[Bill Sz.]

We have been in Tuscany for the last week, in the Chianti region, (near Greve between Florence and Siena), and the back roads along the Chianti Route were absolutely made for the MINI! Super switchbacks over the gently rolling Tuscan hills through the vineyards! The quality of the Italian roads are excellent ... they would put to shame many California backroads! Generally uncrowded and no police! The unfortunate thing: We didn't have our MINIS and we didn't see any other MINIS during the week we were in Tuscany. What a shame!

As I write this, I am at our house in Griante, near Menaggio, overlooking Lake Como. In the two (2) days that we have been here, we have seen three new MINIS cruising around the Lake: a light all silver Cooper with an aero kit, an electric blue MCS -w- white roof, and a velvet red Cooper-w-a black roof. As a matter of fact, when we went out to dinner on Sunday night in Piano Porlezza, on the road to Lugano, as we returned to the parking lot we saw the the velvet red Cooper parked about 5 spaces from our rented Seat Ibiza. As it turned out, the Italian couple dining next to us were the owners. When we told them that we had a MCS and a CVT Cooper, we made new friends in a matter of minutes.

The roads around the Lake and through the hills are definitely "MINI country" as well ... but there is a lot more traffic (and police road checks) compared to Tuscany.

Finally, driving from Tuscany to Lake Como on the autostrade we saw no MINIS on the road.

Well, that's it for now.

(Can't wait to get back home and give our MINIS a spin!)

DS MCS-w-sport & premium packages, white roof & mirrors and xenons, & black/lapis blue leather; and

Yellow CVT Cooper-w-white roof & mirrors, sport package, xenons, 16" 5 star alloys.

Bill (MINI-less in Italy)

[AidenL]

Im off to Italy on the 7th, will keep an eye out then, will be hitting Nice, Monaco too, should be a few there !

[MiNiGuY]

The cars being used to make the new forthcoming Italian Job are all Italian spec cars even though the majority of the action is to be in America.
Bit of useless info for you there

[belfastcooper]

Quote:

Originally posted by AidenL
Im off to Italy on the 7th, will keep an eye out then, will be hitting Nice, Monaco too, should be a few there !

Aiden, I'm just back from a tour on my Yamaha Fazer of France and Andorra. Took the med coast from Perpignon in the west to Monaco in the east. Saw a few MINIs in the flasher places, but hardly any elsewhere. Traffic is a bit mad on the south coast, how are you travelling? Make sure you get a photo at the Grand Prix tunnel in Monaco - the whole town is cool. BTW there's an internet cafe called Stars n Bars on the right hand side as you look out to sea from the centre of the port.

Enjoy yourself.

[AidenL]

belfastcooper,

Good to know you enjoyed yourself ......I was getting worried with all the rain and flooding across Europe, knowing my luck, I expected to be washed out !!

We are flying to Nice, staying in San Remo, think the WRC crews may be doing a recce there on the weekend of the 7th, apparently, so my travel agent said.....

I was thinking of hiring a car out there, traffic is heavy, or is it the drivers who are crazy ??

Must take loads of pics, might even log on from that Internet Cafe, thanks for the tip !

Must have been fantastic to do that trip on your bike, a great experience.

[belfastcooper]

Do hire a car to get around, but bring your patience with you. There is a lot of traffic on the south coast. Dont bother trying to get into St Tropez - its a bottleneck. Drivers are fine (note: always pull to the right to allow motorbikes past - all the french do it - its great) Nice was, er, nice, as was Antibes and Cannes is worth a visit. St Rafael and Frejus are also OK.
Monaco is pretty spectacular. Get down to the port if you see a boat coming in. We watched one with a helicopter on board come alongside - the whole manoevre is pretty impressive.
Most towns have an internet cafe - we just asked at the local tourist information and they could always suggest one or two - let us know how you get on.

[AidenL]

Thanks for the tips bc, it sounds like a great place for a holiday, Ill report back in here when I get back.....

I was thinking of walking around the Grand Prix circuit, its public roads and only about 3 miles long or so?? Should get a few good pics along the route as you suggest, and a good way to see the town, Id imagine !

[AidenL]

belfast cooper, I got that pic at the tunnel.....

More info on this thread.....

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...pagenu mber=2

[pholcus]

Hi! I've just seen this thread and guess what? I live in Monza, but I got a house in Porlezza, near Bill Sz! I agree with him, those road are really a blast to drive with a Mini, so much fun! BTW, I own a silver w\black roof MC, Pepper package, with a number 12 on the right side of the windcreen. Maybe he has seen me around this summer!