Modern Vespa

This trip was in my backyard in the most southern part of The Netherlands (europe). Just a 100km circle. Not that special for us but maybe for people from further away. I visited Urmond-Stijn-Elsoo-Geulle-Bunde-Maastricht-Bemelen-Valkenburg-Voerendaal-Heerlen-Amstenrade and finally Sittard. But I only took some pictures in the first few villages. Next time I'll bring my gopro.

Lupia,

You are right. Those scenic routes are normal for you, but a joy for the rest of us. Post more when you can. The last time I had the good fortune of being in your area was 1973. Loved it.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota USA

Love the photos! On our last trip to the Netherlands we were on a train to Haarlem and I kept looking at the little villages and such on the way and kept thinking "if only I had my Vespa!" To be fair, I think that a lot while travelling, but its my favorite way to explore.

The very first time I rode a scooter was in 2000 I travelled from my uncle's home located on on the Leopold Canal near Sint Kruis just inside Belgium to Brugge for a bit of sight seeing. There is no better way to enjoy and experience the countryside of the lowlands than on 2 wheels. Thanks for sharing these photos and reminding me of my first scooter ride.

I had an opportunity to enjoy cruising the countryside of Belgium and The Netherlands on a Vespa from Bruges this past summer, courtesy of The Vespa Trip. It just a one day excursion but totally worth the effort, which was not much, maybe a ten minute walk from our hotel and then we were off. I missed a chance to do a similar excursion in Italy a few years ago, the scooter shop was closed on the day I had available to ride/explore. I have high hopes of returning to the continent before long and heading out on a Vespa to explore and reconnect with my senses.

Cheers!

Bob[/img]

I am a little biased on the preferred spelling of Brugge being Brugge over Bruges but that may just be the Brugge in me.

- Adrian Brugge

Hahaha nice one!
I visit Italy once in two years since birth. Very long summers 6/8 weeks and enjoy the Italian life with my family from over there. Grew up between the Vespas, Ape and 500s. Especially in the poorer south these sticked around for a very very long time. Nowadays the seem to become a lot more rare though. On topic: somehow I never got to having my own vespa there or just go sightseeing. In july/august it is just to hot there to go sightseeing or touring for a whole day. I would love to do a Vespa Trip there, but maybe in spring one day.

Brügge

I've seen numerous iterations of the spelling, even "in country" and, as a non-resident, elected to use the apparent simplest version.

Apologies for any offense to those "in the know".

Curmudgeon, Lupia,

Bob, nice photos of those rental Vespas. Basket on the back is a good touch. I resided in Naples Italy years ago (52) where the economy had not really recovered from WW2. Vespa scooters and Fiat 500 autos dominate non public transportation. I had the good fortune of visiting Brugge several time having traveled up from Italy in my Fiat 500. I loved that car.

I was ashore on a NATO staff in the USN. Like being a honorary Kentucky Colonel in the USA, I was made a honorary "Knight of the Province of Campania Italy" at a State Dinner. So, I am officially Roberto di Campania.

Bob Copeland

I salute you, sir knight Roberto. We enjoyed a few days in northern Italy a couple of years ago, near Como. I would return in a moment, it is a wonderful place.

I trust that Frostbite Falls is settling in for winter. Here in the Upper Left Corner, we are alternating between "rideable" days and the rainy season.

Cheers,

Bob

Bob,

Then, you did get a taste of Italy. I kind of fell in love with the people, food and scenic vista. When I was there, I knew I was very fortunate. I could just as easily been floating around at sea for four years. Actually, that is what I signed up for. I am a patriot, but actually volunteered for the Navy because I was getting drafted into the Army. Life has twists like that.

Here is the two wheeled story. I was on a US Admiral's staff assigned to NATO. He was gone all the time to NATO conferences or back in Washington. While he was in Naples we worked +20 hours a day - when he was gone our Executive Officer let us just be gone. We had to call in each morning as a kind of muster. Also the Exec wanted us able to drive back with in 24 hours.

What did I do, I drove my Ducati into every small town below Rome and into Sicily. Wonderful adventure. The people were so wonderful and inviting. Half of them had family in the USA. They took me to their houses, feed me and let me sleep on the couch. I was young, if I could not find a cheap Pension, I would drive off the road deep into a field and sleep next to my bike in a sleeping bag. Never got lucky with the ladies, back then, young girls were still strictly chaperoned by family members.

Sorry for the long narrative. My four year adventure.

Bob Copeland

Wow, a proper adventure that. I can certainly appreciate your interest in taking the time to explore your surroundings and enjoy what what was there, good on you. The Ducati and Fiat are likely the perfect way to access the countryside of Italy. I tried to find a rental when we were in Italy, but only had a few days and none of the days coincided with availability at the local scooter shop.

The baskets on the back of the rental Vespas are intended to hold the picnic lunch that one can pre-order from the company, although they somehow "lost" our order and we ended up having to eat at a local joint at the coast (not a hardship, to be sure). C'est La Vie, at any rate.

No rain today, and temps in the 50s, but the roads were still wet from yesterday, so it appears that more days will pass before I can exercise the Vespa again.

Cheers,

Bob