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After our Lufthansa flight we checked into the Munich Marriott and relaxed a bit. We are here in Europe primarily for the pickup of a new  Imola Red BMW M3 on the BMW European Delivery program. Purchase your new car from a local dealer, and BMW holds it for you to drive in Europe for a couple of weeks, then they ship it back free. It's a very simple process and you actually save money on the car.

But we also had two fun weeks sketched out. First we took a quick visit to Marienplatz, Munich's central square and had dinner.

That evening as planned we met up with 8 others from the Bimmerfest.com Euro Delivery forum, along with our special guest Bernhard from the BMW Euro Delivery pickup center in Munich.

Despite jet lag, I barely slept (of course) the night before. I did manage an amazing breakfast at the Marriott, while Karen slept a bit more. We arrived at the Delivery Center before 8:00am, signed-in and then proceeded to the cafe where Karen had a light snack and took some photos.

We had met Bernhard the 20+ year "delivery engineer" extraordinaire a few days before on the phone and the night before at the meet-up and as soon as he arrived he came up to the cafe to greet us.

Soon he was back with the paper work: Sign just a few papers, get the keys and out to the car. That simple!

After a general run thru some of the features, which I was mostly well aware of we then pull the car outside for a final look-over and off we go!

The next morning we picked up my buddy Robert from London at the Munich airport. We've traveled together for many years. Later that day we picked up his German friend from Düsseldorf, Marion, whom we've visited on two previous trips to Germany.

Our plans were sketchy but we headed toward Salzburg. We were nearly there when jet lag and lack of sleep overtook me and I could go no further. We ended up at Bad Reichenhall - and found the very nice hotel Falter.

Next day on to Berchesgaden, an old vacation haunt of Hitler's and a stunningly beautiful place. Salzburg after for a brief stop and then that night we happened upon Lake Chiemsee where Ludwig had another Castle.

Next day on to Fussen to see castle Neuschwanstein, excellent - and the inspiration for the Disney castles. Finally on to Innsbruck Austria that evening. (And a beautiful Car Wash in the Alps!) The next morning we dropped Marion off at the train station and went into old-town for a look around!

March 22, 23, Riva del Garda, Italy

This is Italy's largest lake, and a place where Italians and Germans go for vacation. It is similar to Como and Lugano which are better know in the states. I visited here on my last Euro Delivery in 1997.

The first thing we heard after finding a parking spot was an ump-pa band, and we in unison, instinctively followed the sound. Turns out it was a band from Luxemburg who were here for a musical contest which they took second place.

We had a few comings together with them that evening and the next day, and by the next night we were friends. We hung out with them that evening and even met the Mayor of their town, and I showed Thomas - a car and BMW aficionado - my new wheels.

All in all good fun and a relaxing stay. Karen says she loved our "room with a view" of Riva harbor and I think she was right!

Vicenza is a town I almost moved to in 1989. Though that didn't happen, I wanted Karen to see this place. Noted for the beautiful architecture of Andrea Palladio and especially Basilica Palladiana a masters work.

Here we walked through the town and ended up at a nice hotel we picked using the BMW Navigation system, which was becoming more and more useful and valuable as the trip went on.

March 25, Venezia, Italy

Can you do a quick stop in Venice? We did! Yes, just an afternoon. Karen and I had separately been here  before but Robert hadn't. We wanted him to see one of the absolute wonders of the world!

Well, what did he think? The pictures tell the story!

Certainly the tourists have taken over Venice. But it's a great visit and the history is intact.

Truly there is nothing else like this place, period. It's still a magical journey, a small city actually built in (not on) water. Plus Karen and I got to see it together now.

March 26, Fiorano, Italy

I had to find the Ferrari test track. My ideal was to walk through town where I read you could hear the Ferrari's screaming in the distance.

We spent last night in Modena, and then in the morning went in search of the track. Driving some back roads and a small overpass, Robert says: "Is that it?" Sure enough, the test track just off the side of the road!

