(seriously, the use and abuse of the term "travel blogger" is disturbing)
Here is the top 5 list of the road I enjoyed the most while wandering around Europe with my bicycle:
5) Bayonne - Mimizan, France
Part of Eurovelo 1 (Atlantic Route), this itinerary runs for almost 100 km away from any major road, in the middle for the Landes forest, the biggest maritime-pine forest in Europe. The sounds and the smells that I felt during that ride trasmitted me a sense of peace that I can't describe.
4) Lausanne - Geneva, Switzerland
If I could afford it, I wouldn't mind living in this area of Switzerland. For sure it has to do with wealth, but also with the natural beauty and the very high quality of life that can be perceived at first sight. The cycle itinerary that follows the north shore of Lake Geneva is part of the Rhone Route and is ideal to explore the region.
3) Rotterdam - Delft - Den Haag - Leiden, Netherlands
As far as bicycle culture, no country can be compared to the Netherlands: perfection in every detail. Amsterdam is a world-famous destination with its channels, but charming little cities like Delft and Leiden are perhaps even more special. This itinerary connects four cities in less than 40 km and is the dream of every urban cyclist. Observe, admire and try to import the model back home: the era of the bicycle has already begun.
2) Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
The view from the top of the fortified walls that surround Kotor reminds a Norwegian fjord. Biking around the bay is even better: the buildings of the little towns (Kotor, Perast and others) have a unique style that dates back to the years of the Venetian Republic. The snow that covered Lovćen (1750 m) made up for a great contrast with the sea.
1) Itea - Delphi, Greece
About 15 kilometers uphill, from 0 to 600 m of elevation. Starting from the Gulf of Itea, you begin climbing slowly but steadily on a large road: in the summer it might be too hot and busy with tourist cars and buses, but when I was there at the beginning of November it was simply perfect. On one side the mountain range including Mount Parnassus, on the other side a huge valley covered by olive trees, with the sea at the horizon. After 2 hours of pleasant uphill riding, I reached Delphi and it was the only time in the whole trip in which I was sorry that the ascent was over. The visit at the archeological site and the amazing sunset completed an amazing day.
Sea, mountains, sun, olive trees, history and mythology all at once: hard to ask more than that.
