Drivers fast, Internet, not so fast!
Yesterday we visited a small town in central Italy. We rented a BMW 1 Series and it was almost too big for the narrow and steep streets of Naro. But this isn’t a travel blog, it is about cars. With that said, we have to mix a little travel log with car blog. I miraculously found an “agriturismo” farm called Mandranova. They specialize in award winning olive oil production. Our first night we sat alone with the founder, Giuseppe, and just began the usual small talk about where we came from and how we like Sicily. About 5 minutes in, I hear the Giuseppe mention his love of classic cars and the rest is history. 
The next morning we toured not his olive oil production but his collection of 5 spectacular classics. The stable includes a 3 time Mille Miglia Storica Lancia B20GT, a 356A Porsche Coupe, an Alfa Giulia Sprint GT Veloce and my fave, a Fiat 1100TV race car. Call me crazy but it is so cute. I told him about the collection of my grand cousin and he may be interested in some of the cars. His restorer is in Palermo and by the looks of the collection, he is pretty talented. Today we tour the olive oil factory and ponder the old dusty collection. Decisions will have to be made soon. Projects anyone? Raise your hand soon! The clean cars are not part of my cousin’s collection!! of
It isn’t surprising that the worst experience we’ve had so far involved something referred to as dinner on American Airlines. The lovely flight attendant said “my you didn’t eat much” and I answered, “I wonder why?”. She laughed, “I know”. We are in Sicily now, overwhelmed by our experience to date. Our family has been the most gracious hosts, feeding us home cooked meals twice a day. Dinner ends at 11 o’clock. After spending 2 days hopping around old cars parked door handle to door handle, we were and are exhausted. The entire experience met our expectations. We knew the cars were hidden away, many for more than 50 years. Some were unfortunate beyond being abandoned – part of the roof of one of the stone and wood farm outbuldings collapsed on them. 
Somehow the unrealized dream of packing up one of the cars immediately for my own selfish pleasure didn’t bother me. With that said, some of these family members will make it to the USA. Which ones I am not entirely sure. I laughed at wanting the 1934 Fiat Balilla 508 that my mother rode in 50 years ago. The sentiment is cert
ainly there but the reality is it would never make it up the hill we call Sheehan Road. And scarier is the thought of descending said hill. I have to digest about 400 pictures taken so far and perhaps 10 mini-films. So please be patient while we try to do justice to this experience. I met Tom Cotter at Amelia Island this past March and he is of course, the well-known “barnfinder”. When I told him what was in store for us he said it was a book. I think so.
