PAKISTAN (22/02/2008 - 16/03/2008)

The first day we stopped in Lahore and slept at the Regale
Internet Inn. We met there some travelers.
We went back to the border by taxi to see the closing
ceremony. Unbelievable! Football stands, people waving flags, football chorus and officials wearing old traditional clothes. A big
atmosphere of party and patriotism! They do the same every
day!

In Punjab the roads were perfect. We met friendly people and
along the way we could sleep in the restaurants. In Mian
Channun (before Multan) we slept in a hotel for free! The
owner was very glad to invite us to sleep at his place offering us a kind of all you can eat! He likes cyclists a lot!

After Multan the landscape changed. No more trees on the way,
only sand and stones. The beginning of the desert!
We left Punjanb and entered Balochistan.
The towns here are more chaotic and it was difficult to see women
on the streets. Toward Ziarat the road went up reaching 3000
meters over the sea level. It was cold and there was snow
beside the road. On the way to Quetta the police escorted us. They said that it was for our safety.
In Quetta we saw some women on the streets but all wearing
the burka.

The desert between Quetta and Taftan was a hard part, 600
kms in 5 days. Patrizia was sick and tired so we hitchhiked, a
big truck stopped and we went on with it for 100 kms.
The road was in bad conditions but fortunately mostly flat.
Taftan was an unwelcoming city at the end of the world!

Claudio and Patrizia