Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Daniel Kalal on April 25, 2021, 09:29:19 AM
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I've had an email exchange with Luca at Agostini (again, reminding him not to sell all my stuff that I keep in back). They're still not sure when Italy will open; they will not be renting out any bikes this year. The best I know, all the guys in the shop have stayed well. I know there have been several folks on the wildgoose forum talking about flying to Mandello for the 100th anniversary, but I hope they're aware that northern Italy is not the same as they're seeing in their own local neighborhood.
(http://www.dankalal.net/2019trip18/photo0021.JPG)
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Thanks Deke ,
Yes , wise to be 100% sure before planning a visit .
Dusty
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It's hard to keep track of what's going on --wise. One week the news says there's a new flare up of cases in Italy etc. and they've shut down again. Now the latest hot spot is India. I have no idea how all the small hotels, B&B's and restaurants in northern Italy can possibly survive a shutdown of this magnitude. Maybe their getting the same type of government assistance to weather through the shutdown like here? My grand plans to fly into Milan and tour the Dolomites last year went nowhere. This year's not looking much better.
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I recently got the brochure for the 2021 Moto Guzzi experience, they are doing multiple rides so I would assume some places are open. Those are great trips
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I've had an email exchange with Luca at Agostini (again, reminding him not to sell all my stuff that I keep in back). They're still not sure when Italy will open; they will not be renting out any bikes this year. The best I know, all the guys in the shop have stayed well. I know there have been several folks on the wildgoose forum talking about flying to Mandello for the 100th anniversary, but I hope they're aware that northern Italy is not the same as they're seeing in their own local neighborhood.
(http://www.dankalal.net/2019trip18/photo0021.JPG)
Is Stefan still there ?
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It's hard to keep track of what's going on --wise. One week the news says there's a new flare up of cases in Italy etc. and they've shut down again. Now the latest hot spot is India. I have no idea how all the small hotels, B&B's and restaurants in northern Italy can possibly survive a shutdown of this magnitude. Maybe their getting the same type of government assistance to weather through the shutdown like here? My grand plans to fly into Milan and tour the Dolomites last year went nowhere. This year's not looking much better.
I understand the EU kicks in 50%, bank and business accounts for 25% each for compensation for closures. At least that's what I read somewhere.
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I don't see the --19 protocol opening up for Europe to tourists changing in time for the celebration. The EU response for vaccination rates per individual countries are lower than other Western countries. Going the other direction across the Pacific for the Summer Olympics. Japan is closed to tourists for the Games.
Check with the individual country for travel if you come from the US. :undecided:
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Thanks for posting that Daniel. I didn’t know. Oh well.
If Guzzi was smart, they would turn their 100th Anniversary into a huge marketing event despite -. Do some kind of remote, internet party. Sell experience boxes for $100 apiece (cheaper than traveling to North Italy). Have fun polling questions. Connect Guzzi riders around the world. Do a virtual tour of the factory. Have a drawing for a free bike.
So, I guess they aren’t going to do that.
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:thumb: :thumb: :thumb: Would be nice.
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I'm so glad that I got to go there in 2018
(https://i.ibb.co/DC6jqYg/96241374-1259240737749504-9076677514759241728-o.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DC6jqYg)
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Give the whole thing the arse and have it as a 101’st...
In the past, I’ve turned up late to a party where all the “interesting” people are tipsy already and the guys were maggoted and fallen asleep.
That was not necessarily a bad thing.. :wink:
By the time the first wine hits my pie hole in Mandello del Lario and I’m staring at this..
(https://i.ibb.co/T496VWc/8-C35331-A-B576-4-FBA-A525-C557-FDEF29-D9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/T496VWc)
(https://i.ibb.co/3MmrnWD/BA09-ABFE-0170-4-AD0-9-D45-0-AF14207-D3-B4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3MmrnWD)
(https://i.ibb.co/27Z6Fcs/9-AE45564-4784-4-F84-BAC0-7-BD4-FE9-E4-BDD.jpg) (https://ibb.co/27Z6Fcs)
(https://i.ibb.co/nRT308g/581605-D6-C16-C-4-A75-8-D55-2-F8342-F83497.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nRT308g)
(https://i.ibb.co/bKvrJhF/8-CAE25-E3-38-C4-441-F-A935-3-C2-A80-B41905.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bKvrJhF)
I don’t think that I’m a year out will matter much. :drool: :wink:
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If Guzzi was smart, they would...
Much of the heavy lifting for these (mostly) annual celebrations (GMG) has been done by the city of Mandello and associated local companies and clubs or by Alis Agostini (and father Duilio) for years, back.
