Awesome report... looks like the tennis shoe/flat pedal fraction needs to train some to keep up with you. Glad you got to eat real pizza. And yes, 2-3 hour dinners. Idiots in Germany - everyone is supposed to know what a saddle is, it's not like bikes are a rarity there (although we do joke about how germans consider their automobile a body part).

Have any links? I want to cycle in tuscany (it's not too far from where I live....)

Higher end Campy shifts blissfully. I can shift front and back at the same time (have Chorus).