Archive for category Vespa
Salento On a Vespa!
On my Vespa, from Como to Santa Maria di Leuca, to discover a land unknown to me: the Salento! š
After 3200km riding my Vespa I can say that such a long journey during the two central weeks of august was really worth it.
After a stop in Bologna and Bisceglie, hosted by relatives who took care of their favourite mad vespa fan ;), my Vespa flawlessly accompanied me on the visit to the most beautiful places in Puglia: from Ostuni to Gallipoli, NardĆ², Santa Maria di Leuca, to the spectacular Ciolo Bridge, Castro, Otranto, Lecce, and to Melpignano, where I attended the final concert of the Notte della Taranta, an incredible example of territorial marketing!
150.000 people compressed in the small town danced the pizzica, an entertaining and sensual popular ballet, all night long.
They say Salento has peculiar curing properties, mainly due to three factors: colors as in chromotherapy, purifying substances spread through air by olive plants and the different iodine concentration of the two seas, Jonio and Adriatic, help to improve blood values just after a week of stay.
As they sayā¦ intra lu salentu tocca torni! (You have to come back to Salento!) š
3rd National Vespa Meeting Town of Como
500 Vespas charging on the streets of Como, the third edition of a great show, organized by the Vespa Club of Como on june 29.
It was an intense day: from the āVespinta – throwing the Vespaā quiz game, to the parade on the streets of Como, to the aperitif in Brunate, to the lunch at the restaurant Gnocchetto in Tavernerio and to the award ceremony with prizes for the numerous Vespa clubs and the Vespazza, the hottest Vespa-girl! š
For me it was the second meeting organized by the club Iām a member of, and just as two years ago, my duty was to take photos. This year however, Chiara, a friend of mine, took care of it, while I was driving my Vespa and stopping in places where she could take the best shots.
Long live to the Vespa Club of Como! š
Vespa World Days 2007 and 2nd National Vespa Meeting Town of Como
1050 kilometers in three days riding my Vespa: itās the result of the journey made together with 11 Vespa riders of the Vespaclub Como to join the Vespa World Days 2007, the international gathering organized this year in San Marino.
More than 3000 Vespa riders, a wonderful weather, a nice company and specials such as Nicola Lāimpennatore and the Arrotino from the Vespaclub Biella made the three days a memorable experience.
It was as funny as the 2nd National Vespa Meeting Town of Como on june 24, a day in which taking pics was my duty for the club. Gathering in Como, aperitif in Menaggio and then in Grandola e Uniti for the lunch: 300 Vespa fans enjoyed the sight of the lake and the organization of the event, including the Vespazza Award, “la Vespa piĆ¹ Bonazza”, given to the nicest girl on a Vespa. š
If youāre in a hurry these are the best 3 of the two events.
7th National Vespa Meeting Town of Mantua
Being in the middle of more than 500 people sharing the same passion for a two wheels transportation vehicle become legend was a feeling I wouldnāt ever thought to feel when I purchased my Vespa GTS exactly two years ago. š
On last sunday, together with Egidio and Andrea, two members of the Vespa Club Como, I attended the 7th National Vespa Meeting organized by the Vespa Club Mantova, a town that reserved for me some other pleasant surprises thanks to the Saturn Project.
The day was intense and even more pleasant thanks to the fact that I finally met again the three Vespa riders from Mantua I met by chance in Tuscany during the Vespatour: Alberto, Angelo and Claudio. š
To them I send special thanks for their welcoming and see you soon to the next meeting, the Vespa World Days in San Marino!
Vespatour 2006 Part 5: from Monterosso to Colonnata
Every time I look at the photos of the Vespatour I feel better!
It may be due to the spring or to the fact Iām finally riding my Vespa back again after the three weeks of the exhibition at the Iper of Grandate. š
Being able to view the places I visited thanks to Google maps, so that I can geo-localize each photo, gave me a different perspective on what Iāve seen riding around Italy.
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 over. On last saturday the mall director gave the Vespa Club Como a plate to celebrate the event.
