Italy, Dear We Dream?
The time? April 2004. The place? Mannheim, Germany. The idea? None, really, except maybe to rent a first class, fully loaded 2004 Mercedes Benz with a satelite driven NAV system (Nightrider anyone?), and drive from Germany to Italy for a weekend. Why not? What are roads for if not road trips? Thus, the dream was sowed, the ideas grew, and the planning begun...
But wait Aaron, didn't you just get back from a Easter bike trip to Luxembourg?? Well yes, and my butt is still sore, but I think the soft seats of the Benz will be of therapeutic benefit to my damaged backside. No arguements! The time has come to experience the Italian country side, dine on fine pastas, wines, and pizza, and lounge on a beach off the Adriatic Sea. Done, done, and done.
The Plans
Jose first suggested the idea to me and Nate, a trip to Italy for a few days. His friend in Munich had another friend in Italy with a place for us to crash. All we had to do was pick up the guy in Munich and get to Italy. The idea appealed to us, and so in the afternoon of April 23rd, I met Nate at the Heidelberg HBF, and we boarded a train to Stuttgart meet Jose...
I always say, if you are going to do something, then do it right. And what better way to cruise into the Italian country side then driving a first class Mercedes Benz? Too extravagant for a bunch of students? Nah, just waive the insurance, we won't need that anyways, we won't get into an accident. Good, that's settled, now lets go!
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Mercedes Benz E Class (Ours was black)
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Baden-Württemberg (See Mannheim & Heidelberg in top lefthand corner, and Stuttgart in the middle)
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The journey officially began as we left Stuttgart, a couple Americans and one Canadian to keep things in order. First destination was Munich to pick up Dan, another American with the Italian contact. After that we would drive through Austria and enter Italy from the North. The final destination was a city called Macerata halfway down the "boot" and on the Adriatic Sea. Click here to continue reading about this journey.
