[alfa] Returned from Italy yesterday

["eric h" <ejham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I feel obliged to share a few observations from my week-long trip to Italy.
Our favorite car company is alive and well. In the region I traveled, along
the northwest coast, I would estimate 5% of the cars I saw were Alfas. Not
bad considering the relatively high pricetag (and higher performance) when
compared with lower-priced Fiats, VWs, Peugeots, and MB SMARTs. I was
surprised at the quantity of Skodas...to each, his own, I guess.

On the morning of my departure, I couldn't resist giving a hard time to the
beautiful attendant of the displayed Alfa GT at the airport in Malpensa. I
was surprised to see *anyone* manning a displayed car at 8.30 on a Sunday,
but there she was. Many people were stopping and gazing at the car, but none
coming close enough to allow her to do much. Being the pest that I can be, I
circled the car, ending up at the driver's side where I entered
no-mans-land...I opened the door. Apparently this was a new concept to
viewers of cars in airports because this immediately drew a very small crowd
of semi-interested viewers. We all admired the interior which was quite
nice.

At any rate, this act earned me a query from the attractive hostess. What
exactly she asked, I don't know but I caught something whish sounded like a
declined noun for 'question', so I responded 'No, no....um....yes, when can
I but this in the United States?'

I was surprised she spoke English. Alfa must be forking out the marketing
euros, because she understood. In fact, Alfa must REALLY be forking out the
money because she answered correctly, 'I am not sure. Soon, I have heard it
will be in a just a few years.'

Whether we can rely on that answer or not, I'm not sure. It didn't come from
a top-level source. I couldn't get an elaboration as I had a plane to catch
and an unbeknownst-to-me one-hour wait in a security line under the watchful
eyes of Italian military types holding fully automatic weapons. 'UP YOURS
code orange, look how WE handle security', they seemed to be saying.

My stay didn't include driving anything anywhere, so I don't have any great
tales of visits to the Alfa factory or how great the 147 was. About the
closest I came was a brief ride in a Lancia cab. Most of my time was spent
in the beautiful Cinque Terre area where no cars are permitted. On New
Years, my fiancie and I went to Monte Carlo by train and saw a newish Lambo
Mur-whatever plus a couple Ferraris.

I've hatched a plan, though. I've decided that I'll ship my old Spider over
well prior to my arrival. Few of its species survive there nowadays and it
should attract some attention. Since I don't rely on it for daily
transportation, I'll be able to shop for a good price well in advance. I
think it would be strange fun to be able to return it to the land and,
perhaps the city, of it's birth. Just maybe, too, the valets at in Monte
Carlo might deem it worthy to be parked in view at the front of the hotel or
casino...it IS a rare car in Europe, lest we forget. Alfa is a sedan maker
not globally known for it's Spider. Most of them came here to the US.

Ciao for now.

- Eric H., Marietta, GA
1976 Spider
2004 RX8
1998 Corvette (temporary custody)
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