NOTES  2 0 2 1
 

31 December 21
ready for the last show of this year, good bye 2021.. among all the odds you gave me still something special @ Ironman in Hamburg.
As every time, once more prove limits don't exist, you choose your path, your present and your future, welcome 2022 !
I hope to see you guys again somewhere soon, cheers everybody !
(from the stage)

19 December 21
just finished playing, now it's time for training.. with this moon, it's more enjoyable

17 December 21
very nice & warm vibes yesterday @ Schatz Cafe Lubeck.
It was a pleasure to sing together & Merry Christmas to everybody !
(link to the picture)

14 December 21
I knew that sooner or later I had to try my new tools..
the audio card (Clarett 8pre), the Dpa mic for guitar, the headphone Beyer Dynamic and the black fabric as background..
I decided to record a live video and this is what came out: Love Is (acoustic)
the result is "just ok" and there is margin to improve..
next time I will treasure what I have learned

2 December 21
happy to announce that for NewYear's Eve I'll play voice & guitar for dinner and Dj after dinner @ Ristorante Sapore - Schönberger Landstraße 30, 24253 Probsteierhagen 
see you there, cheers !!!

22 November 21
on sale now online tickets for the event @ Schatz Cafe - Lubeck - December 17th - 6:30pm 
to my friends who are nearby, this is the appointment to mark.
A cozy acoustic event, voice & guitar,
a path through life experiences told with songs that I don't play so often.. a unique journey.
do not miss the chance, limited seats available (Covid restrictions applied)

17 November 21
working on the upcoming Christmas Events, soon they will appear in my events calendar

by the way, today really nice training with a bright full moonlight.. both run & bike

8 November 21

happy to resume the IronMan training, 7 months to go.
the first bicycling and running sessions, basically always under the rain.
whatever it is, it's always a nice feeling to be in tune with the environment.
after all the tours, adventures & related training that I've been through, 
I do now appreciate all kind of weather, it's part of the challenge.. and it's cool  

1 November 21

the glove has been thrown, the challenge is now on
after 2 months of memories and thoughts, the face off with myself isi on again.. once more
let's see if I can improve my time.. as I feel I should.. 13h34'26'' (IronMan Hamburg 29th August '21)
hands down, it will be a tough winter.. but the will to realize it is #stronger.
you can bet on me, you won't regret it.
I'll see you on June 5th at the IronMan European Championship Triathlon Race in Hamburg.

18 October 21

these last 2 months have been very intense, I played a lot before and after the holiday time..
now a period begins in which I'll be back recording new songs & ideas and I'll continue to study piano, bass, ukulele & as always guitar.
step by step.. time is gentleman

8 October 21

my family and I, have spent 12 crazy adventurous days on vacation in Greece..
we rented a camper in Athens and went around the Peloponnese looking for cool spots & beaches.
In the end we preferred to stay in camping grounds, since Nicholas and Maya are too little..
experiencing amazing spots, as for example the great view from our pitch in the first camping, Nicolas II.. We have been also in Kastraki (Nafplio), Gythion Bay and Zaritsi Camping.

We had fun but I have to say it was not easy to relax, as the children always needed constant attention..
I woke up an average of at least 5 times a night and somehow you are depending on the children's mood.
Greece has fantastic beaches and wonderful places to discover. great archaeological sites and an environment as hard as it is fascinating.

Daily I went swimming or running.. here a couple of memories:
standing on the ruins of the "sunken city of Epidaurus", today, view from my running turn back point in Tolon, along the coast in Gythion, a nice sunset still in Ghytion, along the beach and the last swimming spot.

it was great jogging often through abandoned or remote places with a warm breeze on you.. or swimming in the salty sea (I'm used to the lake).. where I had to change my breathing movement since it was not so pleasant to receive salty water in the mouth for around 1 hour of training.

back now and ready to plan something cool soon.. 

