Scenic Tuscany and Internet Access Italia

The drive to Rome was fabulous. The route took us through very scenic Tuscan countryside to the hilltop town of Siena. From there we drove through more spectacular countryside to Umbria and Lake Trasimene, the second largest lake in Italy. Our final destination is the great city of Rome.

I'll have pictures and videos to post but that will have to wait due to internet connectivity issues at our current location in Rome.

Internet Woes

Looks like a spotty internet connection in Florence has been traded for zero access in Rome...

From the concierge at our hotel we received his sincerest apologies but a dispute between the cable line owner and the hotel's Internet Service provider has resulted in internet services being cut to the hotel. Adriano, our friendly concierge says "It's Italy... that's how it goes and our hotel is caught in the middle." Internet service may be restored at any time or not at all during our visit so I've had to resort to using my mobile phone as a modem, and quite a slow one it is.

L.A. MINI Tours Florence, Italy

The MINI in the historic Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy

Ok folks, I think I've got a good one for you today. We just returned from an early morning drive around central Florence... just about the only time this part of the city isn't choked with visitors from all over the globe. I was able to get into normally auto-unfriendly areas to take some pictures and Jennifer shot video as well. After breakfast I edited the video clips and have uploaded a pretty good impression of this historic city.

Enjoy!

JCW MCS in front of Florence's Duomo

Florence, Italy

Pondering the new Fiat 500 in the Galleria degli Uffizi


Today was our first full day in Florence. We decided to leave the car at the hotel and take the bus into downtown in order to get a better feel for the city centre. We took in the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza della Repubblica, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Galleria degli Uffizi. I will try to get out early in the morning with the MINI to try to get a few pictures of the car in front of some of Florence's famous sites before the piazzas become crowded with visitors.


Video impression of the Piazza della Signoria

Antibes-Cannes-Pisa-Florence

Jennifer and JCW MCS near the Leaning Tower of Pisa

We're on the road again and have left a wonderful time in France for further adventures in Italy. We started by making a slight detour to Cannes to try and get a little feel of Hollywood on the Riviera by driving down la Croisette. From there it was autoroute/autostrada until Pisa. The drive was magnificent with the Meditteranean Sea a constant companion for most of the drive. After navigating the Riviera dei Fiori and passing through Genoa we entered Tuscany and stopped at the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. A brief respite to grab a bite to eat (Italian of course) and then on to our accommodations in Florence. Tomorrow we plan to spend the day in the center of Florence and hopefully get the Accademia and Uffizi galleries done early before the throngs appear.

My internet access is also a bit spotty so I might not be able to respond or post as quickly as I would like.

Video of today's drive into Italy.

Preparations for Italy

Another quiet day on the shores of the Meditteranean Sea. I thought about taking a drive up the Route Napolean, but early morning rain and thunder put a damper on that idea. The day cleared up but we decided to take it easy and prepare for the coming trip to Italy. The plan calls for a drive along the Italian Riviera to Pisa and its famous Leaning Tower and then on to the Renaissance treasures of the city of Florence.

Stay tuned!

Day of Rest

No real news today as the day was spent resting in Antibes since we've been on-the-go virtually from our arrival in Europe. The car took the day off as well. We have one more full day on the Cote d'Azur tomorrow and I thought it might be a good time take a drive up the scenic Route Napolean. Not sure if I'm up for the mileage yet so we'll see.



I snapped the photo above while waiting for clothes to dry at the laundry next to our hotel. This is the kind of parking that I see quite often in France and Italy that can give a "car guy" from California high anxiety...

Nice, Monaco, and Meeting Very Good Friends

JCW MCS at the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco

We got up very early this morning to get over to Villefranche-sur-Mer to meet our very good friends, the Rizzo family from Southern California, at the dock as they disembarked from their Norwegian Cruise Lines ship for a shore excursion in France. Jennifer and I took Mike Rizzo for a drive into Monaco, drove around the Grand Prix Circuit (Mike took video of us driving around the track so we'll have to wait for the footage), spent time at the Royal Palace, and at the church where Princess Grace married Prince Rainier. From there it was up into the hills above Monaco and Nice, a drive down the Promenade des Anglais and back to Villefranche for lunch and catching up with other members of the Rizzo family. A really special day which made us feel not so far away from home!

