Product Description

It was a 1972 Rally 200 in the same shade of orange as Donatella Versace with white, go-fast stripes down each side. It was bright and brash and made every other Vespa in the workshop look dull. Even sitting on its stand it had a swagger.Best-selling writer and traveller Peter Moore decides to go on an adventure through Sicily, Sardinia and the Amalfi Coast as a last fling before the onset of fatherhood.Riding his bright orange Vespa, Marcello, through some of the world's most stunning scenery, Peter meets a multitude of interesting characters and discovers a side of Italy that tourists rarely see. Eliciting free beers from barmen, swoons from young women and beeps and whistles from other drivers, Peter finds that this most Italian of machines draws him deep into the heart of this fascinating and fun-loving country.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53517 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
"he can deftly switch from describing a comical incident, to the stunning scenery... and the mouth watering food..."
--Waterstone's Books Quarterly, Spring 2009 issue

`utterly hilarious... fun-loving and informative read... Revelling in some of the world's most breathtaking scenery... Italy regular tourists rarely see.'
--The Cumberland News, July 3, 2009

`Riveting read... with his journey taking him to places that tourists rarely see.'
--Derby Evening Telegraph, 6th November 2009

Review
'Moore's talents lie in the way he can deftly switch from describing a comical incident, to the stunning scenery.'

Review
`I liked his view of Sicilly and his genuine efforts to get off the beaten track a little and offer his reader some new insight... give it a go.'

Customer Reviews

Vroom By The Sea - An Italian Adventure Well Told
Vroom By The Sea is the second book by Peter Moore set in Italy travelling by Vespa.

Peter meets up with old friend Marco, Vespa mechanic extraordinaire, who looked after Sophia the Vespa from Vroom With A ViewVroom with a View: In Search of Italy's Dolce Vita on a '61 Vespa, following Peter's return to the UK. For this trip Marco arranges for Peter to buy a 1972 Vespa - a Rally 200 that he names Marcello.

I do like a person who names their vehicles.

The trip marks the swansong of Peter's solo travelling follow his marriage to Sally, since the last book, and impending fatherhood.

From Livorno Peter and Marcello travel through Sardinia and Sicily, exploring the countryside and visiting places such as Peter's accountant's birthplace and Corleone, made famous by The Godfather films, as well as some island hopping to the smaller islands off their coasts, before returning to the mainland and back to Livorno joining in with a Vespa rally en route.

Peter has the knack of describing his surroundings so that you can imagine yourself on that road or that balcony or that beach soaking up the meditteranean atmosphere and sunshine, drinking wine and eating pasta. So much so that I challenge you not to want to travel around Italy as a result.

In Vroom By The Sea you also get a good, but not overpowering amount, of local history about each of the places that Peter visits which gives the story the right amount of colour and only adds to the book as a whole.

As is always said by people who travel on two wheels, amongst other pleasures, they give you an independence from the travelling masses reliant on public transport, enabling you to quickly navigate down narrow streets and stop on a whim to admire a view. Plus an orange Vespa like Marcello encourages conversation and admiration from many an Italian during the story affording Peter many advantages he wouldn't have otherwise enjoyed.

I found Vroom By The Sea to be a very enjoyable read and has certainly expanded my horizons in terms of places to add to my ever growing list of places to visit!

Vrooms Along Nicely !
I bought what you could describe as the 1st of these books 'Vroom with a View' primarily because i am a Vespa fan. I bought this book because the 1st was so good. This book has a lovely mix of Italian culture,and goes off the beaten track and again you are treated to another assortment of quirky characters. This time the author's travels take him to Sicily, Sardinia and the Almalfi coast and all the while the author ponders impending fatherhood.What i really liked about this book was that it is a wee bit more than just a travelogue and at the start and end of the book you are treated to a look at Italian scooter club culture and how the Italians organise scooter rallies.This book zips along just like Marcello the Vespa. Recommended

Too much like the last one
Peter Moore is a great writer and an extraordinary traveller. He manages to reach the parts other travellers cannot (eg Afghanistan and Somalia) as well as going off the beaten track in more popular backpacker destinations. Moreover, he seems to have a gift for befriending the locals and getting them to help him wherever he goes. I wish I could do it!

Having said all that, this book is too much like his last one, Vroom With A View. Once again, Peter is pootling around Italy on a Vespa, albeit a different vehicle and different parts of Italy this time. It got a bit samey after a while and I found myself skipping bits. No doubt you'll love it if you like Italy and/or Vespas, otherwise I suggest you give it a miss.

If you're new to Peter Moore I suggest you start with his earlier books: I recommend the excellent "The Wrong Way Home".