16 September 21

in the last two weeks I have often gone to both Travemunde and Boltenhagen..
it's always a pleasure..
(here a memory in Travemunde)

5 September 21

I have uploaded the videos of the race that my wife shot with her mobile.
here the link to the race playlist

4 September 21

nice day in Neumünster for the "BaDaBoom" festival, and during the evening cool sets at LucaCelli restaurant.

1 September 21

thank you @fahrradhandlung_willert_2.0 for the great bike & service.
the adventure started at your store on December 2020 and today is ending in the same spot giving you back the @j.guillem that I used for training and racing.. great bike !
we achieved the goal, the much-dreamed IronMan !

30 August 21

finally I can say it.. the great enterprise has been reached !
yesterday I completed the IronMan in Hamburg in 13 hours, 34 minutes and 26 seconds !
this venture will always be with me !

9 tough months of training with wind, cold, ice, rain, sun..  and here we are.
this happened also thanks to my wife who assisted my weird schedule and cheered me up during all this time..
the so much dreamed IronMan medal and the IronMan finisher t-shirt
 

29 August 21

race day.
I didn't sleep at all, all my thoughts were on the race.
I woke up from the bed at 3:30 am for a good breakfast and at 4:45 am I was ready for the taxi.
I checked myself in at 5:20 am and already the "race atmosphere" was on.
the atmospheric temperature was 14 degrees and the water temperature was 17.5 degrees (so it was a wet suit race).
I ate some energy bars, I checked the pressure of the tires of my bike and I started to change myself.
around 6:10 I started to walk forward the swimming starting point.
the atmosphere was nice, there was the dawn and you could feel the tension of the race, also in the face of the other athletes.
my group started after the women "pro" and the "physically challenged" (PC) triathlete..
I started my swimming portion around 6:50 am
the water was warmer than the one in the lake where I'm used to train.. but while I was swimming I found out that the Garmin watch with which had always gave me wrong data regarding the distance of the race.. so basically when I was thinking to cover the distance in reality I was just covering 2 km.. in fact for the real 3.8 km the watch was declaring 6 km.. I found out this at the half of the portion..
however, above this hassle I kept on until the end and I accomplished it in 1 hour and 24 minutes.
(a picture, after the swimming, when I was walking to the transition zone to get ready for the bike)
the T1 (transition from swim to bike) took me too long, 21 minutes because a contact lent didn't want to stay attached to the left eye.
The bicycle portion was cool, I tried to make up for the time lost during the first change (swim->bike).. it was a mix of wind and rain. I was wearing a new jacket, knee-highs and tubular covers and I often had a feeling that there was no air.. (see a picture of the bike portion)
I pushed 182 km, but managing, after that a marathon was waiting for me..
I accomplished the 180.2 km in 6 hours 15 minutes and 7 seconds
again the T2 (transition from bike to run) was quite long.
During the last portion of the race, the marathon I had a cramp at the very first km which forced me to a slower pace than my usual. I ran the first 21 km and then I slow down walking for a couple of km. 
Then I started again following this plan, 100 meters walked and 400 run.
at the end of the 3rd lap (4 to cover the distance) I was very tired, we can say quite gone.
(a picture during the marathon)
so when I was around 7 km to the end I started to run again until the end.
at the 40th km I finally wore the last colored red bracelet (green first lap, yellow second lap, blue third lap) and I ran for the last 2 km with all the people around me cheering me up.
It was really cool and strong emotion to face the finish line, the last 200 meters, knowing you were going through that dreamed finish line.
after a great effort 3.8 km of swimming, 180.2 km of cycling and 42.2 km of running, a dream has come true, that fateful "you are an IronMan !"
I accomplished the marathon in 5 hours 12 minutes and 23 seconds
(here the pic while I'm crossing the finish line)

just after the finish line, while a volunteer was showing me where to go to receive the medal and the t-shirt (the so called athlete garden) I finally saw and hugged strongly my wife who cheered me up during the race, taking also some nice memory/videos)

