The Vespa Club Baden Württemberg in Pontedera
The Vespa Club Baden Württemberg e.V.which we have been supporting for a while, was not idle this spring, but went on a tour in Tuscany, Italy, at the beginning of May. Daniele Mercante sent us an atmospheric travel report and some photos, which we find fascinating, if only because a whole group from SIP Scootershop was also travelling around the region on scooters. We would like to thank Daniele and the club for the great material.
Day 1 & 2: Preparation and arrival
The suitcases are packed and the Backpack and Bag are ready. After a final refreshment, Claudia picks me up. We pick up Andreas on the way to Schwaigern.
There is already a colourful hustle and bustle and a good atmosphere near our clubhouse. After the long winter break, we are all looking forward to seeing each other again. We are eager, excited and full of anticipation for the coming days together. It's just after 9:00 Clock, the sun has set and it's getting noticeably Radiator when the bus finally arrives. Before we can board, the luggage is loaded. The grey bus is transformed into a real Vespaclub-BW fan bus with our logos and Badges! Despite the darkness, this is child's play for our experienced professionals Alfio and Francesco from PS-Werbestars.
After a few words from Giuseppe, our "Presidente", we finally set off. As with every coach trip, the party group sits at the back and those who like it a little quieter sit at the front. Our loyal member Hennes, Volker's Dalmatian, also has his own seat at the front, right next to the driver. We set off into the night like excited children on a school trip. The atmosphere is exuberant, the music in the back is playing loudly, people are singing and laughing, and Ali is playing his bongos. One thing is already clear: it's going to be a wonderful weekend! At around 01:00 Clock, tiredness slowly sets in, the music gets quieter and the party draws to a close. Hour after hour we drive through the dark night. On the other side of the Gotthard tunnel, heavy rain pelts against the large Washers of our bus.
Just in time for sunrise, we pass through Switzerland and finally greet "Bella Italia" - albeit with only a brief glimpse of sunshine. By now it's lunchtime. Fortunately, we are quicker than planned and, after initial parking difficulties, we are able to eat together in a "Centro Commerciale", stretch our legs and enjoy a little "dolce vita". The short, restless night is reflected in our tired faces, but by no means in our mood. After a short rest at the hotel, the first of us get together for a short exploratory tour. After more than 800 kilometres of driving, even the bad weather doesn't stop us.
The small, old alleyways lead us past old brick defence towers and characteristic arcades adorned with flowers into the picturesque centre and finally onto the "Piazza dei Caduti". This enchanting piazza offers not only cultural attractions, but also a typical bar and gelateria. What could be better than an espresso, grappa, a delicious gelato and good conversation?
On the way back to our hotel, we stroll through the picturesque alleyways, past lovingly designed old houses, hand-painted seats, special letterboxes and marvel at the extraordinary stucco. At 18:30 Clock we gather in the lobby of our small hotel, tired but hungry. After the obligatory "due minuti" (two minutes - that's what we Italians call a short wait of between two and 180 minutes), we make our way together to the "Senape". Our board members Giuseppe and Vito have already reserved this small, fine and typically Italian restaurant from Germany. Because 46 hungry "Vespisti" can't just drop into a restaurant like that. It takes a little preparation - on both sides.
Senape is a modern, industrially furnished restaurant that has already won several awards for its exceptional dishes. So expectations are high - and we are not disappointed! The food is outstanding. We feast on various antipasti such as Parma ham, olives, burrata and warm, homemade bread. A very special culinary memory for me personally that will stay with me for a long time. The pizza is also a delight! We round off the first evening together in the hotel bar with good conversation, drinks and, of course, a round of Deck of Cards.
Day 3: First trip to Pisa and Livorno
It's 07:00 Clock. The clouds have cleared and the sky is a beautiful light blue colour. Through the open patio door of our hotel room, we hear the unmistakable, unique "rattle" of Volker's Vespa PX Traveller. This special sound immediately puts a grin on our faces. It is the starting signal for our first tour through Tuscany on our own Vespas. Even at breakfast in the hotel, the euphoria and anticipation of all the club members is palpable. After an espresso and plenty of shop talk, we meet punctually - and this time without "due minuti" - at 09:00 Clock in the hotel car park. The Vespas are already waiting for us there, ready for departure. The loading team has got up particularly early to unload the partly historic rarities from the lorry very carefully and with great sensitivity. As always: highly professional. Thank you for your insert!
But before we can set off on this long tour, a few Vespas still need to be refuelled. Have there ever been so many Vespas at this small petrol station at the same time? We don't know. But we do know one thing for sure, and it's a phenomenon that occurs everywhere: so many Vespas attract attention. A lot of attention and, above all, positive attention. When a special police unit suddenly appears in our car park, some of our members are surprised. But the policemen are incredibly friendly and interested. Hennes, our special member on four paws, immediately worms his way into their hearts and even dusts off a banana as a farewell gift. Personally, I firmly believe that we have Hennes to thank for the fact that we can still take a group photo with them.
