More great pictures and that F-1 vid is awesome Thanks for sharing

Excellent video GW! Tush 10mm from the tarmac........and I thought it was close in a kart. Wonder what that feels like jumping the curbing and hitting G-outs?

Good work with the camera, looks like you're getting your money's worth. :thumbsup:

Interesting perspective on the race, thanks for all the posts.

I find it interesting that you mentioned it is so hard to get around the track, because I found the same thing at the Belgium GP at Spa years ago, which is one of the grand old road courses. It is as if the organizers really don't give a crap about how well the spectators can actually see a race, and maybe they don't. A GP is an EVENT, not necessarily a race.



Schumacher was actually on pole position before the 5 grid position penalty for an infraction at the last race. He's an old guy, give him some credit.

Actually, those pictures point out how hard it is to see speed. His car seems to have a lot of understeer, but it may just look that way because he was going faster.

Have a good trip.

A camera is a tool..... or golf clubs for that matter... there's usually just a bit more to it than point and shoot. :lol:

This camera is "easier" to use than my older D70s -- and I can choose the scene setting and then dial in several pre-sets.... and of course you're not seeing EVERY photo I've taken... I take lots and discard lots in order to get the look I want. Trust me I'm not really "good" or particularly skilled in any way. But I do know what I want and just work til I get there.

Sadly I choose to only carry two lens.... so I'm doing most of the work with my 18-200 f3.5-5.6. T'was stupido of me to not have brought more. :cheers:

I was just looking at a 17-55 f2.8 this morning, $300 more than a Quick Fuel Q-750. :willy:

The bodies are only just for sale so that you can buy many expensive lens to attach to them... like Gillette and razor blades... :lol:

You guys that understand construction might love this! This is in a very small village and if you note the "cornerstone" for the base - then the brick detail for the doors and windows -- but the "BODY" is just filled in with junk and rocks... Loved it!



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My wife with the man in the town square.....



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And what I feel like doing after a couple of weeks of eating out and traveling...



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:lol: Thats some good and funny stuff there Greg :thumbsup:

And because this is an automotive website... the way to travel in Italy.... a Black "S" (diesel!) and a driver. He speaks the language... knows where to eat (well) and waits for us while we "sightsee". He also knows where NOT to go and where NOT to shop etc. He's stuck with us for 5 days... god help him!
The silver MBZ van has a load of RUSSIAN tourists - and the driver was going crazy according to our driver.




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Is there Grey Poupon onboard?

I've seen media blasted cars that looked similar. :wow: :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas69 (Post 417731) Is there Grey Poupon onboard?

No -- the car isn't an S63..... so we had him take us here and they had it!!




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She looks all giddy, not used to tall guys.
Looks like she got a bit close. Was her shirt all rusty after?

Her only comment was that she'd never seen one so small....

We're in Firenze now.... and had dinner here tonight. Bring the cost of a 6 speed for the 9 courses and if you add 4 different wines (drink as much as you like) - toss in a complete clutch and bell housing...:lol:



http://www.enotecapinchiorri.com/

Enjoy yourself Greg.

I stayed at the Grand Hotel in Florence once, what a beautiful City and Hotel..

Have a great time.

I am off to the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite tomorrow for a few days..

My Bucket list is a little smaller, haha..

Mike

That style of construction looks eerily familiar for some reason. :D

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Ahhhhhhhhhh...... a bit of old Mexico yes?


:cheers:

I have always liked how they take the old buildings and modernize on the insides with out messing up the outside,..... Around here they would just tear it down and call it progress, The Euro way of doing things just looks cool to me. On another note, Got a lot more respect for F1 drivers after seeing that cutaway.

If you watched how fast they are going thru those small streets! OMG! Amazing!


So we're at the Four Seasons here in Firenze... and the one we are at is an Noble estate and a Convent... with fabulous gardens between (almost a park actually). They have absolutely kept the feel and look of the old even in the inside with the elegance etc -- but of course all the "workings" are brand new.


They would NEVER do this in the U.S.!




The lobby/bar area!



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The entrance at the Convent building where we are.




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Your "park" (walled) between the two buildings...



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Dead on sir. The Europeans brought their construction techniques to the continent via the Spanish I'd say.

:cheers:

Off to Modena (pronounced Mo de na) today.... and you know what that means?


Will post up photos tonight if I have time. Flight at O'Dark Thirty tomorrow AM. UGH!


:cheers:

Thank you for taking us on vacation with you.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Greg, you should visit the Lamborghini and Pagani factories in Modena and the Ferrari factory (which is a whole town pretty much) of Maranello which is bout 15 minutes south of Modena. Pretty cool site to see although you cannot go into the Ferrari factory but there is a museum and the whole town eats, breathes and sleeps those cars. Might even see some cars on the Fiorano track.

Prego! Senori!

Biggest waste of my time of the entire trip!

The track was closed for F1 testing (in the rain) and you can't get into the factory... only ride around in a bus OUTSIDE... so you don't see nada!

The museum is cool... and takes about 20 minutes to see all if you take your time.


So we spent all day driving up (in the back seat of course..:D )... and for this you get a 20 minute bs bus ride.

In other words -- unless you're just some kind of Ferrari freak and think this is some mecca you have to see... FUGIDABUDIT!


Each WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP year on display.




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Some serious carbon fiber suspension.



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I almost bought this just to have - as it reminded me of Dave Gordon AKA "short stroke"...



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A DRIVERS exercise machine!!




