Hello from the Dues paying guy who never gets to a meeting.
My wife and I just got back from three weeks in Italy. I thought I would send along some observations with photos. Use them or not as you see fit. Though I wanted to I was not able to get to Lake Como.
Everyone it seems rides a scooter. Most are conventional but some are three wheelers made by BMW and Paiggio.
As it is here, when you see a motorcycle is usually a Japanese brand or surprisingly a Harley. So sad! I saw only about a dozen Ducati's.
I saw 3 Guzzi's on my trip. One V35 owner was just pulling to a stop as I walked by. He spoke no English and my Italian is worse than poor. Still I was able to ascertain that he bought it new and has loved it ever since. I do not think he was ever washed it either. In fairness most scooters and motorcycles I saw were not for recreation. They were primary transportation that never saw a garage.
Women riders: I never saw so many beautiful women. I believe that Italian women never leave the house unless dressed to the nines and they all carry themselves with dignity. (Excluding the many beggars of course.)
Look at the way the lady is dressed in the scooter photo. See photo.
Food: I do not want to see pizza or pasta again, ever. Or at least for a while.
Prices: Italy. In American money: Coffee 4.00 to 5.00 a cup & no refills. A 12 oz Coke 5.00. Two scoops of ice cream on a cone 8.00 to 13.44. A Cuisinart panini maker that I paid 125.00 for in America was 395.00 there. I wanted an Armani suit. The coat alone was 5215.00. That's Five thousand two hundred fifteen. I'll keep shopping at Men's Warehouse thank you. Gas was 8.99 a gallon.
I am glad we went and happy to return to the land of the endless refill coffee cup.
I took my red 850T3 for a ride the day I got home.
Bob Eckhoff
