Buzz
Skipping the perks of an all-inclusive tour, we opt for self-guided motorcycle adventures, roaming freely through every nook and cranny of Europe. It's about seeking new thrills with a different mindset... 21 days for unforgettable experiences.
21-day European travel escapade
1. Our first day in Europe, Paris greets us with a leisurely French-style breakfast featuring fragrant bread paired with creamy butter and sweet jam, adorned with romantic strawberries. Geneva remains captivating with its serene ambiance, even though I've visited here several times. Europe has countless stories to tell, but for adventure enthusiasts like me, traversing unfamiliar roads on a BMW 1200 GS 'warhorse' brings unparalleled excitement. Hence, at this moment, memories are the dusty roads, the journey spanning over 1500km across the lush lands of Italy.
2. After a fairly long journey from Chamonix, our group of 9 like-minded thrill-seekers has arrived in Milan. We meet the road captain to prepare for the upcoming bike tour starting tomorrow. He imparts comprehensive safety instructions for the trip, along with cultural insights into local traffic norms.
In the chilly autumn morning of Milan, we receive our bikes, conduct technical checks, and embark on the first 230 km journey to Verona. The 'warhorses' chosen by our biker comrades for this trip are Motorrad models manufactured by Harley Davison and BMW, such as the Harley Street Glide, BMW 1200 GS… Despite their rugged appearance, these are resilient warriors on long stretches, providing a remarkably comfortable riding experience and shielding the handlebars from wind and harsh weather. We rented them beforehand through a self-drive rental company in Europe. The rental fee in Europe includes physical damage insurance, liability insurance to ensure the biker's safety in case of any mishaps affecting both the rider and the bike.
On the road! We speed along the vast highways of Italy. Some highways allow reaching maximum speeds of vehicles. Some skillful drivers from the streets of Saigon were thrilled to test speeds of up to 160km/h. However, there are narrow rural roads with unexpected bends, where even cruising at 40 – 70 km/h is a real challenge.
3. Verona, the first conquered destination. The new day gently unfolds after an Espresso, then we seek out the famous Juliet balcony that inspired Shakespeare's masterpiece Romeo and Juliet, and begin exploring Verona. Wandering through the narrow streets of the city feels like touching the past. The oval-shaped Roman Arena, with a capacity of 30,000 people, may be less grandiose than the Colosseum in Rome, but what's interesting is its longer history and continued use. There's also Piazza delle Erbe with the Madonna Verona fountain, a gathering place for the people of ancient Rome. Not to mention Porta Borsari, a gate dating back to the 2nd century BC, and St. Zeno's Church – Verona's patron saint – featuring a 10-meter-long mural of St. Peter, a pilgrimage center for Europeans for centuries.
4. Farewell Verona, the journey continues another 200km. Arriving in Pavado, to freshen up the journey, we dedicate a full day without bikes to Venice. Perhaps in the world, there's hardly a city with only water transport or walking like Venice. The idea of building a city right on the sea is truly insane, but it's the 'madness' of ancient Romans that created a masterpiece for Italy.
We take a boat to the famous Murano Island with its glassmaking workshops and the colorful houses of Burano Island. There are no grand architectural masterpieces, but these two islands are like miniature Venices with numerous canals running through them. In Burano, life seems to flow as gently as the boats on the island. The residents here are mostly fishermen, and in the past, the colors of the houses were used as beacons for them to find their way back after a long day at sea. Today, the brightly colored houses have become an irresistible attraction for every tourist.
5. The next destination is Volterra, in the province of Tuscany. En route, we visit the Ducati factory and museum in Borgo Panigale, a suburb of Bologna. For biking enthusiasts, besides owning a powerful bike on dusty roads, witnessing the production process is an experience worth having. Inside the factory are 3 engine assembly lines and 4 assembly lines. In the assembly area, there's a detailed screen guiding technicians on what to take next from the assembly tray. Then, the engines are tested without fuel using an electric engine to check the movement of pistons, camshafts, and pushrods. Livio Lodi, a Ducati historian and museum curator, says: “The factory has been implementing the 'Just in time' process in production since 1997. If there's a bolt left in the tray when the assembly is completed, it means there's been a mistake in assembly.” With this strict process, it's understandable why when Livio Lodi started, the factory could only produce 20 bikes a day, whereas now, it's between 60-300 bikes a day. Leaving Ducati, despite the pouring rain, we still rush to Pisa, hastily capturing a few photos of the leaning tower before heading back to Volterra.
6. Volterra makes the journey even more exciting with its vampire lore. We stayed here for a night to experience the place reputed to be the safest in the world in the Twilight novel before embarking on a fairly long journey to Rome. Speaking of Tuscany, it's known for producing more famous wines than any other region in Italy. Spending the night in the land of wine, savoring the exquisite taste of wine, is truly incomparable. After a long day behind the wheel, we end the evening by tasting various wines. Taking a sip of Chianti Classico paired with perfectly grilled meat is a delight.
7. All roads lead to Rome, so we borrowed the Vatican in the heart of Rome as the 'excuse' to conclude our memorable motorcycle journey. The Vatican is the world's smallest sovereign state, nestled within Rome. On the day of our arrival, with Pope Francis making a public appearance, although quite early, there was already a large crowd of tourists flocking here. Amidst the bustling crowd, we also managed to visit Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel in the vast maze of world-renowned structures.
Returning to Rome, long lines of cars line up along both banks of the Tiber River. Indeed, choosing a motorcycle was not in vain, as if we were sitting in a car like other tourists, we would have wasted time. Ending the journey in a beautiful sunset, the sweet emotions still linger in our minds.
By Tran Duc Thinh/ Saigon Entrepreneur
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourNovember 24, 2016
