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Euroadster ’23
  • Peter Dannock
  • Rob Dannock
  • Peter Dannock
  • Rob Dannock

Euroadster ’23

Combining a desire to travel with a passion for the world's best-selling convertible sports car, my brother and I are embarking on a ten-week journey through the United Kingdom and Europe in a Mazda MX-5. Read more
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  • Euroadster ’23

    Day 39 - Monaco

    July 25, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

    We didn't stay in Monaco, but we did stay at a lovely boutique hotel in Cap d'Ail, only a short walk from Monaco. We had time to have breakfast at the hotel, so we sat on the balcony and enjoyed croissants and coffee.

    After breakfast, we walked into Monaco. We walked down a path and then jumped a gate to walk along the coast. We got ourselves into trouble, as the path was closed due to the high winds. Nevertheless, we continued our walk into Monaco, passing the Port de Cap d'Ail, Port de Fontvielle, and eventually came to the Port de Monaco. The boats in these ports are enormous, so there is a lot of money in the principality.

    We had lunch and then walked up to the Casino de Monte Carlo. There were many people up there and rows of flash cars parked in and around the casino. We then made our way back to the hotel. in the end we had walked 18.5 kilometres, not a bad effort.    Read more

  • Euroadster ’23

    Verona

    July 26, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Verona is a city in northern Italy, located about halfway between Milan and Venice. It is most famous for being the setting of William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet." The city is also known for its well-preserved ancient architecture, including the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheater that is still used for concerts and operas today. Verona has a rich history and culture, and is a popular destination for tourists visiting Italy.Read more

  • Euroadster ’23

    Arena di Verona

    July 26, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheater located in Verona, Italy. It was built in the 1st century AD, and is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind. The amphitheater is famous for its large-scale opera performances, which have been held there since the 19th century. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and a symbol of the city of Verona.Read more

  • Euroadster ’23
    GPX

    Day 40 - Monaco to Verona

    July 26, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    We had another early start today, leaving Monaco at 4.00 am. We planned to get the majority of our driving done before it got too hot. With almost 500 kilometres to drive, we find it good to get away early.

    It wasn't long before we were in Italy, on the autostrada to Genova. This road is all bridges and tunnels, which seemed to have gone on forever. There were very far cars on the road, but plenty of trucks. It took quite a bit of concentration to drive it.

    Our early start was paying off, and we were scheduled to reach Verona by 11.30 am. As we couldn't check in until 3.00 pm, we decided to drive around Lake Garda. It is the largest lake in Italy and is surrounded by mountains and hills, providing a beautiful backdrop for activities such as hiking, cycling, and water sports. It was a beautiful drive, primarily through the many tunnels up the lake's western side. We stopped at Riva del Garda at the top of the lake before driving to Verona.

    We met up with Eli, who took us on a tour of Verona before dinner. I was pleasantly surprised at the beauty of this town. It is an underrated destination in Italy that is well worth the visit.    Read more

  • Euroadster ’23

    Museo Ferrari

    July 27, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    The Museo Ferrari, also known as the Ferrari Museum, is a museum dedicated to the history of the Ferrari sports car marque. The museum is located in Maranello, Italy, which is also the home of the Ferrari factory. The museum's exhibits include a collection of classic and contemporary Ferrari cars, as well as displays of the company's racing heritage.Read more

  • Euroadster ’23

    Museo Enzo Ferrari

    July 27, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    The Museo Enzo Ferrari is a museum dedicated to the life and work of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the Ferrari sports car manufacturer. The museum is located in Modena, Italy, and it features a collection of cars, engines, and other artifacts related to Ferrari's life and career. The museum also has exhibits on the history of the Ferrari brand and its impact on the world of motorsports. It is a popular destination for car enthusiasts and fans of the Ferrari brand.Read more

  • Euroadster ’23
    GPX

    Day 41 - Verona to Modena

    July 27, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    After a big day yesterday, we had a sleep-in this morning. We even had time to sit and eat breakfast in the hotel. So, it was after 9.00 am before we set off. Though we only had 170 kilometres to travel, we took several backroads on our way to Modena to make it more interesting.