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I don't see the --19 protocol opening up for Europe to tourists changing in time for the celebration. The EU response for vaccination rates per individual countries are lower than other Western countries. Going the other direction across the Pacific for the Summer Olympics. Japan is closed to tourists for the Games.
Check with the individual country for travel if you come from the US. :undecided:
Read today that an EU bigwig said they will welcome vaccinated American tourists in June.....
Now June is a long time away (not to mention September), there will be some fine print, and Americans might like to be able to return withouttoo much hassle, but right now it's safe to say there's hope - - - -
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Thanks for posting that Daniel. I didn’t know. Oh well.
If Guzzi was smart, they would turn their 100th Anniversary into a huge marketing event despite -. Do some kind of remote, internet party. Sell experience boxes for $100 apiece (cheaper than traveling to North Italy). Have fun polling questions. Connect Guzzi riders around the world. Do a virtual tour of the factory. Have a drawing for a free bike.
So, I guess they aren’t going to do that.
A virtual event with goodies for a reasonable fee would be a great idea and total win-win for riders and factory. Think anyone in MG or Piaggio would listen?
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I have no idea how all the small hotels, B&B's and restaurants in northern Italy can possibly survive a shutdown of this magnitude. Maybe their getting the same type of government assistance to weather through the shutdown like here? My grand plans to fly into Milan and tour the Dolomites last year went nowhere. This year's not looking much better.
The family owned hotels survive by having no debt and by laying off the employees, who then live on government unemployment payments.
Continental Europe is close to shut down, not open to US tourism except for Greece and Croatia and I’m not planning on any change until 2022. I’ve had various reservations since 2020, first rescheduled to 2021, now until 2022. Mostly it’s been possible to reschedule versus lose the money.
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Some good info, some wrong info, our own little microcosm of the interwebs!
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I'd still like to go this year, although, given how iffy the situation is, may end just being a flight over, instead of doing the bike shipment and then see if there's a small chance of a rental from some Guzzi insiders nearby.
Either way, I hope there is some activity this year, but I'd bet that the big celebration takes place next year.
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Heard in the news today that the EU will open for vaccinated tourists this Summer.
The other direction, Japan tightened up their protocol to shut down again. Before this the Summer Olympics would only be open to Japanese Nationals. No tourists. :tongue:
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The New York Times has a report of the intention of the EU to open up to vaccinated US residents for this summer's tourist season.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/26/world/europe/eu-vaccinated-tourists-what-know.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/26/world/europe/eu-vaccinated-tourists-what-know.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage)
You will need to have some proof, yet to be defined, of having had a EU-approved -. I checked on an EU website and found that this includes what we call the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Moto
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Tiptoeing around any politics, if anyone reads about or can confirm the EU nations opening up to Americans with proof of vaccination, could you post it here. Frankly, I'm more likely to see it here before I learn of it on some news site. As one example of just how easily stuff slips under my rather antiquated radar, in June I'm riding out west to bag the Sierra passes. Except I just learned that Yosemite has gone to a reservation system, and (wait for it) all day passes for the month of June are taken. Sorry Charlie, no Tioga Pass for you! :angry:
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Read my post just above yours.
Moto
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The NY Times article has several factual errors and misconceptions: two obvious ones are that (1) Croatia as well as Greece (which they do mention) is already open to US tourists and (2) the US Government does not plan to issue vaccination certificates that could be EU Government endorsed or recognized - the US Government has said clearly it will not do so. The article is highly speculative on several other levels and I personally wouldn't bet a penny on pre-planned international travel to Europe this year.
US tourism into a single country (e.g. like Greece or Croatia) would be relatively easy once the country opens up, and might continue to expand to other countries individually but intra-EU national border crossings are problematic now even for EU residents and are another thing entirely.
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The NY Times article has several factual errors and misconceptions: two obvious ones are that (1) Croatia as well as Greece (which they do mention) is already open to US tourists and (2) the US Government does not plan to issue vaccination certificates that could be EU Government endorsed - the US Government has said clearly it will not do so. The article is highly speculative on several other levels and I personally wouldn't bet a penny on pre-planned international travel to Europe this year.
US tourism into a single country (e.g. like Greece or Croatia) would be relatively easy once the country opens up, and might continue to expand as other countries like Italy individually, but intra-EU national border crossings are problematic now even for EU residents and are another thing entirely.
Whoops. I myself missed the "obvious" exception of Croatia. The article does not say that the U.S. will issue vaccination certificates.
I wouldn't count on a trip to Europe this summer, either. But that would be because of my close reading of what is actually in the NY Times article.
