The European Chronicles 6.6 Cinquecento!!!
The European Chronicles - Chapter 6.6
Cinquecento!!!
The Fiat 500, the Cinquecento, is an Italian legend. Produced from 1957 to 1975, it became Italy's city car, and Fiat re-introduced a modern version in 2007. They started importing it to the States in 2012; we have one in our garage, as does my daughter Dana. We love ours, such a happy, fun car that can't help but make you smile (Enzo, in case you were wondering). What does this have to do with our stay on Lago di Como? Patience, grasshopper...😀
On Krisanne's last day, we strolled down to a restaurant we passed several times, but had not yet tried, just up from the train station with an outdoor area high above the lake: Ristorante La Veranda Dei Pescatori. In addition to a great view, they offer a shuttle service back up the hill to Perledo in a cute little 3-wheeler that we thought might be a fun cap to Krisanne's stay.
See the little white car in the background? A Fiat 500, that's a Harley next to it, and to the right, out of the picture, is a restored Vespa. Clearly, there's a petrolhead about...
But lunch first...which turned out to be terrific.
We chat with Davide about a ride back to Perledo, and I ask who owns the Harley: he does. An immediate conversation about motorcycles ensues. Davide wants to buy another Harley in the US, ride around for about a month, then ship it back. I provide him Stefan's Heidelberg information, and it turns out that Davide's wife is from Heidelberg. He's also the owner of the Fiat 500, and the Vespa, both of which he restored, the 500 twice. He immediately says, "We will take the Cinquecento up the hill and get a coffee!" Hell, yeah!
Krisanne folds herself into the back seat, the 2-cylinder engine fires up, and we start climbing the hill - slowly. 😂
Davide has all the original paperwork; he's also in the middle of a "forever project" restoration of a Citroen 2CV. Clearly, here's a guy who likes unusual vehicles and sharing his passion.
Unfortunately, Bar Milano was still closed for vacation, so we will have to meet Davide either in the US or back in Varenna for a coffee.
What a fun encounter!
Yin and Yang kept watch over Casa Olea while we were tooling around...
Ciao!
Cinquecento!!!
The Fiat 500, the Cinquecento, is an Italian legend. Produced from 1957 to 1975, it became Italy's city car, and Fiat re-introduced a modern version in 2007. They started importing it to the States in 2012; we have one in our garage, as does my daughter Dana. We love ours, such a happy, fun car that can't help but make you smile (Enzo, in case you were wondering). What does this have to do with our stay on Lago di Como? Patience, grasshopper...😀
On Krisanne's last day, we strolled down to a restaurant we passed several times, but had not yet tried, just up from the train station with an outdoor area high above the lake: Ristorante La Veranda Dei Pescatori. In addition to a great view, they offer a shuttle service back up the hill to Perledo in a cute little 3-wheeler that we thought might be a fun cap to Krisanne's stay.
See the little white car in the background? A Fiat 500, that's a Harley next to it, and to the right, out of the picture, is a restored Vespa. Clearly, there's a petrolhead about...
But lunch first...which turned out to be terrific.
We chat with Davide about a ride back to Perledo, and I ask who owns the Harley: he does. An immediate conversation about motorcycles ensues. Davide wants to buy another Harley in the US, ride around for about a month, then ship it back. I provide him Stefan's Heidelberg information, and it turns out that Davide's wife is from Heidelberg. He's also the owner of the Fiat 500, and the Vespa, both of which he restored, the 500 twice. He immediately says, "We will take the Cinquecento up the hill and get a coffee!" Hell, yeah!
Krisanne folds herself into the back seat, the 2-cylinder engine fires up, and we start climbing the hill - slowly. 😂
Davide has all the original paperwork; he's also in the middle of a "forever project" restoration of a Citroen 2CV. Clearly, here's a guy who likes unusual vehicles and sharing his passion.
Unfortunately, Bar Milano was still closed for vacation, so we will have to meet Davide either in the US or back in Varenna for a coffee.
What a fun encounter!
Yin and Yang kept watch over Casa Olea while we were tooling around...
Ciao!
