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Parma well what can I say? The prosciutto was to die for... sorry Khianna wish you were here! Otherwise the City was like many others we have visited with the churches squares and all the touristy things; we are now taking a back seat to all that and just appreciating the atmosphere people and each other oh! and definitely the food. Thank God we are doing all this walking it is burning off what we are eating who knows if we didn't indulge we would have come back a shadow of ourselves? But no such luck we'll leave that for another day.
We visited Maranello the next day the birthplace of Ferrari. Carmel is in her element and has finally fulfilled one of her dreams.
We first visited the Ferrari museum which was wall to wall Ferraris' from real early models, super cars, racing sedans, to formula one championship winners and trophies, it was a Ferrari overload. The exhibits also demonstrated various facets of Ferrari design and engineering which was interesting. From here we had a bus tour through the streets of the Ferrari factory, as you would expect no photos on this tour they explained that original buildings were one colour and newer building were another together with modern offices and workshops. Each street was a Ferrari F1 drivers name. they also had a test track at Fiorano which was nearby that the bus drove through, the F1 development campus was adjacent to this. We really didn't see anything top secret or hopped off the bus so have no idea why we couldn't take photos?? As it was, there was little activity at the Ferrari campus due to it being Sunday.
Many establishments were set up around the museum to drive their Ferraris' with a guide, taking advantage of the location and tourists visiting the museum. Well, after being teased with all these Ferraris' that I will never be able to afford, Carmel obliged me with a drive of a shiny prancing horse, it was a red Ferrari California which allowed her to accompany me on the drive sitting in the back seat. Well how did it go? It was unreal! Fantastic! I'm still grinning writing this blog. It's not like driving any other car it was so easy to drive and handles so well. It was truly an experience and pleasure to drive such a dream around the streets and Strada's of Maranello even though I had Carmel's nails digging into my shoulder indicating I should slow down from the back seat! This did little as I was in my own little world!
Well after driving the Ferrari (just wanted to mention that again!) we went to Enzo Ferraris' house and private museum where his father's first workshop was situated. Here it really hit home on how much of a business man he was, ensuring that his dream lives on. Ferraris' vision was inspirational, in how he made his dream a reality and how he changed the world of F1 racing. He said that he didn't sell just cars he sold dreams and after driving one I can really attune to that.
I told Carmel that now I have driven a Ferrari it is all downhill from here little did we know it was nearing the truth..... We decided that we will do a long stint to Venice and catch up on a day, what a mistake! On the way we ran out of credit for IPad data which we were using for locating & booking hotels and for navigation because the Nav-Biatch doesn't know where she is going half the time. Well we got just outside of Venice very late; Carmel had a meltdown….:-( as I was directing her into yet another ghetto, as she would put it! As it was dark and there were no people around. All I wanted was a restaurant so we could get WiFi and regroup but you would all know I would have been hungry by now. Being lost and hungry is not a good combination! So you could imagine the scene from here! Just to let you know it all worked out in the end the Nav-Biatch saved us! 50 to the Farrugia's and 1 to the Nav-Biatch.
- comments
Albert Hi Charles, I can imagine myself sitting behind you in that 'red horse'
chickoli Well Albert if I could afford one I would definitely let you sit in the passengers seat not in the back.
Khianna Omg Zio Charles just read it out loud to mum and josh... He is hyperventilating with jealousy about the Ferrari museum, he is in a fetal persition in his bedroom staring at his ferrari modle cars and posters. and thanks for mentioning me I wish I was there to
Chickoli Ha Ha Khianna, that's funny no worries Joshua will get his chance one day