Enjoy the photosā¦ and the chocolate! š
Vespatour 2006 Part 2: Turin
I uploaded the second gallery of my solo journey around Italy on a Vespa, 60 photos taken walking among the most beautiful places of Turin on august 4, 2006.
Here are the photos, each one with a caption, geo-referenced on Google Maps and you can even rate it or leave a comment! š
In the meantime the exhibition of the 10 Vespas at the Iper of Grandate is doing well, people stop reading the descriptions out of curiosity. š
10 Vespas Under the Big I
The chance has been unexpected: the Vespa Club Como has been invited to exhibit 10 Vespas belonging to the club members at the shopping mall Iper of Grandate, in the province of Como.
Vespas from 1957 to nowadays andā¦ thereās even my Vespa under the big I! š
For three weeks, until Easter, my Vespa GTS will be there with the graphics you can see below, made to illustrate the journey around Italy I did last summer.
The windshield is a bit scratched, but itās the one I did the journeyĀ with, my sail, so I didnāt replace it.
Itāll be hard not being able to ride my Vespa for three weeks! š
Along with the exhibition, the Iper staff organized an contest and the prizes are new Vespas LX 50 and a huge chocolate egg. šÆ
Get there and have a look!
Vespaās Sons, 2007 Calendar
For each month in 2007 a Vespa and the smiling face of one of the Vespa Club Como membersā sons: itās the result of the photomontage chosen as theme for the clubās 2007 calendar, which Iām now showing both at home and in the office.
Really a good job made by Brunella, supervised by Marco and Dario.
My favorites are january and august since they chose child with a pretty peculiar look. š
The calendar is still available at the newsstand Cesana in Via Anzani in Como. An original calendar, especially for Vespa fans.
The Vespa Club Como, of which I recently become member, is very active and with a lots of initiatives for 2007, so this calendar is certainly a good wish! š
In Mantua for the Saturn Project
Taking advantage of a couple of spring-like days to say the least, last week I went to Mantua on my Vespa where Iām attending a course by Regione Lombardia, the Saturn Project – support for the enterprise planet, aimed to support new entrepreneurial activities.
The course is intensive and well organized by the Centro Studi Castelliās consultants. Iām appreciating the practical setting and the direct application of the concepts to the entrepreneurial ideas of the twelve people attending it.
A really useful course for the administrative management of the i-muse project. š
Since I had two contiguous days for the course I decided to sleep at the Ostello del Mincio, a pleasant place and with the best website among those of the Hostels where I slept this summer during the Vespatour.
Vespacrash in Milan! :(
My friends make a fool of me when I use the term Vespatour to describe the journey I did this summer around Italy riding a Vespa, since it reminds them an organized group tour, not certainly a solo-journey.
After what happened a few days ago in Milan I really hope they wonāt do the same when Iāll use the term Vespacrash to describe the fall into the middle of the street that caused a bad damage to my Vespa GTSā¦
Damn, I traveled for 4200 Km around Italy in a month without even a scratch and now I manage to scratch the whole left flank by falling like a goof in the Milan traffic.
Do you have in mind the tram sidewalk separating the two carways, elevated by a few centimeters from the roadbed?
Well, I was quietly riding along a street of that kind. I was exactly parallel and very close to the low sidewalk, a perspective from which I couldnāt notice the elevation, also due to the late evening light conditions. To pass a car in front of me I decided to turn towards the central section that appeared flat, when I suddenly lost control of the Vespa and I found myself on the ground even before understanding what was happening.
A bad experienceā¦ it could have been worse, but thatās not too reassuring considering the damage to the Vespa.
I was using a PDA as a GPS navigator and fortunately it wasnāt damaged during the fall. Itās the fourth rescue thanks to the security cord tied to the left mirror, while the other three happened during the Vespatour.
Do you think the PDA has nine lives like a cat?
I really hope the Vespatour will have a sequel, but the Vespacrash will remain an episode more unique than rareā¦ sigh!