Scootercast Episode 71: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Show Notes: This episode was done after arriving in Florence Italy, having just come from Ragusa which is in the southern part of the island of Sicily. While there it was a week of family dinners, celebration and of course lots and lots of conversation. Since I am at best, conversational in Italian, it means listening a lot and asking for things to slowly be repeated. But everyone is very patient and truly seem to be happy to see us.
I have been posting on twitter from my iphone since we arrived in Italy. I find it interesting to be in a place where somethings are very modern, yet many other things are ancient. This is especially true the farther your get from the big city. A great example of this is how the iphone seems to work everywhere we go using the cell system, but to find free wi-fi is almost impossible.

For those of you who might be lucky enough to travel to Italy, getting around by train is very easy. It used to be harder because you had to buy tickets at the ticket window. It was common to have the agent throw a ticket at you in frustration and signal you to move away from the window. These days, everything is done at ticket kiosk where you can purchasing tickets in six different languages. The trains are clean, comfortable and even the local trains are surprisingly efficient. The local trains slower, but that is part of the charm of coming here, you are forced to slow down, take in the scenery and enjoy the ride. My observation is that most people fall asleep.

Italians ride modern scooters. But that doesn’t mean you don’t a few 2 strokes or other old vehicles poking along. It is common to come across people broke-down on the side of the road and it is always an adventure to stop and talk with them. If it is a scooter, curse their bikes and love them at the same time, but eventually every conversation turns to “who is your family”, “do you know this person or that person”. It seems to always be about looking for a connection. It has me thinking about how our scooter conversations are similar, what scooter are you riding, who do you know and what rallies have you been too. Did I mention that dinner here usually starts about eight and goes until midnight with lots of drinking? Sounds familiar doesn’t it, kind of like our scooter get-togethers.

Music for this show is from the Podsafe Music Network and included the Silent Treatment and also Sean Costello.

Wireless is hard to come by in the little towns of Sicily. So here is a great experiment, can I blog from my iPhone? Italy is hot in the summer but a good time to visit because everyone goes to the mountains or sea. Rome was empty and we walked up to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and other sites without having to fight any crowds.
Unlike most people think scooters in Italy are utilitarian. But they have caught on that the rest of us have a love for them and there is Vespa crap all over the place. Most scooters are big wheeled Aprilia or the like and it is not uncommon to see bikes from Taiwan. Old scoots are rare as the government started paying to get them off the streets years ago.
But life is as I remember it, people and food first everything else second.
Be sure to check twitted for daily updates ok our travels. Pictures to follow as soon as I get an Internet connection.

SHOWNOTES: This is episode fifty (50) and yes, the picture above is the famous Vespa travel author Peter Moore. Several weeks ago he talked with me from London. Although it seems unlikely, especially if you listen to the scooter podcast, you may have never heard of Peter. On his website you will find you have been missing one of the best literary travel experiences and you can also get a scooter fix. You have missed No Shitting in the Toilet, The Wrong Way Home and for those the Vespa fans Vroom with a View. Peter is an humorous Australian who has a great story to tell about growing up infatuated with the scooters and if you are at all like me, you will be fascinated with his how he was able to lived out his dream of riding about and around Italy for months on a Vespa.

Peter is an unlikely scooter expert. As a matter of fact he does not call himself a scooter expert at all, having come to scootering only in the last few years. But make no mistake, he is a dedicated fan who owns three scooters and has taken his love of travel and mixed it up with the idea that when you travel, who you meet along the way and the experience you have with them may be more rewarding than any tourist site you may see.
On another note, Thanks again to everyone who has emailed me and encouraged me to keep punching out podcasts. Fifty episodes in this podcasting space is a milestone, by anyone’s measure. I would specifically like to thank everyone listens, but especially those of you who have phoned with questions, ideas and even criticisms. You have helped define what SCTRCST has become and will continue to be.
In February hundreds of listeners register to win the SCTRCST Ipod. I wish I could give away an Ipod to all of you, but unfortunately I only have one and that one is going to David Huskins in North Carolina. David even called the voice mail line to say thanks. As a consultation prize I am also sending SCTRCST t-shirts out to Eric, Alex, Jim and several other listeners as soon as I hear back from them. The rest of you, you are going to have to settle for another podcast, delivered shortly, in just a few more days. I will have a follow up from Scoot Richmond where they are all about the installation of the LML motor in my Vespa Sprint and I also have another treat, a conversation from the Philippines with John Rana and Bimbo Isidro from Who Rides a Vespa and Vespinoy.

Music for this show is from the Podsafe Music Network

• Friday Night by Andreas Weise
• Talk About Your Feelings by Josh Woodward

 

 Episode 50 [39:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download