28 August 21

the day before the race.
you have to check in your bicycle and the red & blue bag.
that was my first time and I found out that the begs were stay outdoor, the rain could have gone inside the bag and make all my clothes wet during the night.
a guy helped me to close the bags with a special knot to avoid the water to come in.
that was really cool.. (even if the day after, during the race.. it was difficult for me to open the bags cause by the special knot)
weird sensation to hang your bicycle on that rack with my number and leave it there for the night.
(my bicycle on the rack - BIB 1284) 

26 August 21

the day of my check in for the IronMan race
(here myself at the entry of the IronMan Village in the city hall square).
I received the white (warm up), blue (bike) and red (run) bag for the race.
I started to see and understand many details of the race that before I had only read on the athlete's guide. After the check in I went to see the spot where I'll start the swimming portion.
(here with my daughter checking the spot and imaging what and how it will be)
It's quite scary to swim under several long bridges and then go from the little to the big Alster lake and come back. During the afternoon we went with the car to check the bicycle path that is cool, even if windy as soon as you'll go out from the city. 
the tension for the race begins to build.

8 August 21

keep on training hard..
today 182 km with the bicycle.. it was quite tough, cause the wind and the chilly weather.
Honestly this German summer seams more Autumn.. the temperature are low, for the most in the night.
I hope to be ready the day of the race.. still dealing with the time of waking up in the morning.
I was used to go to bed very late in the night and wake up late in the morning, but now I have to change completely everything case the race will start very early in the morning..

31 July 21

#creativity
This should have been the name of the garden concert of yesterday in Ratzeburg.
It was pouring outside so the organizers of this "building white dinner" came up with a last moment plan B.. they set up everything in the garage.
Compliments for this brilliant idea ! The atmosphere was great !
Candles, paintings, balloons.. look to believe.. a memory of the place
Very kind people and warm atmosphere..
I played in so many places in my journey.. that was my first time in a garage.. unforgettable.
What'll be next..

26 July 21

a very nice event at Seedorf Garden Concert yesterday.. a lot of kind people and friends.
thanks for participating..  (a memory from the live)

22 July 21

thanks to MEI (Meeting Etichette Indipendenti)
for this nice article on my new single "Semplicemente Noi" (link to the article)
 

18 July 21

increasing the training efforts.. here a couple of pictures of the long ride that I covered today..
(on the beach at the Baltic Sea) - (coming back at the sunset)

16 July 21

today the old album "A Step In Heaven A Step In Hell" (2011) has been restored on all the music platforms (Spotify link).
I spent many months trying to improve my old tracks and with this album the circle is almost complete..
I "remastered" several albums and singles..
for many of them I could work only on the finished track but sometimes I had also the option to edit the complete Protools session..
I studied a lot and thanks to the daily advises of Martino Buttieri (Metropolitan Music Studio) I finally made them better.. or at least they seem now to my ears.
you can listen to them on all the music platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, etc..) and if you like them, don't forget to click the little heart or insert them in your playlists.
let me know your comment (by email) when you like.

7 July 21

finally, after so much time, today I released the single "Semplicemente Noi" !
watch  the video  -  listen to the song

the song will be on the music platforms in a couple of days..
for me this is a further step in my will to make it as a DIY (Do It Yourself) artist.
After "Something More" and "Volo Via Con Te" this is my third single that I mix & master by myself.
I'm learning and I'm improving day by day.. let's see what will come..
the song tells about us.. Maybritt & I..
let me know (by email) your comment

3 July 21

very nice atmosphere this afternoon at the Garden Concert in Molln (a memory)
very nice people.. they told me that a guy just covered 250 km to to there for my concert and another woman came directly from Potsdam (near Berlin).. woaow, I was impressed.. 

26 June 21

keeping increasing my training day by day..
reached the Baltic Sea in a long training this afternoon (125km).
the bike on the shore..

