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Il pugile albergatore
Percorrendo le viuzze bordate dalle case basse ritorno a una dimensione più umana e conosciuta fino a raggiungere l'albergo di ieri notte, dove riprendo il bagaglio. Ho deciso di andare da Mobinjon,...
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In bilico sul burrone
24 agosto. Ci svegliamo comodamente, poi prendiamo una colazione frugale, forse per via del ramazan. Il cielo fuori è coperto da nuvole basse che quasi toccano terra. Ci mettiamo in marcia per Maran,...
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Chickens can fly
My Isreali neighbour had alerted me a week in advance. His nephew would arrive at Milan and the next day he would travel on to the south where he’s studying. Would I be able to pick him up from the...
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The Simien trek: return to Debark
Masafent turns up very punctually just after 7 am. It’s the last trekking day, and he’s probably eager to leave as soon as possible. We set off after breakfast, a little before 8, although the muleteer...
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Ritorno a Hanoi
8 gennaio - Dico addio alla campagna e torno a Hanoi. Che differenza di ambiente e che rimpianto per quella quiete! Solo per arrivare dalla stazione degli autobus al centro devo prendere un mototaxi...
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La puja di Lamayuru
Da Kargil parto alle 7 con la jeep collettiva per seguire una valle solcata da un fiume secco. Le montagne sono diventate desertiche; quelle più alte, rocciose; quelle più basse, di terra, tutte sono...
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Weekend in Vienna
I booked a weekend in Vienna before the summer. I had been toying with the idea of a visit there and when I found low-cost flights on offer I thought the bargain shouldn’t be missed. After the summer...
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Crazy for opera
This year has been an autumn of opera for me after years of not attending any show. I timidly started with a performance at the theatre, which I liked so much that I immediately made plans to go to the...
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Urumqi and the journey to Beijing
With only half a day to spend in Urumqi, I could hardly do justice to the city whose name I had once and again come across since my entrance into Xinjiang. I had seen written in the Uyghur Arabic...
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I dintorni di Bukhara
Stamattina ho sentito i miei due compagni di stanza svegliarsi presto per prendere il treno delle 8 verso Samarcanda. Non ci siamo salutati propriamente, ma sono d'accordo con Guillaume che ci...
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Kerman e il deserto Kalut
Contrattiamo un autista per un'escursione nel deserto Kalut a una considerevole distanza da Kerman. Si trova in direzione nord ed è costellato da grandi depositi di sabbia che formano blocchi...
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The Simien trek: Chennek
Standing by the edge of the cliff steeped in the bright moonlight, the hours of today reel in front of my eyes. The atmosphere is one of magic stillness, only the wind is brushing the menacing vertical...
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Nelle campagne di Ninh Binh
Nella giornata di oggi ho affittato una moto per arrivare alle rovine dell'antica capitale Hoa Lu. Sono dovuto uscire dalla città per diversi chilometri e poi svoltare verso le montagne e addentrarmi...
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Junwei's postcard
If I can claim to have a private Chinese preceptor, that title certainly goes to Junwei. We have never met (although we came short of doing so last year in Chengdu), but we have been in touch for over...
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Dunhuang and the Mogao caves
I reach Dunhuang after another short trip, in the range of half a day, the last before the big jump west and the enormous distances I’ll travel in Xinjiang. The modern vehicle travelling on a...
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The Castiles
I have been to Spain several times, and I’ve always come back with the desire to visit again (but does that not happen with almost every country I go to?). There are many regions that I haven’t visited...
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Idioms
When studying a foreign language at an advanced level a lot of stress is put on learning expressions. Idioms encompass the culture of a nation, and mastering them is important not only in order to...
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The hospital relocation
If I open my window facing east today, it seems as if nothing has changed. And yet, the ominous stillness of the scene portends some great transformation that I am unable to predict. In theory, the...
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Il trek delle tribù
Alle 8.30 del mattino scendo dal pulman che mi ha portato giù dalle colline e nella stazioncina costruita secondo il progetto comune a quasi tutte mi viene incontro un ragazzo. È un piccoletto che sa...
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The Debre Damo saga: the night
The mountain top is really extensive, scattered with neat stone constructions. A groups of monks in colourful robes is holding a meeting under a tree on the edge of the cliff. The landscape behind...
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