I have previously written about riding a Vespa (check out the video) but lately I have been encountering a lot of questions about Vespas so I wanted to revisit this favorite topic with a new post.  I also needed a personal experience for my writing class, so here is the result of my homework…  Enjoy!

Leslie

As a regular visitor to Italy I have rented cars, traveled by bus, trains and planes but had never dared to get on a scooter until a friend in Rome gave me no choice.

In Rome, motorini (scooters) are a staple mode of transportation.  Everyone drives them, young, old, rich and poor.  They are cheap, require little gas, can be parked nearly anywhere and can be driven through Rome’s historic center, which is closed to cars without a resident pass.  Scooters are also the best way to deal with Rome’s stifling traffic and small streets.  And scooters, especially Vespas, are the epitome of Italian style and design.  Like an Armani suit, they are beautiful to look at yet exude functionality.

I always thought “Bella!” (Beautiful), as they weaved through the city’s harrowing traffic but had never considered getting on one.  No way, too dangerous.  Not to mention Roman drivers who think they are Formula One racers, smiling as they swerve millimeters from your feet.

I watched scooter drivers talk on cell phones, navigate cobblestones with one hand, and squeeze between car lanes to arrive first at a stoplight finish, magically appearing in front of all the cars.  I wondered, “Are there any rules here?”.

So when my friend Stefania proposed to pick me up in the city center on a scooter I was more than nervous.  But how could I say no?  I knew the constraints.  No cars allowed, slow public transportation, and taxis that could cost a day’s salary if caught in a Roman traffic jam.   So I took a deep breath and agreed.

I put on my helmet, two sizes too big, wobbling on my head, and realized the hardest part wasn’t being in traffic, it was getting my leg over the seat without kicking Stefy or bruising my leg on the back case.  It took a few tries.  I placed my feet on the footrests, held tight to the cold metal rail on the back of the seat, and told myself  ”You can do this!” and I did.

I quickly realized pedestrians in Rome are low men on the totem poll.  Cars and scooters have all the power and what seemed terrible from the sidewalk is not bad at all from the street.  Views of historic monuments, previously limited to the sidewalk, were amazing.  I smiled and thought, “When can we do this again?”.  I had just discovered a new vantage point for sight seeing, pictures, and an occasional video!

And although enjoyable as a passenger it’s not easy driving a scooter in Rome.  It can be dangerous and I’ve had moments of fear when I was sure a bus would flatten me because my driver felt compelled to weave through lanes into oncoming traffic, but I loved it.

Not long after in New York, I found myself faced with a long commute.  For years I had avoided New York public transportation by walking to work.  But my office was more than an hour walk so I took the plunge and bought a Vespa.

A lot of friends and strangers continue to ask me about my Vespa and how I feel about driving in New York.  New York is not completely scooter friendly but the city is making progress.  I look forward to the day when there is dedicated scooter parking, more scooters on the streets and fewer potholes, but there are now five Vespa dealers in the NY area (all listed at the end of the post) and a few scooter clubs as the NY Scooter Club, a great resource for all things scooter in New York.

So if you or someone you know is interested in a scooter feel free to share this post and visit one of the NY area dealers for more information.  And for those of you who are serious about taking the plunge take note that Vespa Brooklyn is currently offering $1,000 off all 2009 Vespa models while in stock!  Amazing!!!

So scooter away!!!

Vespa Brooklyn, 215 Park Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205  T (718) 254-0808

Vespa Soho, 13 Crosby St, New York, NY 10013-3138  T (212) 226-4410

Vespa Potamkin, 798 11th Ave, New York, NY  T (212) 708-3170

Vespa Queens, 37-43 Crescent St, Long Island City, NY 11101  T (718) 786-7772

Vespa Jersey City, 247 10th St, Jersey City, NJ 07302  T (201) 837-7252

I have a small obsession with travel but I am just as obsessed with travel guides & books.  If I had the space, my apartment would be filled!

Here are a few recent discoveries and old favorites to consider…as travel books are not only a source of information, they are a source of enjoyment.

F R A N C E

Alastair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay French Bed & Breakfast 11th Edition

An amazing, well researched guide on French B&B’s.   Other additions include Paris Hotels, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Mountains of Europe and French Holiday Homes

P A R I S

Patisseries of Paris by Jamie Cahill

This small chic guidebook is essential for anyone who wants to experience Paris through its stylish cafes and mouth watering sweets.  Published by The Little Bookroom, this company does niche travel guides to the world’s best loved cities like no other.

Hungry for Paris The Ultimate Guide To The City’s 102 Best Restaurants by Alexander Lobrano

Not only is this a great guide for restaurants it is a wonderful cultural guide to dining in Paris.