By now it's almost 10.30 Clock (still perfectly punctual by Italian standards) when it's time to put on our Helmet, fasten our Jacket and off we go! More than 40 Vespas are ready to go and rattle slowly towards the main road. The anticipation builds! We have only travelled 200 metres when a member waves his arms violently and signals that there are technical problems. This is not uncommon with these old bikes and is almost normal for us. Not a ride goes by without a breakdown. But we also have a solution to this problem: our club mechanics. They are always there and their experience makes them indispensable! So the 19-year-old "Vespa lady" is in the best of hands and can roll on again after a quick replacement of the Fuel Hose. For all those who are now wondering whether we always have spare parts with us: Yes. Not everything, but everyone has something with them and together we have a small collection.
We take the country roads past beautiful fields, old manor houses, hills and avenues towards Pisa. The picturesque landscape literally roars past us. The wind tickles and the sun beats down on us.
Tuscany is not known far beyond its borders for its beautiful landscape for nothing. Sometimes it's almost as if you're in the middle of a painting. The journey could go on forever and fortunately passes without any further mishaps. When we arrive in Pisa, we park our Vespas in a small car park. The famous sights are just a stone's throw away. An alleyway with the typical souvenir stalls shows us the way, past the historic castle wall, through an archway into the medieval city centre. An almost surreal view of the Piazza del Duomo opens up before us. It is not for nothing that this historic square is also known as "Piazza dei Miracoli" (Square of Miracles). The imposing white buildings with the Baptistery, the cathedral and, of course, the famous "leaning" tower of Pisa can be seen in the colourful hustle and bustle of the many tourists. Seeing it with our own eyes is a very special experience for all of us. A group photo is of course a must.
Even though we would all like to stay a little longer, we are on a tight schedule, so we continue on to a local café, a spuntino (Italian for a small snack) and finally back to our (mostly) reliable two-wheeled companions. Engine after engine starts, the sound echoes between the old buildings and the typical smell of two-stroke mixture fills the air - bringing back childhood memories for many!
Our tour takes us on to the Marina di Pisa, and the people there are also fascinated by our "swarm of Vespas". They wave at us, smile and greet us in a friendly manner. We even strike up a conversation or two. We stop in a small cul-de-sac right by the sea. The view is simply fantastic - a truly special place! We enjoy the beautiful view of the sea, the small fishermen's cottages standing in the middle of the Shaft and the huge rocks. As we watch the anglers, we let the salty sea air waft around our noses. This picture inspires and fascinates me. For me, it reflects a large part of Italy.
We continue on to Livorno, where our next Bracket is planned. Unfortunately, a 40-year-old Vespa breaks down on the way and has to be towed away by a local towing service. Annoying, but sometimes unavoidable when you're driving a classic car. Of course, we don't let this spoil our good mood. The Terrazza Mascagni - a kind of terrace right by the sea - with its unique chequerboard pattern is already waiting for us. A truly extraordinary vantage point. After a quick photo shoot, we set off on the 35-kilometre return journey. Our beautiful route takes us through the picturesque Tuscan hills, winding roads with extraordinary views that also offer a thrilling ride. After a short stop at the hotel, we set off for dinner together in a nearby restaurant. We review the day over good food and pleasant conversation.
Day 4: Tuscany tour and Pontedera
A tight programme awaits us on the fourth day of our trip. Although we have all slept much better than on the first night, the journey so far is literally in our bones. With slow, tired steps, more and more Vespisti arrive at the breakfast buffet. After a hearty, tasty breakfast and a good espresso, we are ready to go. We are ready and excited for this special tour. We set off almost on time and much more experienced than yesterday. The weather and the traffic are on our side - we arrive on time at the site where the Vespa World Days took place. Just a week earlier, thousands of Vespas were parked in this magical place for this event - it's hard to imagine the scale. In comparison, our group of around 50 Vespas seemed almost tiny. In the meantime, our lorry driver and the drivers of the "damaged" vehicles have also joined us. They spontaneously borrow two Vespas Primavera from a local hire company.
Our guides Luca and Cristiano are visibly impressed by the diversity and variety of our colourful group. After a warm welcome and a brief round of introductions, Luca, our tour guide, takes us on a journey through the history of Pontedera. He tells us about the impact of the Second World War, the post-war period, the incredible solidarity of the people and the help the Piaggio family received in rebuilding the halls. Right up to the rethink and the transformation from a factory for aeroplanes to a new generation of mobility. A new idea with a firm vision was born. Luca's father was also a long-time employee of the Piaggio company and enjoyed many advantages as a result. The inventor of the Vespa had already introduced a kind of "corporate benefit system" for his employees in the post-war period - and was way ahead of everyone else!
Economic change has also left its mark on Piaggio, and today there are only around 2,000 employees in Pontedera - at its peak there were 12,000. As with many other companies, production was relocated abroad a long time ago. We could all listen to Luca's stories (first-hand, so to speak) forever. It is exciting and fascinating to find out another piece of the puzzle of these special vehicles. For all our non-Italian speaking members, our Presidente Giuseppe translates practically in real time.
