Euro Road Trip 2010 Review

Thanks again :)

GAZ - if you're on the "top bunk" :D , you just flick a switch on the wall and the car below lowers into the ground and your car lowers to ground level; very cool 8)

Dreamer - you've absolutely right!

Day 6 - at leisure Hotel Riviera & Maximillians

Just spent the day chilling around the hotel

View from hotel down to the marina
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Marina
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Had a walk to Miramare Castle
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Day 7 - Trieste to Siena - 350 miles

A long days driving today through the heart of Tuscany. Before we leave see check out some new arrivals at out hotel 8)

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This is the one for me; in my dreams
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We eventually hit Bologna around lunch time and our route takes us straight through the centre. Not for the faint hearted :cry:

Soon after we pick up the Futa and Raticosa passes, used on the classic Mille Miglia road race, won in 1955 by my driving hero, Sir Stirling Moss. I've driven these passes before in the opposite (south to north) direction. The way the road twist and turns, dips and rises, for miles and miles, I can't imagine how physical the driving must have been back in the days of the MM. Awesome!

Stopped for a brew at the summit
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One of the very few open sections along the route. Most of it is a lot tighter than this
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Continued south stopping off at the Mugello race track
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Classic Tuscan scenery as we near Siena
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After a long day we arrive at your hotel inside the walls of the city. Great view from the room as the sun goes down
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Had a short walk for dinner in the Piazza del Campo
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Road Trip said:
Thanks again :)

GAZ - if you're on the "top bunk" :D , you just flick a switch on the wall and the car below lowers into the ground and your car lowers to ground level; very cool 8)

That is cool very James Bond do you have a link to the Hotel as i am always fussy about hotel parking did a mini road trip in France few weeks back spent ages trying to find hotels with decent parking.

Great set of pics you just posted nice to see the Z keeping good company :thumbsup:
 
GAZ - name of hotel is written on the wall in front of my car.

Day 8 - at leisure in Siena

Doumo
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Campo at night
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Day 10 Florence to Malcesine - 258 miles

Our route today would take us north, to the Lakes, to meet up with our friends Paul and Lisa, who were getting married at the castle in Malcesine tomorrow, and had invited us to the wedding.

On the way I thought it would be rude not to call in (my third visit) at home of automotive perfection - Maranello 8) . I'd never seen the new 458 on the road, so what better place than Maranello to get my first sighting of this amazing new car.

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Spotted a couple of nice old Porsches
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Scud. Think I perfer these to the 458
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California
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First sighting
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Wow!
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Couldn't resist a fly-by of the factory gates in the Beast :D
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Made a purchase before we left. Unfortunately, it was only the contents of the bag :D
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As much as I'd have liked to stay here all day we still had a fair bit of driving to do. Just as we were leaving the heavens opened, and it didn't stop all afternoon. There was a bad accident on the southbound carriageway as we were heading north. The autoroute was closed and traffic backed up for miles. We also saw the medical helecopter coming in :( . Conditions were really bad.

The final leg of out journey took us through the mountains to the east of Lake Garda, dropping us in at the northern end of the lake.

Passo Pian delle Fugazze
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The roads were wet and very slippy - thankyou TC :o
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Check out the house built into the rock
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As we drop down to the lake the rain stops
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Watching the sunset from our hotel on Lake Garda
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Dinner at the hotel
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Couldn't wait to wear me new top :D
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I'm taking my car down to the South of France next year - your pictures are just getting me in the mood. 8)
 
I wish my car warrented some italian stripes, neeeever gonna happen :( I miss owning an italian car.
The California would be a great buy i think, a couple of average lines and a large arse would be quickly forgiven for the daily ease/pleasure.

Wearing that top to dinner when your missus has made the effort- what are you like :poke: :D
 
Hey, that bloody top probably cost more than her outfit :P

The eagle eyed amongst you might have spotted my Italia stickers :D
 
Day 11 - Wedding Day in Malcesine

We had a great hotel just outside Malcesine, about a 2 mile walk to the Castle where the wedding ceremony would take place.

Good parking for the M :D
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Walk along the lakeside to Malcesine
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I had to make an effort for this one :D
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What a magical wedding venue
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The happy couple - Paul & Lisa - Congratulations :)
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We joined them for a boat trip on the lake
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Cutting the cake
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It really was an amazing day, the weather was fantastic, and everything was top quality. Many thanks for the invite :)
 
Ha, fantastic. Brother was married in Malcesine castle last year. My hotel in Garda wasn't as good as your place though. I do have a photo of that balcony you were standing on and that boat, if the Garda Express II, took us to Limone for the reception... interesting to see if Siftah recognises it, he took a break from his road trip in Limone with a day charging about on the lake.

Think this will make a nice stop for my trip next year :thumbsup:

Thanks for all the pics BTW!
 
Nice one Matt :)

Day 12 was spend chilling after the excesses of the night before.

Day 13 - Melcesine to Celerina - 207 miles

Heading west for Bagolino
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Continuing on the remote S669
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North towards Bormio
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Roadblock - not too difficult on this very narrow road
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Continuing north up the Stelvio
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A group of Weissmen at the summit
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Think this is the new coupe
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Summit
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Looking down the northern serpentines
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Heading down
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Continuing west towards St Moritz
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Stelvio pass...now I see what all the fuss is about! Wow. That last road pic looks rather tempting :driving:
 
Great pics, some fab places. Have to say I think ur beast looks equally as imposing outside the gates as the other red monsters.

btw... didnt realise you'd striped it, looks a good combo with the wheels :thumbsup:
 
Nice road trip ... when I pick up my next car in Germany I will travel some of those roads, looks incredible ....

you may have seen some of my July / August US road trip pictures, I have a small selection in the albums here ...

http://web.me.com/solgain/Road_Trip_USA/2010_Road_Trip%3B_By_Rolf-Dieter_Canada/2010_Road_Trip%3B_By_Rolf-Dieter_Canada.html
 
:thumbsup: folks

Day 14 - Celerina to Nottwil - 188 miles

Leaving St Moritz
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Turning north on the Julierpass
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Has we looked into the distance we could see what we were heading into
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Into the could. Once again visibility was down to about 10m :(
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Once over the Julierpass our plan was to head west and pick up the St Gotthard and Nufenen passes. The visibility was so bad we scrapped this plan and headed directly west on the Furkapass. There's a short respite as we lose a bit of altitude but still the cloud clings to the mountains
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Into the abyss
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Summit :(
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For a moment there's a break in the cloud and I grab the opportunity for a quick pic from a higher vantage point
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Looking southwest to the bottom of the Furka and the start of the Grimselpass
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Looking down to the Rhone Glacier
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Continuing down the Furka with great views of the Rhone Glacier straight ahead
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Stopped part way up the Grimsel for more pics while the cloud had cleared
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Minutes after this the cloud was back and we could see a thing :(

Stopped on the northern descent
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Checking out the dam
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