Biciclette!

Sept. 9, 2011

Oh the fun that you can have with bikes here! Two other girls decided to buy bici and had heard that you can buy stolen ones for 10-20 euros from these shady guys posted in a park. Our instructions were to wait near the entrance of the park, to not approach the guys just let them come to you, and to not go alone. When we went at noon we waited for about two minutes and then an untrustworthy type fellow approached us, quickly scanned the area, and whispered,

“bici?”

We nodded yes and he waved over his friend who wheeled over two bikes, he offered 50 for the two, we haggled a little and then settled on 40 for both. They were the old school bikes that are abundant in Padova. When I was looking to buy my own I had my heart set on one of these bikes because they’ve got so much more character than newer ones. I offered to exchange mine for one of his but he just laughed and said,

“We only sell, no exchange. Tell your friend to buy and then exchange with her.”

So we did just that.

Now I have an old school magenta bici. It's the same style as the one below but pretty beat up and equipt with a basket. I also survived a transaction shadier than a drug deal.