Robert with the Rizzo Brothers

Enjoying a meal in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Managed to catch a few more members of the Rizzo Family as we left Villefranche.

360 degree view of Monte Carlo Harbor and the Royal Palace of Monaco.


A video collage of our day with the Rizzos on the Cote d'Azur.

Lyon to Antibes (Juan-les-Pins) on the Cote d'Azur

Not much to report today. Breakfast in Lyon and a dinner of "moules et frites et une biere" at the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the day was spent on the road. Driving through Cannes I saw palm trees...something I haven't seen much of since leaving L.A.



Short video of our drive that shows us leaving Lyon, entering the Cote d'Azur, first view of the blue Meditteranean, and passing through Cannes on the way to Antibes.

I did manage to catch my first glimpse of a truckload of new Fiat 500s making their way down the autoroute. Comparisons to the new MINI are all the rage...




In front of the hotel in the seashore resort of Juan-les-Pins.

Verdun to Lyon

The American Memorial to the French Fallen at Verdun

(Rough Translation: In memory of the French soldiers who rest here after being shot while defending this trench. From your American brothers.)

Today we left Reims and headed first to Verdun and then on to the city of Lyon, our pitstop for the evening.

Verdun is the site of one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I. It was the scene of trench warfare, huge artillery barrages, biplane aviation, and gas attacks. The battle lasted for ten months during 1916 and saw horrendous casualties for both Germany and France with France the eventual victor. Today one can still make out the moon-like landscape caused by the constant shelling during the course of the battle. We also drove to the site of Louvemont, a village entirely obliterated during the battle.



The video above shows the American Memorial to fallen French soldiers, the Ossuary (the tower like building) and cemetery where known and unknown French and German soldiers are buried, the Visitor's Center in the distance and some of the undulating terrain caused by the constant artillery bombardment in 1916.

City of Lyon, France

By nightfall we entered the city of Lyon for a good night's rest. While we won't spend much time in the city, the night skyline is impressive.

Next stop: Juan les Pins, Antibes on the French Riviera (between Cannes and Nice). Finally an escape from the daily dose of rain!

Happy 4th of July!

To all our friends and family back in the USA we wish you a great holiday today!

For us we began our day at Compiegne contemplating the meaning of freedom and the sacrifice that is sometimes needed to ensure it. It seemed appropriate to spend at least some time today at the location where the "Great War" ended in 1918 but also where freedom was trampled by tyranny in 1940.

(above) JCW MCS at the World War I Armistice Memorial at Compiegne

At the Compiegne Forest, World War I came to an end when Germany signed the armistice inside a railway car that was then located on the memorial site. The future seemed to be much brighter. However, in 1940 a new world war saw the same parties in reversed roles with France capitulating to Germany in exactly the same location with the Nazi dictator present and enjoying the irony of the moment. After World War II the site was restored and today it remains a quiet and contemplative place. I recently heard William L. Shirer's 1940 live on-location CBS Radio broadcast to the USA that covered the events here after reading the book "World War II On the Air: Edward R. Murrow and the Broadcasts That Riveted A Nation" by Bernstein, Lubertozzi, and Rather. It really made the detour to Compiegne worthwhile.

(above) Contemplating the location where one World War ended and where the French nation was plunged into darkness during the Second World War

360 degree panorama of the Compiegne Armistice Site

Reims

Our afternoon was spent in the city of Reims at the Great Cathedral. A shining example of gothic architecture, the Cathedral was the site of virtually every royal coronation ceremony. Reims is also in the heart of the Champagne region of France. We drove by famous Champagne producers; the most notable being Veuve Clicquot.

JCW MCS parked at the rear of the Great Cathedral of Reims

The front facade of the Cathedral

Jennifer lighting a candle inside the Cathedral

Final Evening In Paris

JCW MCS in front of Hermes in the prestigious 1er Arrondissement

We decided to take it easy today with all the rain coming down during the first half of the day and save our energy for an evening out. First up was a drive down the Rue de Rivoli to the Place de la Concorde and a visit to the famous Buddha Bar.