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And of course I had to TRY to make a comparison...:D





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(Started typing a reponse to that Popeye forearm pic and thought naw, not looking for a scrum today :lol: )

Thx for giving us the cliff note version of the tour Greg. I hope the Lambo/Pagani factories are the next stop? :thumbsup:

This is also AUTOMOTIVE related....


While in Sienna.... we wanted to go to the GOD FATHER of Brunello wine... for wine snobs (I don't even drink) The Biondi-Santi winery is the founder of this type of wine... and Mister is still alive at 90 years old and nothing gets done until HE says it's done! We did buy some 1997 and some 2004 (the best years "lately" - this swill is slightly expensive!) of the Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva... Gwen can drink it 20 years from now. :unibrow:

SO here's the car part.... We drive up and you can see the ENTRANCE to the dump from the road... very cool and old Italy... then the ivy covered "house" (friggin' mansion) but the coolest part was what was parked outside and obviously hadn't been driven in awhile...





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AND......





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Well, you shouldnt have taken a bus tour, and You should go see Pagani and Lambo then. Maybe better experiences there.

There is no other type of tour... unless you've purchased a car... da bus is it. They put seals over your phone camera - there are NO photos allowed... and had I been able to take a photo - there was nothing to take a photo of unless you like factory building exteriors...:rofl:

Other than to say you've "been there" it is a GIANT waste of effort.

Was that Citreon just sitting there rusting away, This is the cheapest Euro vacation we could all take together..except for you ! Next year you should go to Russia or Hong Kong for us...LOL

Thanks for sharing

It wasn't rusting at all - it was well cared for - except it was dusty... but it was clean under the dust (gravel road) and the tires appeared to be in good shape....


It will be awhile before you'll find me on anymore "european" trips... I'm not much of a traveler.

Greg.I'm doing the same trip in a few months I'll have to call you about some do's and don'ts..Already disapointed about the Ferrari tour.!

Mario....


My wife is the tour guide. She planned the entire trip. I - as usual - was just along to carry the luggage.


I don't want to taint anyone else's "vision" and or the way or types of things they want to do and see... but I will say this (and even Gwen agreed)... The castle towns all look better from a distance. And by this I mean... they're romantic and look medieval - until you get inside the walls - where they turn into tourist traps selling "I was here" T-shirts and postcards.... So once you've seen two of them... you're done.

There are a FEW remarkable churches that are must sees... the interiors can be absolutely mind boggling...

WE - (you know who) - didn't allow enough time for just taking a couple days off here and there... we were far too busy even at a relaxed pace. I would have liked a couple more days in Portofino to just lay by the pool and not have to get dressed or have to be anywhere... You also need to just discount the "travel days" -- i.e., the days you are moving from one town to another... even if you're stopping along the way to sightsee... by the time you pack up - check out - drive/ride/train to your next destination - check in - unpack - eat etc... that day is SHOT. So I would have liked to plan the travel day as a non-day.... get somewhere - settle in - next day or two sightsee - then have a day to just relax before moving on...

You can actually get into the LAMBO and ZONDA factories... SCREW Ferrari... You can buy the same exact chinese made crap in Vegas...

Do NOT do the Ferrari drive that I did in Monaco or from that company. The guy has to ride with you and the SOB NEVER SHUT UP. Two hours of this AH blabbing and telling me when to up or down shift was.... well.... just never mind. I loved the car (F430) and the roads... but the AH blabbing was too much and ruined the otherwise wonderful experience.

Do not rent a Renault... it's a car your Grandmother would drive.

Do not rent a car and intend to only drive one way - our drop off charge was 1000 Euro ($1250 US).... which is just a giant waste. If you plan to rent - do your research into the actual costs and try to incorporate a "loop" where you bring the car back.

I'm sorry I missed ROME... Next trip... and if you want to blow 800 euro a day... and trip around in luxury - I have a guy for you. You'd love him, and riding in the back of an S Class and being dropped off at the front door - and not having to find cabs etc was "the only way to fly" IMHO. The days I drove - I didn't see much as you're too busy driving... riding in the back - I could look around... I could say "Dude! Can you turn around I want to take a picture of that." Or.... I'm hungry... and he knew a place and could speak the language and we ate things that I wouldn't have known to order etc...

Do NOT buy leather until you go to the Sculoa Del Cuoio in Firenze (Florence)... it's a leather making school in a monastery building (hard to find it!)... and work with a cute little man (6" shorter than me!) named VITO. I bought two jackets (one custom made) 3 large overnight satchels... two purses... Mama Mia! But wonderful things and well priced and you can TRUST them to ship etc.


The winery in Tuscany was "interesting" (if you've seen one winery you've seen them all) and the history of that particular wine was really interesting... but super expensive (500 euro per bottle starting point for the good vintages) and I bought a few just "because"... but there are wineries everywhere and a great bottle of that type can be had for 60 euro or less and you'd enjoy it just as much. The Tuscan area is littered with wineries... and retailers.


We found a new "snack" -- Prosciutto and melon... and a chunk of Pecorino cheese.... DONE! Mama Mia...


DO NOT TAKE YOUR WIFE HERE! <in Portofino>



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Mario....



An alternative to an S Class....




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When you consider when they were built, what they had for tools and power, and interior altitudes it's pretty amazing.

I think the trick would be finding a company that does track days.

The sacks look out of my price range let alone the contents. :D

Thanks for being so diligent and sharing the journey with us. :thumbsup:

OK, so did you go to Lambo and Pagani??