In the United States, cycle 3,200 km in the footsteps of his grandfather Aldo- Corriere.it

In the end we leave. Dr..On Tuesday, August 9, the flight to Seattle that Andrea Franzoni, 32, will fly from Villanova sul CleeseI graduated in Chinese languages ​​from Catholic University. So Andrea will fulfill the dream she has dreamed of and lived through during lockdown: a long bike ride 3,200 km follows in the footsteps of his grandfather Aldo Arrighi, a prisoner during World War II who stayed in the United States for two years. Moving from one work camp to another. Memory Journey, therefore, what Andrea has scElto to honor the memory of his grandfather who passed away in 2019 at the age of 97. A kind of duty to the person who saw him born and grow up and to whom he was very attached. During the pandemic forced stay in his home, young Valsabino rode his sportbike almost inside the walls of his house following the itinerary he is about to follow today in reality. Dr..On the track, Andrea paid attention to every detail, imagined the stages, and built a network of relationships and friendships that would materialize in the next two months in meetings, hugs, and hospitality.. More than half of the nights I will spend in the US already have someone to host me, who has made himself available to offer me his house or a hotel bed – explains Andrea on the eve of departure – I have also found many contacts and even some friends and grandchildren that my grandfather made during his stay in the US . Special thanks go to Sue Miller, a US Army veteran who is married to an Army officer A retired American, he took Andrea’s story seriously and has been helping him for weeks. Andrea Franzoni will leave on Tuesday with very few things with him, necessities sealed in a cardboard box, like the third millennium immigrant, who remembers the pasts of many Italians who had to leave their country for various reasons. Once on US soil, rip the cardboard suitcase into pieces and ride his bike sent from Villanuova sul Clisi.

In recent months, he trained for a long time in Valsabia and on Lake Garda, dealing with climbs, descents and long rides to better face the American adventure.in Seattle
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The state Washington in Phoenix Arizona. He will keep in touch with his Italian friends by writing a diary and communicating through his pages on Facebook and Instagram (train_long_gone) which we invite you to attend. Meanwhile, even in the United States, his idea was so appreciated that a newspaper destined for Italian Americans dedicated an Italian newspaper, the Italian Tribune, to his front page, telling his story to the hundreds of thousands of readers that this newspaper reaches. I wanted – explained Andrea – to convince everyone that there is still so much beauty in humanity. My grandfather’s story and the visit to the United States in his honor proved a way to prove it. I thank all the people in America who, even if they didn’t know me, would open their doors to host me, and above all the indefatigable Sue Miller, who posted ads for my project along the West Coast. I bring with me all the Italian friends who have supported me, with donations but above all with encouragement, those who have led me to continue all this time. It will be a great adventure, the least I can do for them is their eyes on American soil. Maria Paola Pasini