bike tour you'll ever take! Click here for details.
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Ciclismo Favorites: Celebrating Sicily and Sardegna
Sardegna: A Mediterranean Gem
Get lost in the
wonder of Sardegna - Italy's lesser-known island paradise boasting over
3,200 miles of coastline. Often in the shadow of better-known Sicily,
Sardegna presents a multitude of activities for anyone to enjoy. Relax
along white, sandy beaches as the turquoise blue waters of the
Mediterranean crash on the shore. Gaze at the pristine countryside
covering lush, rolling hills where mountaintop villages rest -
seemingly untouched by the ages. Very rich in history with
cultural influences ranging from Greek to Arab, Sardegna is an island
ready to be explored. Be the first of your friends to visit this
magical place, and take back with you memories to last a lifetime.
Bring the kids, too!
Get Swept Away in Sardegna with the
#1 US cycling tour operator on the island! Already a cherished island
by Europeans, this destination is barely known throughout the rest of
the world. Join native "Sardo" Tour Leader and consultant to the
Sardegna Tourist Board, Simone Scalas, who will lead your two-wheeled
exploration of the island's dramatic landscapes and coastlines. Sip
savory wines and dine on delicious cuisine while you immerse yourself
in this rich and vibrant culture.
"Visiting the out of the way spots made the country come alive for
me. Simone did a great job introducing us to the culture and customs
of Sardegna." - Marlene P., Rockledge, FL
What do you get when you mix in the Italian culture of Sardegna with France's Corsica? You get our Mediterranean Island Hopping
extravaganza! Outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and nature lovers
will be mesmerized by this trip's dramatic beauty. We'll share with
you our favorite spots on both these islands. Compare for yourself the
differences in French and Italian cultures through the multitude of
cultural experiences, encounters with locals, not to mention the hearty
food and wines.
"The weather was perfect and the islands were exquisite- wild
flowers, green fields, blue water, spectacular mountains! In addition,
our guides were knowledgeable, lovely, warm, and personable- simply
great!" - Patrice M., Shoreline, WA
Take the kids with you on our Sardegna Multi-Sport Adventure, names one of '50 Tours of a Lifetime' by National Geographic Traveler.
Share this joyous experience with those you love most - your whole
family! There are lots of activities wrapped up in this adventure,
including cycling, hiking, swimming, boating, kayaking, windsurfing,
snorkeling - and that's only a taste of what's available. This is the
only multi-generational, multisport tour on Sardegna, designed
specifically with families in mind.
"I loved the bike routes--well chosen, great scenery & rides." - Ruth W., Seattle, WA.
Try out this Sardegnian recipe
Sicily: One of "The 10 Best Bargains in Adventure Travel" --SmarterTravel.com
Whether
circumnavigating the Mediterranean's largest island or taking a shorter
spin in one of its diverse eastern or western regions, Sicily is
revered by Ciclismo alumni as one of the most fascinating and
"spiciest" parts of Italy up for discovery.
As Outside Magazine's Stephanie Pearson put it in her May 2009 article, 'Sicily: Bike Italy's Spiciest Island':
"It's
only day three of our 220-mile cycling trip through Sicily, but I
already get Don Corleone's attachment to this island punted into the
sea by mainland Italy... today I'm living la dolce vita. The largest
island in the Mediterranean sprouts wild oregano, smells of citrus, and
harbors some of the world's most important Greek and Roman ruins."
By
bike, you'll be able to take all of it in at the pace your body takes
you. You will savor every beautiful landscape, marvel at the ancient
Temple of Hera at Sellinunte, delight in each bite of the freshest
seafood seasoned with local prezzemolo and every rich sip of
Nero'd'Avola produced at the vineyard you spun by earlier in the day.
While you'll get your dose of great food, wine, history and culture on all our trips in Sicily. Our classic La Bella Sicilia
tour will cover the great sites of eastern Sicily, including Siracusa,
Taormina and Mt. Etna, as well as historical hamlets and the remote
Aeolian Islands. For a shorter option, try our 6-day mini tour.
See what SmarterTravel.com wrote about La Bella Sicilia:
"...what
really makes this adventure an incredible bargain is the opportunities
that are offered. While cycling may be the primary activity, other
types of exploration are included as well. A visit to Greek ruins,
including the more than 5,000 tombs at the Necropolis of Pantilica, and
a boat ride in the Mediterranean aren't just optional
experiences-they're part of the package. The same is true for a hike up
Mt. Etna, Italy's only active volcano. How's that for a vacation?"
Archeology buffs, get ready! The La Bella Sicilia Ovest
tour of western Sicily is for you. Starting in Palermo, we'll loop
around the island's western shores down to Agrigento. The rolling route
will take you to the archeological sites at Sellinunte, Italy's oldest
spa town of Sciacca, a boat trip to the Egadi Islands, and finally to
Agrigento, Sicily's most notable wine-producing region.
Ride with the Best: Sicily Guides Rated 9.9 out of 10 on Most Recent Trips
On
our most recent trips in Sicily from the fall of 2009, guests rated
Ciclismo guides an average of 9.9 on a 10-point scale, with 10 meaning
'outstanding'! Here's what a guest from an October trip said:
"I
can't say enough about how seriously they take their jobs and how truly
enjoyable they both are to be with. As a repeat guest with Paolo, I am
hoping to sign up for other trips he guides. What a gem he is! His
enthusiasm and pride for Sicily are beyond compare. The personal
touches he adds (all his compadres at the various restaurants, hotels,
shipyards, etc) make the trip so much more unforgettable. Massimo was
also a super guide and took care of all uf us the day it rained... he was
always there to help and was very encouraging. I loved both of them!"