    The land between Verona and Modena is primarily used for agriculture, wheat, corn, melons, olives, tomatoes, among other things. It was a slow drive due to the nature of the roads. Though paved, the roads were uneven with potholes and crumbling surface. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our drive.

    The are two Ferrari museums, the Museo Ferrari in Maranello and the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena. The Museo Ferrari is dedicated to the history of the Ferrari sports car marque. In contrast, the Museo Enzo Ferrari is dedicated to the life and work of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the Ferrari sports car manufacturer. We couldn't decide which to visit, so we went to both.

    As a car enthusiast, I enjoyed both museums, but if I had to choose one, the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena was the best museum in how they presented the cars and their history.    Read more

  • Euroadster ’23
    GPX

    Day 42 - Modena to Miataland

    July 28, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Another early start from Modenaa this morning, with 400 kilometres to drive to Miataland. Trying to stay off the freeways, we planned a route on some backroads, similar to our drive from Verona.

    By late morning, we reached San Marino. After parking the car, we walked up to see the historic centre. San Marino is an independent country, entirely surrounded by Italy. It is the third smallest country in Europe and one of the oldest republics in the world. The country is known for its beautiful architecture, scenic views, and rich cultural heritage. It has a population of around 34,000 people and covers an area of just over 61 square kilometres.

    The San Marino Historic Centre and Mount Titano covers 55 hectares and dates back to the republic's foundation as a city-state in the 13th century. San Marino is inscribed as a testimony to the continuity of a free republic since the Middle Ages. The inscribed city centre includes fortification towers, walls, gates and bastions, a neo-classical basilica of the 19th century, 14th and 16th-century convents, and the Palazzo Publico of the 19th century, as well as the 18th-century Titano Theatre. The property represents a historical centre still inhabited and preserving all its institutional functions.

    After some lunch in San Marino, we continued our drive to Miataland for a weekend of relaxation.    Read more

  • Euroadster ’23
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    Day 43 - Miataland

    July 29, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Miataland is a unique resort to relax and enjoy the largest collection of Mazda MX5s and get the opportunity to drive with the top down around the Umbrian region of Italy. So, I couldn't do a driving holiday in Europe and not come and stay.

    After breakfast, our host Andreas took us on a tour of his MX-5 collection. He has a collection of 50 MX-5s and focuses his collection on special edition models. Many of the cars in his collection are unique and there were several models that I hadn't heard of before. Many of the cars were sourced from Japan, where they have released many limited edition models over the past 30 years. Andreas was clearly passionate about his collection and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it.

    In the afternoon, we got to drive his 2023 ND soft-top in the Umbria countryside. It was the first time I had an opportunity to drive a left hard drive MX-5, so it was a unique experience for me. The sun is now setting on Miataland, and I look forward to another day here tomorrow.    Read more

  • Euroadster ’23

    Day 44 - Another day at Miataland

    July 30, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We have been on the move quite a lot over recent weeks,s so it was nice to have another rest day at Miataland today. With a hot day predicted, we decided to head out early on a short drive in one of Miataland’s MX-5s. Today we chose the 1995 NA model, a lovely green limited edition model with tan interior. We drove up to Todi for a brief look and then looped back along the autostrada. Driving an NA model brought back some memories of my first MX5, a moment of reminiscence for me.

    On our return, I did notice that one of the rear tyres on our MX-5 was showing some excessive wear on the inside, so it will be off to the tyre repair place in the morning to have it looked at. Hopefully it won’t delay us too long and we can get to Rome tomorrow.    Read more

  • Euroadster ’23

    Colosseum

    July 31, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an oval-shaped amphitheatre located in the centre of Rome, Italy. It is considered one of the greatest architectural and engineering feats of the ancient Roman Empire. The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests, public spectacles, animal hunts, and other events. Construction of the Colosseum began in 70 AD and was completed in 80 AD. It is estimated that it could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.Read more