R O M E

Footprint Italia Rome

This guide may be hard to find in the US but it is a concise, well organized guide to Rome.  Their website www.footprintbooks.com is a feast of guidebooks categorized by destinations and activities.  Other additions include Madrid, Tuscany, Sicily and Venice.

The Terroir Guide Food & Wine Rome

Another series published by The Little Bookroom.  This guide is a veritable reference to the local food, wine, markets, artisans and restaurants of Rome.   Other additions include Budapest and The Italian Riviera with more on the way.

romastaordinaria

This guide, a recent discovery, is not easy to find.  Written in English and Italian it is part of a series of guides to Italian cities that are published each summer.  The guide features shops, restaurants, hotels, bookstores, shopping services and new cultural activities that due to their quality and personality are all “extraordinary”.   A visit to their website www.italiastraordinaria.it will give you a taste for this unique series of guidebooks.

So whether you are preparing for a trip, need a gift or simply want a little escape to dream and drool about future adventures a travel book may be just what you need.

Enjoy!

Leslie

I bought a Vespa in 2006, partly due to an allergy to public transportation (Mon-Fri only) and partly because who doesn’t want to own a Vespa.

My friend Stefania (Stefy) took me on my first motorino (scooter) ride in Rome and I have been hooked ever since.  Just seeing a Vespa makes me happy, it is an immediate escape to all things Italian.

People always ask me if driving a Vespa in New York is dangerous…well it isn’t for everyone but in some cities motorini (scooters) are a necessity.

Young, old, with or without a passenger, talking on the telefonino (phone) or my personal favorite driving with one hand on cobblestones, in Rome everyone rides motorini.

I am hoping they become a necessity in New York.  I am certain the more Vespas I see, the happier I will be.

In Rome the city center is almost always closed to cars but always open to motorini.  Driving or parking a car in the historic center requires a special pass.  Public transportation is an option but as most things Roman, it is incredibly slow.

A motorino is the only way to quickly circulate and manage the city’s stifling traffic.

Driving in Rome, I wouldn’t dare…plus as a passenger I can film and snap photos.

If you have never been on a Vespa or have never visited Rome, what would be better than a quick escape to experience both – no insurance needed.

Click play on the video below and vai (go)!!!!!!  Sorry no English subtitles.

Enjoy!

Leslie

I don’t recommend visiting Rome in the summer, especially August.  Many businesses are closed, the Romans have fled to the seaside to work on their tans and it is simply troppo caldo (too hot).

But if you do come a few things you can enjoy are less traffic, a reduced chance of being sideswiped by a car or scooter, unlimited amounts of gelato, beautiful parks that offer a cool refuge from the city center and lots of cultural events.

Another benefit is free water.  There are more than 2,000 nasones (water fountains or literally big noses) pouring fresh water from the Apennine Mountains to water drinkers throughout the city.  Pure as a mineral water and high in calcium, some consider this water the best in Italy, so fill up a bottle and enjoy anytime.

For a little Roman summer escape of your own you can enjoy these images but if you live in New York and want a small taste of summer in Rome fly yourself down to il laboratorio del gelato.  You may not have the animated scene of a Roman gelateria but you will have some of the tastiest gelato outside of Rome.

And if you are lucky enough to be in Paris don’t miss the gelato chain Amorino, bringing a love of Italian gelato straight to the hearts of Parisians.  Amorino’s gelato not only tastes great but a beautiful floral presentation makes every bite even more inviting.

If you have a favorite gelato destination feel free to share your recommendation by submitting a comment, so we can all enjoy a taste of summer in Rome.

Enjoy!

Leslie

When I arrive in Italy (apart from seeing friends) the first thing I want to do is enjoy a caffè (coffee or espresso) and if it is breakfast I want un cappuccino e un cornetto con la marmellata (a cappuccino and sweet croissant like pastry filled with jam)…yum!

In Italy having a caffè is a piacere (pleasure) and a ritual, whether with friends or by yourself.

It is less about the caffeine recharge and more about human contact with the world, as most caffè in Italy is enjoyed outside the home at a bar (an everything destination for coffee, breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, an aperitivo, even phone cards and last minute gifts).

Whether standing at the bar, sitting down, reading the paper or having an argument over the Prime Minister’s personal life, bars are an epicenter of Italian life.

I love watching the action, listening to the spirited ordering and animated conversations while enjoying un bel caffè (a good coffee) and yummy snack.

You may not be able to get to a bar in Italy anytime soon but finding your local stop for a coffee or drink, alone or with friends, can create an enjoyable ritual to help slow life’s crazy pace just a little.

Or maybe these photos will transport you there for a few minutes…

Enjoy!

Leslie