Archive for April, 2007
Vespatour 2006 Part 8: Pontedera and Livorno
Posted by Albegor in Vespatour 2006 on April 30, 2007
For a Vespa fan visiting the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera it’s like a sort of pilgrimage to the Mecca, the origin of everything where you have to go at least once in your life.
Pontedera was an obvious stop of the Vespatour and while visiting the museum I had the feeling to assist to the celebration of a myth.
While I was watching the video of Corradino D’Ascanio on the Pda available to visitors I was impressed by the easy and friendly way with which he explained the birth of the Vespa.
A confirmation of the fact that the best ideas are the simplest ones. 
After a day spent in the museum, in the evening I had a nice surprise in Livorno, in the workshop of Marco Quaretta, Peter Moore’s friend, author of the book that inspired my tour around Italy: I found Sophia, the Vespa Peter used for his tour. I couldn’t believe it! 
Enjoy the 59 photos of the eighth gallery of the Vespatour celebrating the Vespa, a little plane that one day left his wings in the sky to become a myth on the ground..
Vespatour 2006 Part 7: Pisa
Posted by Albegor in Vespatour 2006 on April 25, 2007
Do you know why they call Field of Miracles the famous square in Pisa where the Duomo, the Baptistery, the Monumental Camposanto and the even more famous Leaning Tower are located?
Because when the poet D’Annunzio saw it he was so impressed that he described it as “Meadow of Miracles” in his 1910’s work “Forse che sì, forse che no”.
I already saw it in the past, but on 11 august 2006, after spending the whole day there I can’t but recall a pleasant memory of the view of the perfectly proportioned buildings and the harmonious spaces among them.
Not to speak of the Tower and the treasures stored inside the Opera del Duomo Museum where I met the kind Serena who, other than explaining me the origin of the square’s name, also allowed me to try the PureForm system at the museum.
I hope the 60 photos of the seventh gallery of the Vespatour will serve to bring back some of this miracle in Pisa.
Vespatour 2006 Part 6: Lucca
Posted by Albegor in Vespatour 2006 on April 20, 2007
Lucca is a town of magic!
On august 10, 2006, when I visited it for the first time, fifth stop of the solo Vespatour, I immediately felt at ease, almost safe, protected by the 4 Km long wall surrounding the town since centuries.
I appreciated it thanks to the visit with the audioguide: the walk upon the walls, the towers with the roof-gardens, the wonderful churches, the oval square, the historical locals, the elegant Ostello San Frediano, the delicious Tuscan slang and a detail representing the style and harmony of this italian gem: the manholes shaped like the walls perimeter!
I think I could live there and I’ll get back to Lucca for sure to be able to see it from the top of the Guinigi Tower, something I didn’t get the chance to do.
I hope the photos of the sixth gallery of the Vespatour will give you back some of Lucca’s magic. 
Enjoy the photos!
Vespatour 2006 Part 5: from Monterosso to Colonnata
Posted by Albegor in Como, Vespa, Vespatour 2006 on April 12, 2007
Every time I look at the photos of the Vespatour I feel much better!
It maybe due to spring or to the fact I’m finally riding my Vespa back again after the three weeks of the exhibition at the Iper of Grandate, but I have to say that I began thinking about the next tour.
Being able to watch the places I visited thanks to Google maps, so that I can geolocalize ogni photo, gives me a different perspective on what I’ve seen riding around Italy assisted by a GPS navigator.
The fifth gallery of the tour is now online: from Monterosso al Mare in the Cinque Terre to Marina di Massa and Colonnata, where I discovered the delicious Cioccolardini.
In the meantime the exhibition at the Iper is ended. On last daturday the commercial director gave the Vespa Club Como with a plate to celebrate the event.
Enjoy the photos… and the chocolate!
A French Stage for i-muse
We received a lot of curricula for the stage offer related to i-muse.
Curricula from anywhere in Italy and someone even from abroad.
I did about ten interviews on the phone and then I proceeded with four interviews in our office.
The general feeling is that the opportunity to write a thesis about an innovative project in the sector of cultural goods such as i-muse is considered like a sort of privilege.
Among the students who impressed me the most for their smartness and results achieved until now in their student career there was a french girl attending international management at the Università Cattolica in Piacenza.
Now Valérie, this is her name, moved to Como thanks to the support of the international students relations office of the Politecnico.
It has been hard finding a flat for her, since the real estate market in Como is definitely “sparkling” and finding a flat not too far from the office for just four months wasn’t easy at all.
Valérie will see the birth of i-muse together with us and will assist us launching it on the market.
Vespatour 2006 Part 3 e 4: Genoa and Rapallo
Posted by Albegor in Vespatour 2006 on April 3, 2007
The third and fourth galleries of the Vespatour, one hundred photos shot during the two days I spent in Genoa on august 6 and 7, are online.
During the two days I walked in the city, its Alleys, the Ancient Port and I visited the civic museum of natural history and the aquarium.
I also spent an evening in Rapallo and had a dinner in Chiavari with a couple of ex-colleagues from Trecision, the videogames development company I worked for in the past.
Someone even told me that looking at the photos of the tour made him wish to go on holiday: it’s a good sign I think, but only if you take into consideration that traveling shouldn’t be just escaping from ordinary life, but actually discovering and learning new things.
The exhibition of the 10 Vespas at the Iper of Grandate is doing great. On Saturday April 7 there will be the final phase of the contest and someone even asked if the Vespas are on sale… 
Enjoy the photos from Genoa!