This is a response to Bumble's request for forum members to help out in keeping the Barchetta alive on the Fiat Forum by posting about their car. So here goes...
I love my little car and despite its age and the fact that it is not the best put together driving machine it is a pretty car, great fun to drive, is very reliable (maybe I've been lucky and I look after it) and in the summer sunshine it is everything I could wish for in a fun little car.
My Scottish Barchetta lives with me and my significant other (also Scottish) on the London/Kent borders.
This is a sort of diary entry (with pics) our annual trip to the South of France to celebrate le quatorze juillet, by the sea with some old acquaintances, and this year with two new friends who have never visited the south nor have ever experienced the fireworks and music of the cigales amid the scent of a July night by the edge of Mediterranean waters.
10 July - Day 1, Dunkirk to Alencon - 252 miles
Lovely weather. Top down, Andy Murray won Wimbledon. Car was lovely and smooth, had added in Redex to the tank. Arrived and parked for free next to the Ibis in Alencon. Had dinner in Haut Ministere in the town. Watched France v Portugal in the town square. Sad for the locals that Les Bleus lost. Wondered why there were so many British cars parked in the town square, until we were told by the owner of an outstanding MGA that the cars were returning from the bi-annual Le Mans classic. Filled up, had been cruising at 80 mph and got 360 miles before refuelling.
11 July - Day 2, Alencon to Bourges - 193 miles
(5 hours 15 minutes with a leisurely stop for lunch). Car very smooth, I think the car liked the Redex and prefers the lovely smooth French autoroutes to English suburban blacktop. Wish we had similar smooth roads where We live. Free parking outside the hotel in Bourges.
Will be staying one more day to look around this beautiful town including the UNESCO world heritage site of the Cathedral of Saint Etienne of Bourges. Lovely dinner at the very welcoming Cantine Berrichone - I had a local Berry speciality Ouefs en muerette, very yummy.
Until the next entry.
I love my little car and despite its age and the fact that it is not the best put together driving machine it is a pretty car, great fun to drive, is very reliable (maybe I've been lucky and I look after it) and in the summer sunshine it is everything I could wish for in a fun little car.
My Scottish Barchetta lives with me and my significant other (also Scottish) on the London/Kent borders.
This is a sort of diary entry (with pics) our annual trip to the South of France to celebrate le quatorze juillet, by the sea with some old acquaintances, and this year with two new friends who have never visited the south nor have ever experienced the fireworks and music of the cigales amid the scent of a July night by the edge of Mediterranean waters.
10 July - Day 1, Dunkirk to Alencon - 252 miles
Lovely weather. Top down, Andy Murray won Wimbledon. Car was lovely and smooth, had added in Redex to the tank. Arrived and parked for free next to the Ibis in Alencon. Had dinner in Haut Ministere in the town. Watched France v Portugal in the town square. Sad for the locals that Les Bleus lost. Wondered why there were so many British cars parked in the town square, until we were told by the owner of an outstanding MGA that the cars were returning from the bi-annual Le Mans classic. Filled up, had been cruising at 80 mph and got 360 miles before refuelling.
11 July - Day 2, Alencon to Bourges - 193 miles
(5 hours 15 minutes with a leisurely stop for lunch). Car very smooth, I think the car liked the Redex and prefers the lovely smooth French autoroutes to English suburban blacktop. Wish we had similar smooth roads where We live. Free parking outside the hotel in Bourges.
Will be staying one more day to look around this beautiful town including the UNESCO world heritage site of the Cathedral of Saint Etienne of Bourges. Lovely dinner at the very welcoming Cantine Berrichone - I had a local Berry speciality Ouefs en muerette, very yummy.
Until the next entry.