18 June 21

nice acoustic Italian mood this afternoon and evening at @ Ristorante Hotel Italia in Aumühle
I started before 6pm and I kept on just until before 10pm.
there were good vibes on the large airy terrace.
I came back home quite late around 11pm and I went running for 15 km.
it was nice, in the silence of the dark, surrounded by the nature and the moon..

16 June 21

pushing harder every day with training.. today 90 km biking.. (just before to start)

13 June 21

the mood at Sunday 7 pm.. (a memory)
let's close this intense week with an hour's swim..
5 gigs and a strong increase in training.. 
today it was nice to play on the terrace @ Das Thomas in Salem close to the beach.
ps: so beautiful to see how longer the daylight is reaching during the evening/night..

12 June 21

the season of the garden concerts started today..
cool vibes in Kittlitz with Andrea on the percussion.. (a memory)

11 June 21

nice acoustic vibes @ La Masseria Lubeck today at the sunset.
surrounded by pizzas & horses.
a memory of the day

10 June 21

it was since a long that I was not playing live.
they have been two good days.. one in Travemunde and the other one in Boltenhagen, places that I like.
playing is like feeling alive somehow.. it's a flow of energy & vibes..
in my case I need several days to mentally come back to the right mood..
somehow, after along cold winter, now summer arrived also here.. and these were two great days close to the Baltic sea.
Pleasant even the sun on the skin and play until sunset..

08 June 21

thanks to Stefano Virgilli, Voxlab.net and Alfonso Oliver for the cool "zoom" interview (Italian language).
Ps: my voice was in pieces, but we worked it out ! 😉 here the YouTube video link

01 June 21

with the beginning of June we are three months away from the race (Iron Man).
I raised again my training time for all the disciplines this time.. running bicycling & swimming.
(during winter I was only running & bicycling)
so, I finally started swimming in the lake.. (here two pics.. one - two )
I tested both the wet suits that I bought for the race and honestly I don't feel too comfortable in them..
I hope, however, to become used to that soon.
it's tough, not only for the fatigue, but also for the time that it requests.. at least a couple of hours per day

22 May 21

my new single is just uploaded !
my best friend asked me to set a poem from him to music.
I changed the lyrics and got out this song: "Volo Via Con Te".
it's a passionate song, a message of love, a promise.played mostly voice and piano, sung in Italian.

here to the Spotify link 
here the Apple Music - iTunes link
here the link from this website on my music page
(the song is available as well on all the other main music platform as Deezer, Amazon, etc..)
Let me know what you think. charge !

18 May 21

I spent a week in Italy.. to bring back my Mom here in Germany to let her spend time with her nephews..
it was nice of course see my friends and go around my own city (here a pic of the central statue of Neptune).. but how weird or said was to be forced to come back home for the curfew at 10pm..
for the first time I made a swab for customs, which promptly asked me for absolutely nothing.
however, happy to have the option to spend time with my Mom and see her playing my children.
here a beautiful dawn when I came back home.. (see the pic)

9 May 21

almost finished a new song, called "Volo Via Con Te"
for the first time ever, I wrote a song with another person.. Nicola Catelli, my best friend.
for my birthday he gave me his old classic guitar.. a fantastic one, handmade by the famous luthier Sergio Piretti in Bologna (Italy), many years ago.. (here the picture).
I didn't know what to do for his birthday and he suggested to add music to one of his poems..
so I worked on that, I edited it and finally a new song was born.. so I'll release it.
happy for the result..

21 April 21

I bought a new bass.. I really like it and I love its sound, so warm and full-bodied.
It is just great to play it and feel its vibes..
from the next song, I'll be able to record it by myself.. cool !

14 April 21

this picture is summering the nights of the last two months, working with Protools, fixing my old songs and mixing & mastering my new ones.
see the pic .
after some many attempts, tutorials and telephone calls with my friends.. I feel I improved.. for sure I have still so much to learn, but at least something I reached..