After a drink and some Cal/Japanese cuisine (actually an odd choice since we are from Los Angeles) we drove around a bit to take in the beauty of Paris by night. It was then back to the hotel to try to get a good jump on the next day's journey.


An evening drive around the City of Light

Tomorrow's destination: Reims and the Champagne Region
To see: the great Cathedral where the royalty of France were crowned, drive by vineyards, and visit historic WWI and WWII sites along the way.

BMW C1

I was returning from dinner last night and had to snap a picture of this two-wheeled creation on my mobile phone. Nowhere but in Paris do I see more of these BMW Scooters on the street. Never sold in the USA most likely due to liability concerns because it is designed to be ridden without the need for a helmet; these machines still intrigue me.





Video courtesy of YouTube

A Day in the City of Light

Has anyone seen the Holy Grail?

After yesterday's early morning relaxed drive around the center of Paris we decided to spend a day at the Louvre. We gave the car a rest and decided to use the Metropolitain to get there. I have been at the Louvre several times in the past but I never went inside due to the long lines and a desire not to do the "touristy" thing. Anyway, I'm glad I finally had a chance to look at the wonderful masterpieces in the museum. Some highlights from the Denon wing: the Mona Lisa (of course), works by famous French artists Gericault (we walked past his gravesite in Pere Lachaise) and Delacroix, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Venus de Milo. Jennifer provided background information which was nice to have since she majored in art history at UCLA. After the Louvre we headed back to the 11e Arrondissement for a dinner at a local brasserie.

Today we hoped to travel to Versailles, but so far the weather is not cooperating. We'll wait things out a bit and see how the day develops.


A 360 degree view outside the Louvre Museum in Paris

Paris at Dawn

Took an early morning drive around Paris and its historic monuments. Not quite as fast or cinematic as the classic car film "C'etait un Rendezvous" but a lot of fun nevertheless.


Crossing a bridge over the river Seine with Notre Dame in the background and entering the Place de la Concorde followed by a right turn onto the Champs Elysees. Notice the French motorcycle rider yelling "Welcome!" to his Los Angeles guests after noticing the California car on the Champs Elysees! We then enter l'Etoile and circled the Arc de Triomphe. Sorry for the bumpiness of the video but driving on cobblestones isn't the smoothest surface to film on!

JCW MCS on White Roof Radio and MotoringFile

Robert with Todd Pearson of White Roof Radio


I just noticed that White Roof Radio has put up a broadcast of our interview at MINI United 2007.

Click here to listen: White Roof Radio MINI United Interview

Be sure to check White Roof Radio or MotoringFile or log onto the Apple iTunes store and subscribe to White Roof Radio podcasts to hear our interview and so much more of what goes on in the world of the MINI.

Trip Itinerary

I've had a few questions about our route of travel so I thought I'd post the tentative schedule.

This week we'll be in Paris and the Cote d'Azur. Then it is off to Florence and Rome the following week. That much is pretty much certain. Then the plan calls for a drive north to Salzburg, Austria and then Munich, Germany. Further north and a stop in Berlin followed by a visit to the Nordschleife at the Nurbuergring. Then it is back to the Netherlands to prepare the car for return to Los Angeles. Stops and changes to the plan may need to be made along the way as is the case with any long distance journey. In any event, no matter how the trip unfolds I'm sure the adventure will create nothing but smiles and lasting memories!

Ahh, Paris...

Today we had a nice drive from Eindhoven to Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium and on into France via the Route Nationale (N2) through historic First World War battlefields and beautiful rolling Northern French countryside. Many of the French drivers gave the California MINI curious looks and there were a few broad smiles and thumbs-up. I waved to a pretty French girl in a MINI cabriolet as she flashed her high beams at me. Not only did we get to see and drive through many of the small villages that dot the landscape but by taking N2 we avoided the autoroute tolls!

Driving in Paris at rush hour while low on fuel was hectic but I soon adjusted to driving in Parisian combat mode. It's too bad we didn't get into the city until dark or we would have shot some pictures. We even managed to stop a whole group of Parisian fireman in their tracks when they noticed a car with California plates driving along the Avenue de la Republique... too much fun! However, I was pretty worn out by the time I finally got to the hotel and I'm looking forward to a good night's rest.

