My European Holiday

General General Lotus Talk
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I’m doing a fairly big road-trip round Europe in the Exige starting on Wednesday. I’m taking the missus of course, and my mate’s going with his wife and baby in their BMW.

We haven’t really decided where we’re going yet. We’ll be staying in a caravan in Port Grimaud (near St. Tropez) for a few days before doing a couple of days in Monaco. Then it all gets a bit hazy; vague plans include Bellagio, Verona, Venice, Zermatt, Interlaken, Saint Anton, and Baden Baden. We’ll probably stop in Reims on the way back.

Venice and Verona are perhaps a little to much of a stretch for our 11 day trip, but it’s nice to have loads of options open. It’s great being able to make the plan up as we go along.

If anybody has any thoughts/suggestions for the route, I’d love to hear them.

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Remember to leave the caravan when you move on

Monaco is fab. You must try to fit in Portofino (Italy, as if you didn’t know already ) it’s an amazing place. Enjoy

Tim.

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You’re right about Monaco Last time I went it was only a week or two before the grand prix. They were setting up the grandstands and barriers. Obviously did a few laps (as close as you can get to the proper circuit when the road’s open). Generally pretty snarled up with traffic, but accelerating to around 90mph through the tunnel chasing a Ferrari 456 and then bursting out into the light with the bright red and white barriers all around is something I’ll always rememeber

I might have to go for a run in the middle of the night this time to get some clear laps in

Any suggestions for things to see and do in Monaco? Last time I went to the palace, and Casino Square. Spent a bloody fortune on food and drinks at the Cafe de Paris. What else should we do?

Portofino does look good. It’s now on my list of possible destinations.

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Brendan, Snappers your man for advice he has done a lot of European touring.

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Snapper!!??? Where are you?

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Brendan, would recommend you drop a note to Ben on that other Lotus forumn (Seloc) and grab a copy of the Stelvio route - some fantastic passes close to Interlaken .

M

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Brendan, he posts more on MLOC although he is a member of Exiges IIRC.Might be worth a PM there.

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If you�re planning to spend some time in Italy, do try and pass through the Lake Garda area, we�ve got family there, and although it may not have the best driving roads, I can certainly vouch for the scenery, and the food, dear god the food!

David

PS. You can never go wrong with Venice

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PS. You can never go wrong with Venice

Not the best place for a Lotus unless you have this one

[image]http://vf-americars.de/photos/big//lotus_esprit_w_showcase.jpg[/image]

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Here is my tip…

One of the most glorious roads I have done is in the Dolomites in Italy - starting in Bolzano (stay at the Hotel Greif if you feel like treating yourself to some contemporary style - here’s a clicky). Bolzano is quite Germanic in feel but has its charms. Ge up early and drive across the mountains to Cortina…switchback me up

Note that’s 'drive across the mountains to Cortina not in a Cortina I spose it would be ok if it was a Lotus Cortina

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If you�re in that area it may be worth heading towards Corvara and doing the Giau pass, which, if I remember rightly goes up to well over 2000m !!!

The Gardena pass is also pretty spectacular, although you do tend to - quite literally - run into, rather a lot of cyclists, which, as I�m sure you can imagine, does tend to cause a bit of a problem .

David

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Doesn’t sound like it really in on your route but the Route des Grande Alpes has plenty going for it:

[image]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/stevegreen101/aaaUntitled_Page_1_Image_0001.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/stevegreen101/aaaUntitled_Page_1_Image_0001-1.jpg[/image]

The Dolomites are definitely worth playing in; as would the Julian Alps - cut the corner between Italy and Austria and go through Slovenia. Could return via the Black Forest and take in the Nurburgring

Best tip would be to plan it out in a sat nav system beforehand, as the really best roads are sometimes very hard to find on the ground.

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Thanks everybody. Lots to think about there! This is going to be fun

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Brendan…we’re all looking forward to reports enroute…I trust your taking your laptop repleat with data card!!! and have had the exige modified to support the relevant power supply…!

I’m almost as excited as you

Have a great time.

PS Sold the steering wheel yet? Now my cars back I’d like to check whether it’d fit mine?

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Thanks Jimbers!

Sorry, updates along the way are very unlikely. There should be lots of pictures and video upon my return. Hopefully some interesting tales as well

I’ve still got the steering wheel. It should fit any Elise variant with no problem. Let me know if you’re interested. Obviously can’t arrange anything until I’m back from my holiday though.

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I’m deeply jealous…I’d love to do a European road trip…Have a really great time…and take the lens cap off!

On the wheel…cool for your return…where are you…I already have a removeable wheel/boss so I’d like to try it out if you’re not to far away?

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I’m in Twycross. Not a million miles away

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Brendan…when I see your posts on your return I’ll drop you a line and we can organise form there! I can bring my boy to the Zoo as well. That’ll work for him!

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I can bring my boy to the Zoo as well.

Brendan lives at the zoo…didn’t know that

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He talks to the animals …