Trip to Italy
- Thread starter Mick
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Woody
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Very nice. I did a trip last year over there and while out for a spin yesterday, muttered to MrsWoody, something along the lines of "would love to go to Italy again this Sept...."
Sounded remarkably like a stroppy teenager. The place is paradise!
So, where did you go? What route etc?
Sounded remarkably like a stroppy teenager. The place is paradise!
So, where did you go? What route etc?
We (with 2 kids age 6 and 10) stayed a night near Fontainbleau, and then Nyon (Swiss) before heading down to Verona over Simplon pass. Spent a few nights in Verona and saw Aida in the Arena, went to Venice as well as doing some wine tasting (and buying) and visited Lake Garda. Enjoyed lots of lovely local food and wine.
Then we decided to drive all the way to Arras in France on the way back, 12 hrs journey (with dinner / fuel / drinks / loo stops) through Mont Blanc Tunnel didn't feel as bad as it sounded in this car. The roads in Europe is so much better than uk! We just wafts along and eat up the miles.
Loved the place so much we'll prob go back for Oct half term! Prob time to re-stock the Amarone anyway! Next time we'll prob stayed in Dover overnight, start early and go straight from Dover to Verona in one go. If we go through the tunnel instead of the pass, it'll be an easy run.
Then we decided to drive all the way to Arras in France on the way back, 12 hrs journey (with dinner / fuel / drinks / loo stops) through Mont Blanc Tunnel didn't feel as bad as it sounded in this car. The roads in Europe is so much better than uk! We just wafts along and eat up the miles.
Loved the place so much we'll prob go back for Oct half term! Prob time to re-stock the Amarone anyway! Next time we'll prob stayed in Dover overnight, start early and go straight from Dover to Verona in one go. If we go through the tunnel instead of the pass, it'll be an easy run.
It was quite funny actually!
On the motorway all the way there it was like Moses parting water, trafic just pulls over way before you get near it. I harding had to deactivate the cruise control at all. The drivers over the otherside of the pond is so much more aware of what's behind them and react acordingly.
In Italy, I hardly saw any Maserati, only a couple of QP.
The people from very young to very old, men and wemen all loved the car and made no effort to hind theire feelings!
You get let out at junctions so easily, because people just want to drive behind us!
On one occassion 4 elderly couples sat on the garden wall all turned their heads in unison as I drove pass. I didn't see it myself but my friends behind us waere laughing their heads off!
A girl driving behind us was trying to get really close to me and then take a picture of the car! She got so close she nearly crashed into me at a roundabout! She was rather good looking so I just smiled as her mouth was wide open and trying to brake hard.
I was half expecting to pick up a fair few scartches and dents from public car parks, as the spaces (esp the one in Venice) are very very tight. However, I haven't had any car park dings or scratches at all.
So all in all the reception was very very good and they do admire the car.
On the motorway all the way there it was like Moses parting water, trafic just pulls over way before you get near it. I harding had to deactivate the cruise control at all. The drivers over the otherside of the pond is so much more aware of what's behind them and react acordingly.
In Italy, I hardly saw any Maserati, only a couple of QP.
The people from very young to very old, men and wemen all loved the car and made no effort to hind theire feelings!
You get let out at junctions so easily, because people just want to drive behind us!
On one occassion 4 elderly couples sat on the garden wall all turned their heads in unison as I drove pass. I didn't see it myself but my friends behind us waere laughing their heads off!
A girl driving behind us was trying to get really close to me and then take a picture of the car! She got so close she nearly crashed into me at a roundabout! She was rather good looking so I just smiled as her mouth was wide open and trying to brake hard.
I was half expecting to pick up a fair few scartches and dents from public car parks, as the spaces (esp the one in Venice) are very very tight. However, I haven't had any car park dings or scratches at all.
So all in all the reception was very very good and they do admire the car.
Only had an afternoon there, so just parked the car in a car park by town centre, walked along the water front, had a lazy lunch by the lake side, and the kids had a paddle in the water after.
Will prob spend a bit longer there the next time.
Found another pic with the car in the ferry on the way there, first car on the boat, first car off!
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Mick, that looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing but I think we've all had a fit of jealousy! Good route, too. I hope the kids appreciated the car, the scenery and the food. How many miles in total? We're off to the Ardeche next month, starting to wonder if we shouldn't have planned to bank left at Switzerland for a visit to the Maser's spiritual home. Hmmm... October half-term...
Andyk
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You can say that again...the weather does draw them out....
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It's a wonderful time of year for sure!
All in (together with a trip to Venice) just over 2300 miles, average 22 mpg. So £700 or so on fuel. We all enjoyed the food, and the kids loved the ice cream! We all loved it so much we'll prob go again in Oct half term. There's something about driving the Maserati in Italy, it feels right! If anyone wants to head that way, the villa we stayed in was fantastic, I found it by chance on the net:
http://www.relaisvillagraziani.com/home_eng.swf
Im currently in italy, first time here since I was 14, don't want to come home
Where about?