The next stop is the birthplace of Andrea Bocelli - the famous blind opera singer. He built an amphitheatre in his home village of Lajatico - the "Teatro del Silenzio" (Silent Theatre) - for concerts with up to 8,000 spectators. Even from the car park, you have a wonderful view of the theatre and the valley. It is an absolutely special setting, accompanied by the background music of this extraordinary singer. As we gradually get back on our Vespas, Sandro realises that his Vespa won't start. Fortunately, the Teatro is located on a hill and can therefore provide the best starting aid - he successfully rolls down the steep path and then drives up again on his own with the help of the Engine! Our tour now takes us to Peccioli - a town characterised by art, around 35 kilometres from Florence. The short stop is enough for a delicious ice cream and a typical panino con prosciutto (Italian bread roll with ham).
The journey continues over mountain ridges, along valleys, over pass-like roads and through hairpin bends. Although the beauty of Tuscany is revealed in all its facets and we have already seen some marvellous places, our fingers are tingling and our excitement is rising. Because our next stop is finally the Piaggio Museum. We really can hardly wait! Because this is not just any place, but THE place, THE birthplace of our much-loved Vespa! You can see and feel the town's close connection to the Vespa in practically every alleyway and street in Pontedera. There are small, hidden clues everywhere in the town - almost like a treasure hunt. For those who don't recognise the clues, there are signposts leading directly to the museum.
Finally - after so much waiting, anticipation, preparation and planning - we stand in front of the (locked) gate of the factory entrance with a view of the imposing courtyard and the entrance to the Piaggio Museum. The barrier opens like a safe. Slowly and full of awe, one Vespa after another rolls into the courtyard. Contrary to expectations, there is no Vespa there, but an aeroplane and a train. But suddenly, out of nowhere, a very special Vespa comes towards us. A Vespa Supersprint - the absolute holy grail for many enthusiasts! It is extremely rare and very valuable - a real legend! The driver of this red beauty, Giorgio Keller, is a member of the Vespa Club Pontedera. His father bought this Vespa when it was new, so this rarity has always been in his family! Really impressive!
The Vespa Club Pontedera is of course based right next to the Piaggio Museum. And as is customary among the many different Vespa clubs, banners and telephone numbers are exchanged. You probably know what follows ... right, the obligatory group photo!
But then it finally starts. Off to the museum! The first Vespas are already waiting for us in the entrance area. A modern Primavera with Side Car stands next to an old, still completely original Vespa - also with Side Car. So many similarities and yet so different. Modernity meets history. But before we finally enter the exhibition, we are given a warm welcome and informed about the layout of the exhibitions. After all, Piaggio has long since come to stand not just for the Vespa brand, but also for several other brands such as Gilera, Moto Guzzi and, of course, Aprilia.
At times it feels as if we are travelling back in time. The exhibition rooms with their valuable exhibits show us incredible details. Some of the exhibits include elaborately restored or completely original vehicles. These are the moments when grown men become little boys and see the beauty of the details through their hearts. In addition to the vehicles, prints of the advertising of the time are also on display, for example a Vespa in Disney design. None of us had ever seen that before! We could probably spend hours or even days there, there is so much to discover. As a souvenir, some members buy magnets, T-shirts and small models of their Vespa or those they might like to have one day. Unfortunately, even such a wonderful day comes to an end. As a farewell, we take the last pictures with our Camera and mobile phones before heading home to the hotel.
While most of the members head straight to the hotel to load their Vespa and pack their suitcases, a small group sets off in search of the famous "Villa Piaggio". In search of this property, we have to overcome a few hurdles and take many detours. The villa is so hidden that it is difficult to find or can only be found with the help of the locals. Unfortunately, our little excursion ends at the entrance gate to the driveway. The villa is only open for tours on certain dates. Even from a distance, the beauty and uniqueness of this villa can be seen. It was also used as a film set for the Italian film about the history of Piaggio. This film is practically required reading among enthusiastic Vespa riders.
On the last five kilometres before our hotel, however, we have an involuntary stopover: the recently replaced clutch cable on Volker's yellow bike (Vespa PX Traveller with sidecar) breaks. The attempt to repair the Cable "quick and dirty" fails. This leaves us with only two options: Either call a towing service and prepare ourselves for a long wait or push Volker and Hennes, his Dalmatian, and hope that we don't have to stop at any of the many roundabouts, junctions and traffic lights to come. After a brief deliberation, we decide in favour of option two. Because it's getting darker and cooler. Volker puts the bike into second gear and we push them on - with success. But the traffic and the traffic lights force us to stop, causing the Engine to stall. So we have to push Volker two more times before we finally arrive at the hotel. We make it halfway on time to load the Vespas. Satisfied, tired and hungry, we head to the hotel restaurant for our last dinner together. We celebrate this last evening in typical Italian style with live music, singing by some members and drumming by Ali. The next morning, the last pieces of luggage are loaded onto our coach and we set off on our journey home. Nothing was missing on this four-day trip! We all had an incredible amount of fun together, were physically exhausted, but simply happy. It's safe to say that we won't forget these experiences and that it brought us even closer together.
We would all like to thank our board members, the organisers and our many sponsors from the bottom of our hearts! Without you, this trip would not have been possible. Grazie con tutto il cuore! (from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!)
Text & Photos: Daniele Mercante
