One Month until the departure

Incredible: it is only one month until we leave for the second edition of Desert Therapy. When we launched the idea a few months ago to walk together in the desert, we never thought we would receive so much enthusiastic support. And now we find ourselves again busy preparing for the departure. Just the thought of the desert brings to mind many strong sensations and memories that bring chills up the back. The smell of the sand, the light wind that calms the heat, the starry nights, marvelous memories that we can’t wait to relive and share with new friends.
To give everyone, also young persons, the possibility to discover this special place, we have decided to bring to life a new version of this trip, more sporty, that will start in November in which each participant will be an active part in the crossing, with the hope of making this experience even more special. The group will again be small and the emotions will be gigantic.

Autumn

Autumn is a marvelous season, also in the mountains. Together with the kids we passed two truly relaxing days, walking in the woods and gathering wild berries.
We returned home tired, with our hand and clothes covered with red and blue marks but with buckets full of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and ribes. Now the great job of conserving all these precious gifts nature has given us for the winter awaits us. We are already working on making jam and jelly, jars of syrup and packages for freezing. For Lauren these serve to cook delicious fruit tarts, which have become famous among our friends. Unfortunately we haven’t found mushrooms. There was little rain this year and you can’t find any, we must have patience. However, the woods have been very generous.

Begining again

The long hot 2009 summer is over and here we are ready to begin our activities again with new energy and great enthusiasm.
Only the blog has been on vacation, we on the other hand have continued to work for the next edition. Our new friends who will come with us to Egypt are very nice, some of whom we have already met in person and without a doubt there are high expectations that the magic atmosphere of the first edition will surly repeat this time. Max and Lauren, always very active and eager to return in the magnificent White Desert, have worked with great passion and are available to answer any questions for the travellers that are preparing to live this special experience. The curiosity of those who will go to encounter the desert for the first time grows every day and the excitement of everyone is very high. Also these days of waiting for the departure, become part of the memory of those who will join us in this new emotional adventure.

Enjoying each day

As the time for summer holidays approaches, it is very easy to become stressed with the last few weeks of work, or the heat of the summer. I find the thoughts of vacations; either dreaming about those to come, or reminiscing about those past, sometimes consume the mind, rather than enjoying the moment, and the beauty that the summer brings. This weekend's trip to the mountains refreshed me and reminded me of the truth I became aware of through my travels in the desert- life is to be enjoyed now, today. In every day beauty and peace can be enjoyed along side the demands and stress of life. Whether it is a walk through the park after work, half hour to relax out on the balcony, or an enjoyable dinner with friends, enjoy today and all the days of your "everyday life."

Outdoor Expo 2009

Yesterday in Friedrichshafen, Germany, the most important expo in Europe dedicated to the outdoors ended. All Saturday I was at the disposition of the sponsors that accompany me in the fantastic adventure of Desert Therapy and who are collaborating with me on the project.

The Wild Roses spot, completely dedicated to Desert Therapy, was distinct for its originality and fantasy. The clothing, truly beautiful and feminine, were displayed in a desert, between the dunes and star-filled sky, while the external walls of the stand were made of giant photos we took in Egypt, during the first edition. It was very touching but above all it was a great success: during the period of the expo, the flow of the crowd was steady and they were very curious about this particular atmosphere.

The space of Ferrino, my long time sponsor, was more traditional, but as always refined. Here the external walls were characteristic of the mythic tent that immediately evoked memories of travel and adventure, and all the materials presented were as always of a very high quality.

The evening ended with the traditional Outdoor Party put on by Polartec, accompanied by a concert and abundant local food and naturally lots of beer. Everything was about sport and having fun.

Grand Trail Completed!

Our Lauren and Max were great! Saturday, July 11 they were able to complete their attempt at the Grand Trail of Valdigne: a 45 kilometer race in the mountains with 2,500 meters of elevation change that they completed in 9 hours and 40 minutes. Knee problems caused Max to slow his pace, but they were still able to arrive at the finishline at Dolonne. The two climbs to arrive at Colle della Croce and Yula were difficult, both arriving at an elevation of 2,500 meters, but above all the downhill, ultimately arriving in Courmayer, was were they suffered. Lauren arrived in 46th of the women: considering that they trained almost only in Milan, they achieved an impressive result! The views of Valle D’Aosta were magical and the organization was impeccable, but it was the pure atmosphere of sport and the enthusiasm of the participants that framed the event and involved not only the athletes but also the numerous people who encouraged and applauded them along the way! It was a beautiful day for these guys, who realized a dream to which they had dedicated much passion and months of training. It is great to realize a dream, but it wonderful when they are the dreams of young people: such as this!

The inaccessible Taklimakan

The sad new of the journals which report the bloody revolts of the Uyguri population in China, makes the mythic Taklimakan desert, which I had the privilege to be the only human able cross on alone foot in 1998, seem even more distant and inaccessible.

I remember it even today with great emotion: to know what it is like to live and walk in its sand in solitude for 24 days is unforgettable, as it is one of the worlds most fascinating places. The beauty of the Taklimakan is something absolutely unique that you carry inside of you always: impossible to compare to other deserts. I have a great desire to return with Desert Therapy, different people have asked me to have this experience together, but now it is not possible. The fact is that Urumqi has now made the Xing Yang zone inaccessible. It is not enough to remember the splendid images of the crossing and the golden sand I save jealously in a glass together with those from all the other deserts. I hope that human reason takes the upper hand to violence.