Indulgence in Italy

« Return to Italy

Ferrari’s gallery highlights the importance of racing, with a recreated pit stop and several of the F1 World Championship cars on display. Upstairs are the classic road cars, the F40, the 308GTS made famous by Tom Selleck in Magnum, the Testa Rossa, and an Enzo Ferrari, named after the founder and the world’s only street legal F1 sports car. All are racing red, in the famous Ferrari tradition, the colour assigned to Italy by racing officials in the 1920’s. Blue for French, Green for English, White for German (later changed to Silver). In a special showcase sits a black Ferrari, a 1957 Testa Rossa race car. It was auctioned in May 2009 for a staggering $12.1 million, the most expensive car ever on the block. It doesn’t have headlights.
I’m in post-dream awe when I climb back into the tiny Peugeot 107. The sudden lack of power is a reality check. Our dreams drive us forward, but what happens when you wake up? What happens when you reach the end of your bucket list? I suppose you pull out a pen and make a new one. I put the gear into first and head back to the hotel. The contrast between my blue bubble and the dream machines I’d spent the day in is enough to give me sensory whiplash.

We take a train back to Rome, arriving at the central station, an ant colony of chaos, with ponytailed taxi drivers perched like vultures sweeping down on a fresh battleground. The heat has followed us, the upper 30’s, as has the food, fresh pizza and pasta and good cheap wine. In the shadow of the Coliseum I do some promo for Nat Geo Adventure, the satellite channel that broadcasts Word Travels in Italy, swapping up film crews for a few hours, hacking away at scripted Italian. I finally get my digital snapshot to complete my New Seven Wonders collection, avoid umbrella carrying group tours, overpay for water, the ambience of being at one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations in high season. Rome itself is a magical place, seemingly every block holding some ancient building or monument that would be the showcase of any other city. Our hotel is close to the Vatican, and as Sean shoots a sunset timelapse just over the fence (or risk having the tape confiscated), a Contiki bus pulls up. Out pour the perky passengers, 18-35, stretching their legs, taking a few photos, and piling back on. 18 years ago I was on that bus. Today I’m on a different sort of bus. Life seems to have a way of racing us around in circles.

Gonzo Gallery for Indulgence in Italy

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