We're staying in the 11e Arrondissement (http://wikitravel.org/en/Paris/11th_arrondissement) near the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A8re_Lachaise), the Place de la Republique, the Bastille Opera and the Place de la Bastille (http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Monuments-Paris/Bastille.shtml). Unfortunately our parking garage spot was taken so I had to search around for another parking garage. Luckily our TomTom 910 GPS was up to the task. I didn't want to risk leaving JCW MCS on the streets of Paris knowing how the Parisians generally treat vehicles!
Jennifer knows Paris well so I'm sure we'll have no trouble getting around.

Car Wash Dutch Style

Before leaving for France we decided to give the rather dirty MINI a car wash. The last several days have seen pretty foul weather for this time of year in Holland. We visited ANAC Car Wash (http://www.anaccarwash.com/) in Eindhoven and made sure that the car would be gleaming on the way to Paris.

More to come...

MINI Is Running Fine

I picked up the car today from van Laarhoven MINI and the car is running very well. I spent a bit of time getting the shine back into the car after several days of rain by using my rapidly dwindling supply of Griot's Garage "Speed Shine" Quick Detailer. The rest of the day was spent with family in the Woensel and Tongelre areas of Eindhoven. Tomorrow it is off to Arnhem to visit with more family and then it's back to Eindhoven to pack for the following day's journey to Paris.

JCW MCS In For Service In the Netherlands

I brought the car in for service at van Laarhoven MINI just prior to closing. This way the car will be ready for service first thing in the morning. With a faulty 02 sensor mounted so close to the manifold, even running the car for a little while would require a significant cool-down period. Hopefully the car will be ready to roll by mid-day tomorrow.

My North American warranty will not cover this repair but I was already fairly certain that MINI USA warranties would not be accepted in Europe. At least the fix won't be too expensive but I will check with MINI USA to see if reimbursement is possible.

A Little Rest Before the European Grand Tour

We're in Eindhoven, the Netherlands for several days to visit family and friends. While here I plan to have my MINI looked over at the local BMW/MINI dealer van Laarhoven (http://www.vanlaarhovenmini.nl/) to make sure that the car is ready to cover ground between here and as far south as Naples, Italy.

Visiting with family members and taking pictures with the car

MINI attracts an audience on a Dutch street (Video somehow came out with "mirror" effect)

I noticed during the last few days that the "Service Engine Soon" light has been flickering on and off. van Laarhoven took a look at the car and it turns out that a lambda o2 sensor has failed and will need replacement. Luckily a fairly quick fix but I'll have to wait until Thursday to have the work done. Piece of mind for the coming journey!

Closing Dinner In Amsterdam

Sunday, 24 June brought events to a close at MINI United. However, the MINI USA group had one last dinner together (aside from drinks at the Moevenpick Hotel bar afterward...) to close out a a wonderful event.

Jamie Oliver's (The Naked Chef) "Fifteen" www.fifteen.nl/ Restaurant was the dinner venue. It was a time to say goodbye to new friends, reflect on the weekend's events, and realize just how fast the three days had gone by. We were further treated to anecdotes about the 1967 Rally Monte Carlo from the MINI driver and overall event winner, Rauno Aaltonen.

Great event. Great people. What more could anyone ask for?

Rauno Aaltonen (left) with Jennifer and her brother Robert at the closing dinner at Jamie Oliver's "Fifteen".




One last hurrah at the Moevenpick Amsterdam Hotel bar with the great MINI owners, Motoringfile.com and Whiteroofradio.com folks, and MINI USA representatives.

L.A. MINI on Dutch TV

Looks like we got our 15 seconds on SBS 6 television in the Netherlands. The program "Hart van Nederland" did a piece on the events going on at MINI United and a segment containing ourselves and JCW MCS made the airwaves. We've also been interviewed by ANP (Dutch Wire News Service like AP/Reuters) and if I can get my hands on a copy of the interview I'll post it here.





Video courtesy of http://www.mixedminiclub.nland SBS 6 "Hart van Nederland"