This kind of dispute is pretty tedious.
Moto
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Given that I pick my bike up in London, you traverse several countries on the way through.
I can picture the situation whereby you are dwelling on every news bit that gets broadcasted and constantly concerned at the prospect of being stuck on the wrong side of a border, while your visa and 90 day permit is tick...ticking...aw ay.
I don’t know what the upshot of it all would be if I was in Romania/Bulgaria/Bosnia...et al.
I’m sure at that point I’d be thinking of another country where I really should be, ending in “ia”.
Australia..
It seems romantic to be in a foreign country at a border, negotiating clearance to cross. But if the bottom line is that you’re stranded and you cannot get out, you suddenly become illegal and if your permit expires, you are in a world of despair.
Bugger it all...! :sad:
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The article does not say that the U.S. will issue vaccination certificates.
No, but as I mentioned it contains a major misconception in relation to that possibility, and more importantly how resuming tourism from the US can be tied to it. The article is based on an interview with the President of the EU commission, explaining what her comments "made clear", and it says this:
But in the interim, it is possible that a low-tech solution could be used before a broader program is launched to enable people to travel freely on the basis of vaccination. For example, an adult traveler to Europe could get an equivalent to an E.U. - certificate on arrival, after showing a bona fide certificate issued by his or her own government.
The hope, officials said, is that this step would soon be unnecessary as - certificates issued by foreign governments would be acceptable and readable in the European Union, and vice versa
Notwithstanding the possible illegality and new EU law required in relation to requiring vaccinations for its own residents to move between 'free movement' (Schengen Zone) countries, none of the above will actually be possible in relation to Americans. This is likely a pipe dream. No incoming US tourists are anticipated to have a "bona fide certificate issued by his or her own government". From this one can surmise that the EU Government has no plan that can be implemented quickly for entry and movement of US residents within the entire Schengen Zone. However, as mentioned, individual nations are already acting faster based on different and more flexible requirements for entry that are not predicated on "the use of approved vaccines" and obviously not to government issued vaccination certificates. Italy may in time be one of them.
I can picture the situation whereby you are dwelling on every news bit that gets broadcasted and constantly concerned at the prospect of being stuck on the wrong side of a border, while your visa and 90 day permit is tick...ticking...aw ay.
My motorcycle is in Germany, so I have a similar situation except for lacking the necessity to the enter first the UK by plane, then the EU by bike. Either way I agree with you that its not worth the hassle at this point. If I had a bike in a good biking country like Italy and could get into that one country to do a 2021 ride, I would consider it. Greece is open and might qualify on the basis of interesting roads and places, but my bike is not there...
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Also, I don’t relish the prospect of quaffing ale or swilling red wine, through a face mask.
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It looks like there are plans in place for Americans to travel to Europe soon, perhaps by the summer. Hopefully all will go well and some folks will be able to make it.
I know a fellow I see at the gym that was planning a Rick Steves trip in August of '20. He'd booked it in early in '19. I doubt that Steves will get his operation going this year but it should look good for '22 if not late '21.
So far as the Guzzi 100. That just another set of unknowns. And then shipping a bike would make it even more risky.
So a bit of good news but nothing to hang your hat on yet.
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None of the above will actually be possible. No incoming US tourists are anticipated to have a "bona fide certificate issued by his or her own government"....
The EU, the NY Times reporter, I, you, anyone paying attention, knows that Biden has said there will be no US - passport. But "government" is not the same as "U.S. government." Either the EU wants to open a negotiation with the U.S. on getting - passports going, or, perhaps more likely, it anticipates accepting state - passports -- like the already available New York Excelsior Pass -- for entry into the EU. Many potential tourists from New York may already have a "bona fide certificate issued by his or her own government."
Why you suppose you know something that none of the aforementioned parties has thought of escapes me.
Moto
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Perhaps the NY Times reporter rarely leaves New York :grin: Fairly obviously most US states will not be issuing government approved vaccination certificates. Some of them are going in precisely the opposite direction.
Nor is the EU going to negotiate with US states individually on the form, content and security features of any document.
I think what will actually happen is that the EU and US will impose a bilateral non-government-certified negative test result requirement for a while, until it is no longer necessary. As is already the case with requirements to enter Greece and Croatia for tourism, and the US and other EU countries for 'essential' visits, the agreement will not be predicated on vaccination certificates, although a vaccination certificate issued by the provider will be an alternate option. That will take a while. Meanwhile more individual EU countries will open up independently, putting pressure on the EU Government.