We pulled over and noticed more than a few people hanging out. We walked to a vantage point and waited. Four hours waited. (Kudos to Karen and Robert!). All morning and afternoon people came and went. Then suddenly, the scream... a Ferrari on the test track... and who was it... Michael Schumacher! Driving the 2005 Ferrari F1 for the first time.

Later we went to into town and on leaving a shop we could hear an F1 car on the track at 18,000 rpm screaming in the distance. We returned quickly and saw a few more laps from Schumi. What a real treat!

March 26 - 28, Rimini, Italy (Adriatico)

After Fiorano we headed towards Rimini, another resort town frequented by Germans and Italians. My Italian relatives come here for vacation.

We were going to meet-up with Francesca, a friend of Robert's who I also met very briefly in 1995!

We ended up having a wonderful time here. We met and had meals with several new friends and had an excellent time. Plus, we used the BMW  Navigation system to pick our hotel again and we ended up at my favorite hotel of the trip, the National in Rimini.

We liked the place so much that Robert extended his trip by a day. We had a hurried and fast run to Forli airport Monday morning, we didn't really make it, but by some fluke Robert got on the plane (as usual) to London. Though at top dollar / euro!

We even went to Londa that morning to find Pino and Cristina, but alas after a significant search we couldn't find them.

March 28 - 31, Lucca, Italy

Here with my family and my home at heart.

We made a mad dash this day completely across Italy from the East coast / Rimini, thru Londa and Florence, to the far West side of the country in Lucca.

We wanted to get settled in town first then call my cousins. This we did and though it wasn't early, headed over there that evening. What a great, warm welcome and so good to see everyone. True to form, Maria-Grazia fixed up something soooo good to eat.

The next evening we had a wonderful meal with other friends stopping by during the festivities.

Its a special relationship handed off to me from my grandfather Hector. I'm the last contact between the American family and those in Italy, and now Karen knows them too!

March 29, Pisa, Italy

Today was an EXCELLENT day. We visited three great spots, first off Pisa. - Well, it's mandatory no? And only 10 minutes from my cousins house.

Eleonora is our guide, though the BMW Navigation (using "shortest route") surprised her, by taking the same exact back road shortcuts that she takes to Pisa three days a week for school! "Wonderful" she said!

Eleonora and I were here at the tower together on my last Euro Delivery in '97. But I like it a lot and Karen had never seen it.

March 29, Viareggio and Bagni di Lucca

These were the other fun stops for the day.

Amongst other times, I was in Viareggio in 1981 for Carnavale with Mario (Maria-Grazia's husband) and my cousin Enrico. Memorable and terrific parade floats.

Viareggio is on the Mediterranean Sea, thus completing for us an east to west coast visit this year, having seen vacation towns on both coasts directly across from each other

Bagni di Lucca has the amazing bridge. Ponte di Diavolo. It's actually a legend of the devil being outsmarted by the towns people. The bridge is re-markable, due to it's asymmetrical form, a steep but long run up from the west side with a short steeper run up from the east.

Plus I got a similar cool picture of my first M3 from the same spot in '97.  

We really got around in just a couple of days. With good fortune we were able to see Marco for the afternoon.

Marco works for the comune di Lucca (city government) as a designer. As his true passion is the city, he is also an unofficial historian of Lucca.

Of course we got an Excellent tour!

Plus Marco is a new father of twins whom we met for the first time.

As a bonus, Eleonora and Karen got time also to do some mothering... hopefully just enough to get it out of their systems!

The trip is ending and we had to leave Lucca, that is so sad each time I come. But the car registration expires this evening so the car must be dropped off today.

Karen drove for the first time this trip and ever in Europe. She took the wheel just down the street from my cousin's house and drove to Parma (home of Parmigiano). She was able to do some steady driving at 105 mph her fastest driving ever. Plus she did an excellent job for her first time driving with SMG. The awesome Sequential Manual Gearbox on the M3

We managed to get back to the Marriott and wash the car before we headed to the drop-off center after hours.

The car is trucked to Bremerhaven then shipped to Port Hueneme on the Grus and delivered to our local dealer.