![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:30 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
I am really enjoying my time here. I had to take a quick shot of this cool looking car, but I don’t know what it is. Help me, EurOppos, you are my only hope. I knew what this was, though.
Today we toured the Colosseum and the Forum. It was unbelievably cool.
It is also fun to observe all the small details of life that are different here from America. There is not a significant qualitative difference, but there are a million little things that are just slightly different. It’s fun.
I have not spent much time in Europe in my life. My family visited Rome, Paris, and London about 35 years ago, but I was so young that it hardly counts. I worked on municipal elections in Bosnia for a few months in 1997 right after law school. My roommate and my closest colleague were both Italians, which gave me an opportunity to learn a little of their culture. But that was an extreme and unusual situation that gave me no reference point for normal European countries.
We leave Rome in the morning for Florence. I am looking forward to it.
![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:45 |
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top pics a smart roadster
![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:46 |
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I think that too cr is the Smart Roadster. Which explains the 3 bolt wheels
![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:47 |
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Boom, beat me to it. Those contrasting-colored side blades in the top pic have been a Smart trademark since the beginning (long before Audi or Lambo adopted them). Very similar to the ForTwo in the respect.
![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:49 |
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similar... but gorgeous :p
![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:49 |
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Keep the first picture away from Mercedes.
It’s a Smart Roadster Coupe.
![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:53 |
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You are steeling my resolve to start traveling more. This is a good thing :)
Glad you’re enjoying yourself!
![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:53 |
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Miss Mercedes bait!
![]() 03/28/2018 at 08:59 |
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It’s already too late.
![]() 03/28/2018 at 09:28 |
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I think the most interesting difference between the US and most of Europe are the road signs. Almost everything is some sort of “universal pictrogram” in Europe where you don’t need any particular language to understand. Whereas in the US it’s FUCK YOU HERES ENGLISH. It just seems like being a foreigner with limited English on vacation in the US would be screwed. In Italy I just used some of my Spanish class training from high school to figure out the little bit of Italian I ran into.
![]() 03/28/2018 at 10:20 |
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Current mood: this wiper
![]() 03/28/2018 at 10:42 |
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Many European countries are well versed in English with many having written signs in their language and English.
So many times I’ve tried to speak the local language and often been replied, ‘it’s okay, I speak English’, for me to reply I need the practice, only to be told, ‘yes, you speak it very well, but I speak English’. Lol.
Often because they want to practice their English, while I want to practice my Polish, German, French, Italian or Arabic.
![]() 03/28/2018 at 10:48 |
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Opel Meriva back there,
Opel Grandland I believe
![]() 03/28/2018 at 12:20 |
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The Smart Roadster is cool, but the 4C I love
![]() 03/29/2018 at 02:58 |
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Would you be willing to do a track day at Willow next month, or June? The idea popped in my head now that my Mercedes is parked. I don’t want it to rot.
I had told you about autocross in “redacted,” but the website is kind of crap I can’t tell when the next event is. But willow has it updated, and I think the best group be with LA track days (or something to that effect).
I’m going to try and remember to email the whole group and see if anyone else is interested. I’m 99% sure I can borrow my friend’s truck so I’ll tow my car and bring as many tools, parts, and supplies as I can fit.
![]() 03/29/2018 at 06:20 |
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Dacias?
![]() 03/29/2018 at 10:25 |
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Definitely interested! There are plenty of track days at both Buttonwillow and Streets of Willow that I am highly interested in once I am back from travel full time. They seem pretty cheap too with some of the groups. I need to work on my oil leaks first probably, but those should not be too difficult to solve on a miata.
![]() 03/29/2018 at 11:18 |
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Oh yeah this group is way cheaper. Only $120 for Big Willow.
Ideally we would do a track day after I’ve finished this semeter, which ends the week of April 23rd, and then the summer session starts May 21st. I would guess there are plenty of events in that time. What does your schedule look like then?
Assuming we do a track day in May, I would urge you to bring your Miata to my shop on a Saturday and I can help you with it. I work from 8-1 on Saturdays, but I can work on cars during that time. So if you brought it I’d basically let you do what you can, and if you need my help, or my tools, I’m there.
I remember what it was like working on cars on the ground, and I don’t miss it.
![]() 03/29/2018 at 13:48 |
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Oh yeah, first step is just figuring out what is actually leaking, thats the hard part for me. Actually changing parts is the easy part and just takes some quick labor. I have taken like everything apart at some point or another but it’s still an elusive leak to me.
I should be at home full time starting the beginning of May. So I will have most of those weekends available for whatever comes up. There were a couple of websites for track day groups that seemed worth checking out, I will dig those up. Big Willow seemed far less interesting to me considering Miata lol but a track day is a track day.
![]() 03/29/2018 at 15:22 |
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The first is a SMART Roadster! We never got them in North America!
That 4C is gorgeous...
![]() 03/29/2018 at 15:41 |
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If it were a BMW I could tell you without even looking at it where the oil leak is. But I’d have to look at a Miata.