Miglia 2024
Morning Friends,
This is Michael Roddy reporting in, as we have our feet firmly planted once again on Ann Arbor soil and finally have acclimated to our local timezone...having just returned from a wonderful trip in Italy. Same great scenery, food, wine and people, but this was a special experience...one that I believe qualifies as a "trip of a lifetime". However you might wonder what I think exactly goes into making this a "TOAL"?
Travel means many things to many people. It can be a break from routine, an indulgent escape or maybe even a critical lifeline for dealing with stress. I believe in the opportunity to physically place ourselves into a new environment that allows us the ability to truly and completely unplug, unwind and shift focus in a manner that is impossible otherwise to experience.and make room for different and new experiences! It's a trip with an experience that might not ever be able to be repeated. One on which we could easily say that we enjoyed every moment & everything that was offered- the people, the food and wine, the scenery, history and landmarks AND a special event--the Mille Miglia--Italy's classic car race, commonly referred to as the Most Beautiful Car Race in the World - "a rolling car museum with everyone of a total of 424 autos being a work of art! A TOAL is that trip that will leave you with vivid memories. I firmly believe that "moments" are what makes an unforgettable trip-- you know well that that "moment" is "of a lifetime" as it unfolds. For me, this was that trip.
I thank all who have just traveled with us and hope that you all feel this very same way--and join me in thanking our trusty guide, our travel planner and all the new friends that we were lucky enough to meet and engage with from those small hotels, vineyards, restaurants and historic auto museums. WOW! This was merely our first trip...we're just getting started so stay tuned in. Memories are awaiting us! RoddySetGo
Day One
June 7 - No sooner than after we landed in Milano and gathered our bags, we're off to the Alfa Romeo auto museum about an hour outside the airport. There we were incredibly impressed with the size of the grounds, plant and the modern facility that housed the beautiful museum. With over 52,000 sq ft of space spread out over 6 floors, our tour guide, Roberto did a great job of showing us the collection of 256 cars that demonstrate the culture of this great piece of legendary automotive history. Capped off with a Peroni beer and a sandwich in their appealing cafe, we're off to our first day's destination ....one of the World's Cultural Centers for 2024, the historic town in the foothills of the Alps, Bergamo. After checking into our hotel for the next two days, Le Funi, we're off to our evening's welcome dinner at the former monastery turned city prison and now the Upper City's local family destination for local foods and wines...il Circolino. We dined on the local specialities like their alternative to ravioli, the casoncelli, fried veal cutlets to show off their Austrian ties and local beers and wine...complete with a happy atmosphere, we couldn't have asked for anything better after a long day. We strolled this beautiful city after dark with our trusty guide, Marney and fell in love with this area unknown to the typical American visitor.
​
Day Two
June 8 - We are treated to the hotel's outdoor terrace with a delightful buffet breakfast while overlooking the Alps on one side and the lower town of Bergamo on our other side. With the fragrance of summer jasmine, morning chirping of the local birds, it was tough to get a move on but our city walking tour awaited us. Our friendly male guide, who was a local history teacher, gave us great insights of who, what and how this great city turned out to be an UNESCO World Heritage Site as well why the NY Times selected Bergamo "one of THE must see places in the world to visit in 2024" ! As we leave our guide for the rest of the day to ourselves, something tells us that we're in for something good. Between architectural & historical gems and piazzas filled with umbrella-covered cafes, we found the way to waste the time away, eating and drinking what the local community had waiting for us. Bridget looked at me and whispered "I could get used to this"!
​
Day Three
June 9 - Today we leave Bergamo and drive into the area between it and the town of Brescia, the vineyards' region of Franciacorta...Italy's sparkling champagne. However, first we took a boat tour of the small Lake Iseo where we visited a small fishing village of Monte Isola and enjoyed a very leisurely and delicious lunch of local fish at Caffe' Dei Porte'....of course enjoyed with the local wine of the island. When we return to shore, we continue on and enjoy a Franciacorta wine tasting at the beautiful Bellavista winery. The experience was enlightening by our escort's discourse, the beautiful grounds, architecture of the bldg and cellars and of course, the magnificent wine. We then continued on and arrived at our residence for the next four nights, the hotel il Santellone Resort and Spa which was surrounded by vineyards and just 3 km from Brescia. Tonight, we stayed in and had just an incredible dinner at the hotel & spa's La Cucina restaurant. which was owned and independently operated by fine dining Chef Andrea Marenzi which, as you can guess, just fantastic. Once again, Bridget just looked at me and said, "I could get used to this"!
​
Day Four
June 10 - This is the day all cars were certified after a final inspection in order to participate in the race. We just walked the streets of Brescia admiring (this is an understatement!!!!!) the cars and talking with the owners or drivers for hours! Yes, there was wine, too!
​
Day Five
June 11 - Well what can I say about this day other than it was my top 3 bucket list adventures! The cars, the cars, the cars!!!!!! If their beauty didn’t excite you the roar of their engines as they “popped the clutch” and explode down the start ramp just made me weep!!!!
​
MORE DAY 5 PHOTOS COMING SOON
Day Six
June 12 - Today we took our private coach to the Millimiglia Museum followed by a walking tour of beautiful Brescia. The museum resurrected my thrill and memory of the beautiful cars of this era. I was a little boy again!!!! Brescia is a little known gem of Italian towns. Architecturally ancient but “Italian cool”. Yes, Bridget could live here!
​
Day Seven
June 13 - We’re off with our private coach to the beautiful Cantina Gorgo in the Veneto region. The Vinyard is lined in Jasmine bushes and if the wine doesn’t make you heady, the scent of Jasmine most certainly will! Wine and locally sourced cheeses and meats for breakfast is my new guilty pleasure! Then on to Bridget’s seriously “I could live here” city (and she means it!) Verona. This city is anciently elegant, città antica, in some ways much like Rome with less crowds. A must see in Northern Italy.
​
Day Eight
June 14 - Today is Lake Garda. We live la dolce vita on a private boat touring the lake and all the scenic towns on the coast. Sun, visually stunning views, lunch by the water with local wines and the pleasure of friends made this day spectacular. The true definition of “La Dolce Vita”!!
​
Day Nine
June 15 - How did I top my bucket list day of watching the race at the start???? How about sitting in a beautiful restaurant, enjoying a four hour seafood and fine Olivini wine lunch, welcoming all the cars as they speed to the finish line? We are in seaside Sirmione with tables OUTSIDE ON THE WALKWAY where the owner Roberto has welcome his guests in celebration of the end of the race. There are no words, people!!!!!
​
Day Ten
June 16 - Our last day on the tour is a day we all had to ourselves to enjoy this incredible town. So peeps, what happens in Verona stays in Verona!!!!!!!
​
Misc Trip Photos CLICK HERE
Send us your images and we will post them here. Email roddysetgo@gmail.com