This year, for different reasons, my only Zeddrivetherapy was the trip to Tuscany for the annual meeting of the Italian club Z3mendi, which adopted me 2 years ago, as the only foreigner (for the moment!). I have to tell you that I was suffering a little bit , to not share the passion for Zed with another group (Jim understand this feeling perfectly!). Despite the fact that in my country are about 110 registered Z3, there is no cohesion to create a group for a trip; maybe not the same reasons to be a Z3 owner, or not the same age, and so on.......The nearest club was in Italy and as we share the same latin blood and the Italian language is familiar to me , I found the best way to visit different parts of the beautiful and sunny Italy and meet very pleasant and warm people, that immediately became good friends. Usually , when I want to go from Bucuresti to Italy I take the road to Drobeta Turnu Severin, cross the border to Serbija and drive along the Danube river for about 100 km through outstanding road in the rock of the mountain and small tunnels. Than I continue to Belgrad, cross the border to Croatia, then Slovenja and Italy! But this year due to heavy rains and landslides, the road was blocked for several places and the risk for new disasters too high so we took the road through Hungary and Slovenija. The first night we stopped in Postojna (SLO) and the next morning we visited the Postonjska Jama (the biggest cave in Slovenija; about 21 km long and 5km for the public circuit). I heard alot about this cave in the paste and it's really an amazing place to see. The tour takes about 2 hours, 10 degrees C inside, the ticket about 25 EUR, but worth the effort and the money! This year I went from the italian border in the Dolomiti mountains, from Gorizia (IT) to Vigo di Fassa, through Passo di Mauria, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Pocol, Passo Giau and Passo Fedaia. The weather was unexpectedly good (I think Somebody Up there loves me!) and the road almost empty! We slept over night in Vigo di Fassa and the next day we continued the trip through Trento ( a very Austrian place in style and names, despite it's in Italy!) on the motorway to Marina di Pietrasanta, on the Tuscany's sea shore, to offer my wife a well deserved rest on the fine sand beach and an acceptable 23 degrees C of the sea water. And because of the season's closing it's almost empty everywhere, which I appreciate alot!
Good right up Zeti. I know and love Slovenia well having worked down there for three years doing ship loading inspection for our oil and gas equipment. That is where I fell in love with the Z as I made many good friends down there and one of them worked at Portorož Casino and let me use his Z during the day when he was still sleeping as he only worked nights. Oh, by the way, t-tony is going to love the inside of you boot lid.
Great photo's Zeti, thank you for showing them to us all. Please don't be a closet sticker man show them to the world! Ha Ha. That is a cool idea for keeping a record of your visits man. Hope you both had a great time too. Tony.
beautiful and amazing photos Zeti, how did your Zd get on? all plain sailing I hope epic journey, fair play to you ;-)
Great pictures Zeti, your welcome on a Uk cruise anytime. I spent a week in Trieste and Slovenia while working, and enjoyed it very much, especially our meal one night in a Slovenian tavern translated "Young Deer in Love" our mission the next day was to track down and visit the vine yard that produced our wine, which we did......
What a great write up Zeti . One of the things we take for granted here is the close proximity of other owners. But what a great excuse for a road trip!
Amazing pics, such beautiful scenery for zedding through, looks like great 'Top Down' weather too!! Mike & Sandy
Thank you Zeti for taking me to another place I didn't really know existed. Such wonderful scenery and impressive roads. JIM
Your trip looks great and you have some wonderful pictures.My wife and I visited postojnska cave I,I seem to remember that there was a small blind fish that was unique to the cave.we also visited Lipica to see the Lipizzaner horses. It was 29 years ago on a trip that I asked her to marry me.
Great write-up and pics Zeti. Glad the weather was good for you. When we were at Bardolino with the Zed last year the Italian meet was on at Ferrara. Wanted to get there but couldn't get schedule to fit - maybe another time.
My first post....Looks like the exact place to stretch the legs of the z. My wife has just purchased this 2000 2.0ltr 5 sp manual model. summer is on the way here in Austalia so looking forward to the lovely warm evenings and nights... looking forward also to obtaining some great information from you experienced z owners... anyway....drive with care and stay safe... Greg and Francesca currently Western Australia.
What a great place! Your pictures are truly lovely and give a feel for the trip above any words. Really pleased you had a great time. Sharing a trip in a place like that makes it even more enjoyable. As you know we only got back last weekend, but seeing your pictures makes me want to go again. Tuscany is now on my hit list!
Welcome Greg and Francesca! Would be nice if you could post up a hello in the introductions section with a couple of pictures That way we can all welcome you!
Hi Greg and Francesca and a big welcome from Lincoln UK. My Z is a 2000 2.0 but it's an auto,'cos I'm a lazy so and so.Ha,Ha. Enjoy the car and the forum, there is loads of info on here and some friendly banter too. Cheers, Tony.
Well , as we are still tonight in Marina di Pietrasanta (and before we get home and I forget some of the hot impressions!) few words and few pics from the surroundings: The sea shore of Tuscany is called Versilia and the north side has the sea on the west (and you can see everynight the sunset in the sea) and the Apuane mountains in the east, at 20 km from the beach. Apart this position and the scenery roads you can make in the mountain area you must visit the famous cities: Firenze, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Volterra, which are full of history and the place who gaves most part of the Italian artists. First of all I want to show you my satisfaction for the place I chosen for accommodation, almost by chance! Usually I look for B&B or private rental to the locals, if I can insure a safe parking for the Zed! (It's so nice to communicate with normal people and to get the life style of the locals and you can not get this in a 4 stars hotel. On the other hand we make alot of efforts and savings for a trip in Europe and I prefere to put to money in the petrol tank of my Zed, instead in fancy commercial hotels.) When we arrived to Albergo Naviglio, I found a beautifull 2 stores minihotel with a nice parking in front, at the shadow of mediteranean trees and a large room with view to the sea and an old Italian furniture in a decent shape. The entire staff was member of the family who owned the hotel since construction , in 1958 (a felt younger, as i'm born in 59!). Warm and carefull, open to talk and share histories....what can I say more....like a capsule of time, with the good sense of the paste.....! The historical city center is also typical: and inside of Museo Bozzetti I found this "in memoriam" Ayrton Senna: The beach ...... and a few pics of the neighbour city , Viareggio: despite the empties beaches, when is about "sales", look what hapends : tomorrow will start the annual meeting Z3mendi and hope to send you some hot news! Thank you all for encouragement and appreciations! PS: My wife rarely allowed me to take pics without a person in the frame; she says that "a picture without a person it's just a postcard, without feelings". What can I say after 33 years......just yes!
You're still there! Jealousy is not a nice emotion to suffer! I hope you have great fun! Tuscany wine is supposed to be good so don't spend all your Euros on petrol!