31 March 21

today at sunset.. (see the picture)

the IronMan race in Hamburg, has been moved from June 6th to August 29th cause by the pandemic restrictions.

Not a so good new for me, considering I've been training hard since the middle of November 2020, through the daily cold, wind, rain, snow and ice of a long rigid German winter.

The only positive point is that I'll have more time for the swimming.. cause still the pools are closed.. but the water in the lake will be warmer in the next weeks..

25 March 21
it was cool to perform today at Riders Cafe for the streaming event by "Kulturfestival Schleswig-Holstein"
really nice place, stage.. I had good time.
here the YouTube link to the 45 live performance.
(the above link is set at the right moment when I started, in case goes to the 14':40'' for the first song)
there are also a couple of new tunes.. 

22 March 21
Happy to perform "live streaming" on Thursday 25th at 3pm (Berlin Time) for the "Kulturfestival Schleswig-Holstein", here the links to follow live the event:
Live Stream concert (from Riders Café, Leinweberstr. 4, 23556 Lübeck)
on Facebook  -  on YouTube

21 March 21
you can see/feel that the day light is becoming longer day by day.It's still cold and windy, but better day by day.I bought the wet suits for the swimming training, but still the lake temperature is too cold to use them.pushing on my daily training, but I don't feel to be there yet.. I'll increase my hours in the next weeks.working on the video of the new single.. Semplicemente Noi.

03 March 21

from today I'm re-starting to push strong again on my training..
the post production of the new song "Semplicemente Noi" is basically finished and I'll begin to create the video soon.
I had a strain or tear in the calf of my right leg which after about ten days finally passed.
Let's keep up the good energy Power System Energy Bars !

We are happy to renew the great partnership with Power System for this new IronMan Challenge !
Power System started to collaborate with us during the last Tour "Not Only A Currency", keeping me powerful and in shape along all the long journey throughout 16 European countries for 6125 km for 98 days.
Now all the efforts will be focused just for June 6th, the Hamburg IronMan !

26 February 21

it took me approximately the last month to study and apply what is necessary to create a mix & a master with ProTools and all its plugins.. Waves, Native Instruments, Izotope, etc.
During this period Martino (Metropolitan Music Studio) helped me so much with advises and teachings.
The process is not completed yet, but I can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Soon there will be the mastering process and then the new song "Semplicemente Noi " will be done.
It's a love song.. but upbeat.. dedicated to my wife, who is telling me that I'm not too much "communicative" in sweet speeches.. so I thought to write this song for her. I theory I was hoping to finish it for San Valentine, but I'm still here..  ;-) not for long, I hope

20 Febraury 21

since I'm dedicating so much time to learning how to mix & mastering a song, I have to say that my training momentum has decreased..
I was really in a good shape around New Year's Eve.. but then starting to go to bed around 5am and waking up around noon.. caused me a kind of drop in the dedication to my training..
in general I feel more tired, I'm not sleeping enough (cause I still have to wake up when Maya is crying or requesting attention..) and I want to be back normal as soon as possible. 
always cool running surrounded by snow in the dark (see an example).
 

15 February 21

around 10 days of really cold temperatures here in Germany..
it is not possible to train with the bicycle, so I'm using the new "cyclette" that I received for my birthday.
 

5 February 21

I spent my birthday with my family.
In theory we were thinking to go to Italy and celebrate with my friends and parents.. but still the restrictions of the virus are still up we decided to stay quite at home.
It was nice, and I'm happy to have time to spend close to my children.

1 January 21

we are only at the beginning but there are already several projects for this 2021.
I'm recording a new song, "Semplicemente Noi", a song that I really like and that I will try to make the most of it, maybe even in different versions.
I am also training for the IronMan race which will take place on June 6th in Hamburg, for which I am dedicating already several hours a week.
then as soon as the restrictions caused by the pandemic are lifted, it will be possible to plan something interesting for this year.
step by step, let's proceed confident

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