FAQ
Were you concerned about buying a Vespa on eBay?
It was the first time I'd bought something on eBay, so yeah, I was a little worried. Especially because it was such a high priced item. But I was lucky that Gianni didn't want the money until I got to Italy. That way I could check out the bike first before coughing up the cash.
EBay offers an escrow service though where they hold the money until both parties are satisfied. I probably would have used that if Gianni hadn't been so amenable.
How did you find riding in Italian traffic?
At first I found it hard to discern what the rules were and became convinced that everyone was trying to kill me. Then I realised that there were no rules and rode accordingly. Life got much easier after that.
Where is Sophia now?
Sophia is in Marco's workshop undergoing 'conservation'. Basically he is cleaning her up and fixing her up mechanically but leaving her character blemishes that would have been lost in a total restoration.
Can I tour Italy on a Vespa without buying one?
A company called Scooterbella organises short tours of Tuscany by Vespa. The pics on their web site look pretty cool. Their tours seem pretty reasonably priced. And Tom Robbins, a travel/motoring writer I respect, has done a tour with them and recommended it. I'm hoping try them out next year so I can give you guys a more personal thumbs up.
Travel Photos