Spring and fall season dates are already filling up. Get your detailed itinerary today and andiamo - let's go!
Try out this Sicilian recipe
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New and Exciting: Take It Easy with Our Newest Itineraries
 Follow the Tour de France on Two new Route Levels: Athletic Beginner and Expert
Lance is back! And for 2010, you don't need to be an aspiring Armstrong
to experience the race with Ciclismo Classico. In addition to our
expert-level Follow the Race in France trip, we're offering a new route
for athletic beginners.
Experience all the drama, pageantry,
and excitement of the world's most compelling bike race on a tour
that's just your speed. Our 8-day tour this July will cover a
combination of French terrain with lightly rolling terrain and longer
loops for those wanting more miles and climbs. The itinerary will
include viewing at least three stages of the epic French race.
Space
is now available with a fully refundable $500 deposit through December
2009. Once the complete route is published, those with confirmed space
will have the opportunity to keep their reserved space or cancel and
receive a full refund.
So don't miss out - reserve your space by calling one of our Travel Consultants at 1-800-866-7314 today.
To check out last year's itinerary, click here.
Easy Puglia
Puglia has long been one of our most popular destinations, and with good reason. Delight yourself in Puglia's mysticism - conical trulli structures sprinkle towns surrounded by enormous olive trees. Herb gardens, fig trees, and cacti mark the path with fragrant aromas.
Another feature of this region is the beautiful rolling hills, but lots
of cyclists prefer a flatter route. That's why we've developed this new
8-day itinerary, which takes in all the same scenery, culture, and
cuisine that you'd expect from this beautiful region - with less
strenuous riding.
Don't miss out on your chance to visit this lovely little-known region at a relaxed pace. Whether you're new to bicycle touring or a long-time rider just looking for something easier, this is the trip for you!
"Just an outstanding trp.Another reinforcement of our commitment to Ciclismo Classico in the geographic area you serve!" -John S., Lafayette, CA
Easy Pedaling Puglia (8 days): Trip Info | Detailed Itinerary
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New Ciclismo Wallpaper Downloads
 Ever get lonely for the open road of the old
country while you're toiling away at your computer? You can remind
yourself of La Dolce Vita by installing one of our new wallpaper
images!
We've
taken a handful of striking images from our recent tours and made them
available on this page to download. More will be on the way soon,
including the guide collage from our catalog! Each of these
beautiful images represents just one tiny fraction of the multitude of
vistas that our guests are immersed in every day on tour, and many of these photos are from our 2010 catalog. Download images from our website here. This page also includes complete instructions; please contact us if you need further help.
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Share your Photos on Flickr & Earn $100
As most subscribers to the Pasta Times know by now, Ciclismo Classico has embraced social media in a big way: Our Facebook page has over 1200 fans, we're adding new videos to Ciclismoclassico.tv all the time, and our Twitter feed has more followers every day.
The latest addition to our social media tool box is Flickr
for photo sharing. Flickr wonderfully flexible, easy to use, and it's
already popular with many members of the Ciclismo community - as of
last week, Ciclismo alumni had already uploaded over 220 photos from
their trips.
What you can do with Flickr
In addition to uploading photos for others to view, Flickr allows you
to create sets of photos (such as "My Bike Across Italy Trip"), control
who sees which of your photos, and comment on photos. You can also
label each photo with descriptive "tags". Tags often describe the
subject matter of a photo or where it was taken. For example, Ciclismo
alum David Block tagged this photo with cycling, tuscany, elba, and ciclismoclassico. But the really neat thing about Flickr's tags is that you can easily see all photos with the same tags! Click any of David's tags to see how that works.
Flickr also allows you to order prints of your photos and do lots of
other cool stuff - the best way to discover everything it can do is by
exploring yourself!
Sharing your photos with the Ciclismo community
When you upload your photos, they become part of your own photostream,
then you can share them with Ciclismo Classico using groups. We've set
up groups for all of our trips, plus a couple catch-all groups. A group
is a pool of photos with a common theme, such as photos taken by people
during a Ciclismo Classico Bike Across Italy trip. All the Ciclismo
Classico groups are listed here. You can also search for groups with the terms "Ciclismo Classico" or the name of your trip.
Here's how to get started:
- If you're new to Flickr, you'll need to set up an account. Since
Flickr is run by Yahoo, you use a Yahoo ID to log in to Flickr. You can
set up your account here.
- Go to the group page for your trip - you can search for groups on the Flickr Groups page, or follow a link from our full list of groups.
- Click the link "Join this group" and confirm on the next screen
- Next, you'll see the group pool of photos; click "Add photos or video" and select photos from your photostream to share
- That's all there is to it!
You can also add photos individually by clicking the "Send to group" button on one of your photo pages.
If you have questions about how Flickr works, or how to add your photos
to Ciclismo's groups, please contact andrew@ciclismoclassico.com or
have a look at Flickr's Frequently-asked Questions.
Share your photos and earn $100 trip credit
Ready to dive right in? Contribute at least 20 photos to one of our
Flickr galleries by the end of the year and we'll give you $100 credit
towards your 2010 tour! And if you're a regular contributor to our
photo contests, don't worry - any of the photos you share on Flickr are
still eligible for entry.
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