How far that little candle throws his beams, so shines a good deed in a weary world.  – William Shakespeare

Last night, tonight and Sunday night, we are staying in the Dolomites at Hotel Evaldo in Arabba, Italy. It’s the type of place where they are waiting for you outside the front door when you pull up, because they are genuinely happy you are here. This is the type of place where you pay for breakfast and dinner with your room and you eat in a beautifully kept old-school dining room – white table cloths and all. Where if you don’t finish your bottle of wine one night, it is sitting, perfectly chilled when you arrive the next. It’s also the type of place when you tell them you need something, Christina calls all over the region, helping to find it, even when almost everything is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Today, we were in need of a tire.

Trento, with it’s provencial abbreviation of TN, is the type of place when you go to a shop (Moto Mozzini) for help, Stefano greets you, looks at the tire and shakes his head, knowing the predicament you are in – and he just helps, even after removing the tire reveals the back brakes are shot. And he calls all over the region, helping find new brake pads, even when almost everything is closed on Saturday. And he took me to town for a beer while we waited for Kevin to ride 80 km to pick up the pads. And I got to spend time with his mom, Louisa, who doesn’t speak any English, but welcomed me to her home with a cold drink and fun conversation. All of this, when he is leaving with his family at 5:00 the next morning for his weeklong vacation at the beach in Rimini.

Stefano outside his shop – Moto Mozzini in Cavalese

We are home safe and the Paul Harvey will be better around a camp fire with a few beers.

Today had a few warts, but thank God for the folks at Hotel Evaldo and especially Stefano and Louisa – their kindness and generosity will never be forgotten.

Buona notte!