OT - Things I learned in 18 days in Italy

"rotaries a great traffic control device" or do you mean a round about? We dont have that any street signs in new zealand either.

lager bore short stroke = screaming fomula one engines (why they sound like they do.)

People are like slinkeys; they dont really serve a purpose but you cant help laughing when one falls down the stairs.

Thanks. I enjoyed reading your condensed review.

wt

I envy thee. I wish I could have strapped my camera to your head, and vicariously enjoyed one of my dream locations. I recall about 10-15 years ago in Playboy mag, they had ads for an all expense trip where you drove a Ferrari up the coast of Italy, stopping nightly at bed and breakfasts. Oh the dream.

Thanks for posting. I feel slightly more knowledgeable about the other side.

I worked for a great Italian entrepreneur who started a restaurant in Holland Michigan. He epitomized a majority of what you wrote. I loved it when he drove his 63 4.2 E type to work, and revved it up by the back door. I got goosebumps.

Can't wait till MD&E. Only nine months!

Mark Looman, Ada Michigan 1967 Austin Cooper S

BINI's are pretty popular there and BINI drivers seem pretty sporty.

I saw about 5 Minis - A really nice Inno in Poppi.

Italians love their small cars in the cities and use trains for long distance travel - we could learn from that.

There are some TRULY small cars in the cities - little 2 seaters and electrics.

Fiat bulds some HIDEOUS vehicles - huge ugly bulbous greenhouses on car bodies.

Peugeot builds some equally HIDEOUS French vehicles - huge ugly gaping-mouth grills like a smiling baleen whale.

Scooter riding is the Italian national sport - forget soccer and F1.

Women are by far the more assertive scooter riders.

Green lights look like the start of a motocross.

If you are first at a red light, within seconds there will be a solid line of scooters in front of you.

An Alfa 159 with the 1.9 l turbo diesel and 6 speed box is a DAMN fine car to rent and really nice looking too.

The pass from Bibbiena to Galeata is the REAL Dragons Tail - and so are about 20 other roads I drove.

I saw 2 Lotus Elise's RIPPING through the passes.

The speed limit on the Autostrada is 130 K but most people drive 160 K in the left lane

Tailgating is the second Italian national sport - even if you're going 165 K

The ENTIRE Italian National Defense System is...NO STREET SIGNS-WE'LL CONFUSE THE ENEMY

Diesel is about $7.50 a gallon - gas is more.

The U.S. needs diesels like Europe has - clean, efficient, non smoky, turbocharged.

My Ford Explorer SUCKS. 

The Ferrari museum is fantastic.  None of the (stunningly historic) cars are roped off and nobody touches.

It's fun to watch the customer Ferraris getting their final run-off at the Fiorano test track.

Ferrari souvenirs are expensive but some are VERY cool. Used F1 cranks, pistons, con rods, manifolds.

Current F1 engines...large bore - short stroke - 19,000 RPM - HUGE intake ports - LOTS of air/fuel.

The current F1 engine looks smaller in overall size than an A series lump.

The current F1 clutch is only about 5" in diameter - and there's no flywheel.

Rotaries are a great traffic flow device - but I fear we'll never get them because American drivers are too dumb.

All Italians smoke - even the ones who don't - cigarette smoke is everywhere. Italian smokers are rude.

All Italians drink coffee - lots of it and it's great.

NEVER drink cappucino after noon - it's considered poor taste.

Fine art is absolutely everywhere.  Walking in a church door could make an atheist gasp out loud.

Graffitti is absolutely everywhere. (A tragedy IMHO)

Italians eat a heck of a lot of gellato (ice cream) and it's really good.

Italian women are either gorgeous or old mamas - there appears to be no in between.

Italian men are the same my wife says.

Italians talk ALL the time - LOUDLY. On the streets - on their cells - everywhere.

Italian wine is GOOD.

Italian food is GREAT.

Cinque Terre and Bellagio are 2 places not to be missed.

Italy doesn't have to be expensive for tourists. Shop at the neighborhood stores, bars and restaurants.