decoupe
(deceased)
At the rip old age of 62, I finally succumbed to family pressures and went to Europe (Switzerland, France and Italy) for hiking and general tourist gawking. Other than overdosing on cheese, olive oil and beer for three weeks I survived without any major international repercussions.
There was a disappointing number of classic cars to be seen - a Jag XK120 - 150 on the highway to Lucca and several Fiats of different vintages. What really blew me away was the Italian AutoStrade itself for shear size, engineering scope and it's ability to eat up the miles. The tunnels (12km by 4 lanes under Mont Blanc alone) I lost track of and the bridges dwarf anything I've seen in NAm.
Canada is a very large country of relatively few people and not many roads. The roads we do have are constantly going through freeze thaw cycles that render them brutal within 5 years of their most recent repaving that keeps the sustained 130+ kmh speeds of the Autostrade physically punishing in an old car like mine unpleasent.
So, while the churches and quaint hilltop towns like Cortona and the walled city of Lucca will be remembered for their charm and fine food, it is the Autostarde and the transportation infrastructure that really blew me away. And, any of the gas bars on the A11 will do a better cappuccino than any Starbucky ever does - the perfect road trip.
Does that mean I'm a motorhead or just a cultural neanderthal.
Decoupe, as always.
There was a disappointing number of classic cars to be seen - a Jag XK120 - 150 on the highway to Lucca and several Fiats of different vintages. What really blew me away was the Italian AutoStrade itself for shear size, engineering scope and it's ability to eat up the miles. The tunnels (12km by 4 lanes under Mont Blanc alone) I lost track of and the bridges dwarf anything I've seen in NAm.
Canada is a very large country of relatively few people and not many roads. The roads we do have are constantly going through freeze thaw cycles that render them brutal within 5 years of their most recent repaving that keeps the sustained 130+ kmh speeds of the Autostrade physically punishing in an old car like mine unpleasent.
So, while the churches and quaint hilltop towns like Cortona and the walled city of Lucca will be remembered for their charm and fine food, it is the Autostarde and the transportation infrastructure that really blew me away. And, any of the gas bars on the A11 will do a better cappuccino than any Starbucky ever does - the perfect road trip.
Does that mean I'm a motorhead or just a cultural neanderthal.
Decoupe, as always.
