Blogging from A to Z Challenge
for 2013.
My last topic for Week One of the Challenge is an item from my Bucket List: the iconic sports car by Italian car maker Ferrari.
It's a little strange because I'm not a car aficionado, but when I was planning a trip to France last summer I came across a company that provides tours on the French Riviera by Ferrari and I just had to add it to my Bucket List.
Liven Up Driving Experience allows you to drive or be driven in a Ferrari F430 or F360 Spider, for 15, 30 or 60-minute tours, with departures from Monaco, Nice and Eze Village. Prices start at 59 Euros for the 15-minute co-pilot experience.
The driver picked me up at my hotel and before setting out on the tour he gave me time to get behind the wheel for photos (no way I was going to drive this expensive, powerful car).
Then we headed for the Grand Corniche and the hilltop towns of Eze and La Turbie.
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| Eze Village |
I didn't buy the DVD of my tour (an additional 49 Euros) but European tour guide author Rick Steves has a good film clip of the area French Riviera: The Corniches and Eze which approximates the drive.
We pulled off the road a couple of times for photos. This looks like the same spot where Cary Grant and Grace Kelly stopped to admire the view in the 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film To Catch a Thief.
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| View of Monaco from the Grand Corniche |
All too soon my ride was over and it was time to return to the hotel.
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| Monaco |
The gift shops in Monaco sell lots of Ferrari souvenirs including t-shirts, ball caps and key chains. But I came home with the best souvenir of all – the thrill of racing up a hill on the Grand Corniche, with the engine roaring and and my hand clutching the armrest as we passed another car. I'll never forget it.
And the world's largest indoor theme park? Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi.
Next: "G" is for Garden
That sounds so fun! I've been to Maranello, Italy, home of Ferrari and the sound of their engines are different from anything I've ever heard. Sounds like a fun way to see the coast!
ReplyDeleteMy A to Z is at http://janiceperson.com
It was a once in a lifetime splurge, but I'm glad I did it. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteLovely photos! I enjoyed the video clip as well. I have not made it to Italy, France or anywhere else in Europe. Just my trip to England many years ago. This looks exciting!
ReplyDeleteDenise at Organization and Inspiration for Fellow Writers, participant of A to Z Blogging Challenge
Denise Reashore on Facebook
Thank you, Denise! I love England too - have only been to London for a few days, plus a day trip to Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge. I hope I return one day to see more. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, I'm not into cars that much. However, like you, the tour in a Ferrari would be one kewl experience just to say you did it.
ReplyDeleteI'll always remember it!
DeleteAlso not a car lover, but I added to my bucket list driving a F1 car. A colleague of mine had a Porsche and he drove me once from Cologne to Frankfurt. As you might know, there's no speed limit in German highways, so he kept left and we reached almost 200km/h. It was awesome!
ReplyDeleteShere from www.shereypaul.com
Good luck in checking the F1 car off your list!
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