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This to a significant degree seems like so much wheel spin. It's April, the Guzzi party is FIVE months away, what the condition in Italy, or anywhere else is impossible to say. If the EU is in pretty good shape by then, well, it might be realatively easy, if not, who knows?
But to sit here and debate what is, is mindless.
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Try and book a seat to Italy if and when it opens up. Five months is nothing.
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Book and pay the extra to cancel if things are crap come late August. It doesn’t have to be made extra hard.
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All in all, good news to -perhaps- travel. No one can predict the future. But we're getting -'d and might accepted in the EU.
I think the bigger questions is whether the EU will be -'s to accept US visitors. It looks like they are planning to be.
I've been -'d and have my "papers" in my wallet. :thumb:
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I live less than an hour's ride from Mandello, so I thought I'd share a bit about the current situation.
At the moment I can travel to most places in Italy without any issue, just having to be mindful of overnight curfews and restaurant/bar hours. That's because the regions are mostly below a "red" level.
Here in Italy the ability to do inter-regional travel changes depending on the current "colour" of each region. The four colours are white, yellow, orange and red, with red having the most restrictions and white the least. Sardinia was the only white region about a month ago, now it's the only red region, so it's a fluid situation. The colours change depending on current infection rates to try to maintain capacity in the hospitals. Travel, even outside the local community within a region, is restricted in red zones.
Can you get away with travel in red regions? Probably, but the fines can be large if you're caught. I've travelled between red regions (under the limited exemptions) and was not stopped, but you can be stopped at random.
Of more importance to tourists, the ability to eat in a restaurant or bar is also impacted by the colour of the region. In a red zone, they're mostly closed, in others they are only open certain hours or for takeout, so it can be confusing for a tourist (or a local) to know the rules. Since tourists have little choice for eating, not being able to access restaurants or bars could be a problem. Grocery stores are generally open with few restrictions though.
There is also a curfew in place at the moment from 22:00 to 05:00 daily (although that may go away).
There is a strong movement to try to open things up to tourists by summer, but that doesn't mean it will happen, or that it will happen everywhere. Tourism is a huge industry though, and the number of people who rely on it for a living puts a lot of pressure on the government (rightly or wrongly) to open up quickly.
So, will it be open by September? Everyone hopes so, and efforts are being made to open it up, but it's not a certainty. I'd be hesitant to book anything that wasn't cancelable. The key concept in this thread is that this is all based on plans. As we've seen, plans have changed unexpectedly in the past so be cautious about locking in travel that can't be changed.
Eric
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I live less than an hour's ride from Mandello, so I thought I'd share a bit about the current situation.
At the moment I can travel to most places in Italy without any issue, just having to be mindful of overnight curfews and restaurant/bar hours. That's because the regions are mostly below a "red" level.
Here in Italy the ability to do inter-regional travel changes depending on the current "colour" of each region. The four colours are white, yellow, orange and red, with red having the most restrictions and white the least. Sardinia was the only white region about a month ago, now it's the only red region, so it's a fluid situation. The colours change depending on current infection rates to try to maintain capacity in the hospitals. Travel, even outside the local community within a region, is restricted in red zones.
Can you get away with travel in red regions? Probably, but the fines can be large if you're caught. I've travelled between red regions (under the limited exemptions) and was not stopped, but you can be stopped at random.
Of more importance to tourists, the ability to eat in a restaurant or bar is also impacted by the colour of the region. In a red zone, they're mostly closed, in others they are only open certain hours or for takeout, so it can be confusing for a tourist (or a local) to know the rules. Since tourists have little choice for eating, not being able to access restaurants or bars could be a problem. Grocery stores are generally open with few restrictions though.
There is also a curfew in place at the moment from 22:00 to 05:00 daily (although that may go away).
There is a strong movement to try to open things up to tourists by summer, but that doesn't mean it will happen, or that it will happen everywhere. Tourism is a huge industry though, and the number of people who rely on it for a living puts a lot of pressure on the government (rightly or wrongly) to open up quickly.
So, will it be open by September? Everyone hopes so, and efforts are being made to open it up, but it's not a certainty. I'd be hesitant to book anything that wasn't cancelable. The key concept in this thread is that this is all based on plans. As we've seen, plans have changed unexpectedly in the past so be cautious about locking in travel that can't be changed.
Eric
Thank you
Situation similar here, move an inch and take the risk, instant lockdowns the new reality
I’m out
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Thank you Eric for the comprehensive first hand report.
Americans without residence can’t travel to Italy on vacation for now but as with everything else that can change, at which point first hand info becomes very useful.
I’m looking forward to being in Italy in 2022, which will at that point be after a three year break.