Vespa Rally in Genoa

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A few Saturdays ago, there was a Vespa Rally in Genoa organised by a non-profit, non-governmental organisation known as Music For Peace. I should so have them linked here but typing from my mobile does make searches on the internet a little cumbersome but I think they really deserve some recognition for a job well done. They emphasized the fact that they are non governmental so that they can go where they are needed and not bound by government policies or alliances.

Not only do they ship or truck their aid over to where it is needed. They deliver everything themselves, door to door, which ensures it goes directly to the intended person and not disappearing as they sometimes do. On top of that, they help the city feed the poor. Especially those that have been refered to them by the government. I asked them why only those refered and they replied that they want to help those really in need as the have limited resources. Everything they have is strictly by donation so they want to give it to the person or families who needs it the most.

This rally was organised to bring in more donations and to raise the awareness of their organisation as they prepare for another aid trip to next war torn country. To bring in the crowd, they teamed up with the local Vespa Club to hold a 2 day Vespa Rally with loads of music, food and beers.

Many Vespa lovers came from far and wide. Some rode from as far as the Netherlands, Brussels on their vespas to join this Rally. It was really quite a sight! There were French, Germans, Austrians…

Above was my pimped out vespa for the rally. Just a 50cc one that M decorated with the Malaysian flags in the form of beautiful butterflies and a “I ♥ Malaysia” sticker complete with an Asian looking girl! Ah…I am loved!! He has since pasted another one of this stickers on my daily ride. My Vespa SS300.

I must say that it was organised very well. Even with so many people, order was maintained and cleanliness was tip-top. 2 full days from 10am to 1am on Saturday and till 11pm on Sunday. Even with booze and 2 stages of live music there was no trouble.

Our ride too was well organised and very picturesque. We even got to ride through the historic centre where it is usually off limits even to residents in the historic centre!

All in all a very good 2 days! I had fun! 🙂
By the way, I was the only Malaysian in the rally and M signed me up for a friendly competition too. Which I didn’t win. 😛

Will be boarding soon for Singapore. Lets see how Air France fares on this trip to Asia. I have taken them to the US. Though we didn’t have a good start. Our first flight out of Genoa was delayed for nearly 2 hours. Luckily our next flight was initially 4 hours after landing in Paris. We made it with nearly 2 hours to spare.

Fingers crossed no more problems. I have another flight to catch in Singapore. Wish me luck!

Toodeloos everyone!

saying hello from Sardinia!

From Our Balcony

This photo is from the 1st day. We left Genoa last Thursday on an overnight ferry for Olbia in our WV van. MIL, Milo and I with M at the drivers seat in the van. My FIL on his scooter behind us and our mechanic with another van right behind him. It was the best start to the journey but we managed. We were delayed leaving Genoa by 1 and half hours but surprisingly we made up time and arrived as scheduled. Tirrenea the ferry company redeemed a few points in my eyes. It is usually the worst among the lot that services the Genoa-Olbia route.

After disembarking, we made our way slowly toward Porto Cervo. Taking in the lushes green hillsides and the bluest seas ever! Even my MIL was impressed. She wasn’t in the best of moods as she was feeling a little unwell in the ferry and the whole time leading up to this summer holiday, she was complaining about the heat in Genoa, thinking it would be just as bad here. She also said that she would rather go down south and so on. I reassured her that she would find the apartment we found here in Sardinia would be to her taste and she would enjoy the balcony immensely as she likes to sit out in the open and have a smoke. Even if the beach is not near. We are after all at a port. We prefer to have a place near to our shop since we  are opened till 1 or 2 am. After a long evening we want to just walk home and crash.

True enough, that was the best part of the apartment for her! Apart from the fact that the apartment was spotless and lack nothing. It had everything! Being used to the southern version of rental units, she was pleasantly surprised. We lugged half a home with us. We even brought along an ironing board and and iron. That is how much faith we have in the rental units here. But the north and more commercialised areas have a better grasp of the market. They have thought of everything to make your stay comfortable so that you would keep coming back. I can’t say the same for the south though. Unless they are an international chain of hotels or managed by a foreigner. Like an absolute jewel of a hotel on Ortigia in Sicily run by an English woman. It had everything, great breakfast and free wifi and most importantly air-conditioning! Something sorely lacking elsewhere.

The heat here is just as bad but we have been having some very windy days that make for a very great working environment so far. It is so hot that I can’t bring myself to go for a run. Though I did about 3.5km yesterday when the wind has been so strong it  didn’t feel like it was 42 degrees at all! 🙂 I was a little “chau ta” in the face though. The sun sneaks up on you when the wind is so strong. It is deceptive. But, at least I got a run in for this week. We found a gym nearby. We are still in negotiations for a better price for the usage of the gym. It is currently too high to for just 10 entries. At Euro 200!! We are at Porto Cervo, after all. Can you see all the yachts that are berthed at the port in picture? There has been more since Sunday.

This is our reason to be here on the island of Sardinia. To sell our vespas!

Got to go! The shop filling up with clients. Hopefully we sell ALL of our vespas! 🙂

Toodeloos for now fro, Sardinia!! ❤

Our shop