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Vroom by the Sea
The summer before his daughter was born Peter returned to Italy to ride through the sunny parts of Italy on a Vespa the same colour as Donatella Versace, a bright orange 1972 Rally 200 with white go-fast stripes.
The journey was a last two-stroke fling before fatherhood and took him through Sardinia, Sicily and the Amalfi Coast. If the trip that became Vroom with a View was like an old B&W movie, this one was in Technicolor.
Peter christened the Vespa Marcello. He was a hairy-chested, gold medallion wearing kind of Vespa and the Italians loved him. Everywhere he went he elicited free beer from barmen, swoons from young women and beeps and whistles from other drivers.
And just like Sophia he introduced Peter to a side of Italy – and Italians – that most tourists don’t get to see.
The journey was a last two-stroke fling before fatherhood and took him through Sardinia, Sicily and the Amalfi Coast. If the trip that became Vroom with a View was like an old B&W movie, this one was in Technicolor.
Peter christened the Vespa Marcello. He was a hairy-chested, gold medallion wearing kind of Vespa and the Italians loved him. Everywhere he went he elicited free beer from barmen, swoons from young women and beeps and whistles from other drivers.
And just like Sophia he introduced Peter to a side of Italy – and Italians – that most tourists don’t get to see.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
20 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Peter Moore
8 books53 followersPeter Moore (born 18 July 1962) is an Australian travel writer.
Moore, who was born in Sydney, claims to have visited 99 countries. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in London. He has published many books that re-tell tales of his travels.
He is a Vespa enthusiast and his 2005 book Vroom with a View and 2007 book Vroom by the Sea feature trips through Italy taken on vintage Italian motorscooters.
[Wikipedia]
Moore, who was born in Sydney, claims to have visited 99 countries. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in London. He has published many books that re-tell tales of his travels.
He is a Vespa enthusiast and his 2005 book Vroom with a View and 2007 book Vroom by the Sea feature trips through Italy taken on vintage Italian motorscooters.
[Wikipedia]
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 12, 2020
I went through states of enjoyment and tedium with this book. The beginning and the end were the most interesting, full of reflection and friendly encounters. I read the rest of Peter Moore's books 15 - 20 years ago when I was also an adventurous traveller. Now also older and with a family this made me long gif those days if pure freedom.
July 15, 2021
Having seen a lot places, met a lot people, learnt culture, known some famous authors and their quotes, as well as the delicious food which I will certainly looking for when in Italian restaurant next time.
May 9, 2024
I've read a few travelogues by this author, and I really enjoyed them at the time, but I think he's grown up a bit and so have I. Humorous rather than funny, it still scratched my armchair itch for Italy.
June 4, 2020
Fabulous read! Great descriptions and happy adventures. Thoroughly recommend it.
April 20, 2025
2.5 🌟 🌟
October 1, 2009
The sequel to Vroom with a View. In the previous adventure, Peter travels from Milan to Rome on a Vespa the same age as himself. Here he has acquired a slightly younger model in orange, which he names Marcello, and the ride is through the very different sunny, seaside parts of Italy. At the end of Vroom with a View Peter proposed to his girlfriend; now they're married and expecting their first baby.
I preferred the novelty and carefree spirit of the first volume; the many references Peter makes to his previous trip suggest that he's retreading old ground, and he's much less of an innocent abroad, though there are still plenty of comic misunderstandings and misadventures. Marcello also breaks down less frequently than his predecessor, which is nicer for Moore but less fun for the vicarious reader.
That said, I still raced through the book, and I loved the device of buying the patron saint of each town the author visited in fridge magnet form to stick on the glovebox.
I preferred the novelty and carefree spirit of the first volume; the many references Peter makes to his previous trip suggest that he's retreading old ground, and he's much less of an innocent abroad, though there are still plenty of comic misunderstandings and misadventures. Marcello also breaks down less frequently than his predecessor, which is nicer for Moore but less fun for the vicarious reader.
That said, I still raced through the book, and I loved the device of buying the patron saint of each town the author visited in fridge magnet form to stick on the glovebox.
November 9, 2012
The premise; travelling around Italy on a Vespa is something that appealed to me enough to get me through the book.
Sadly most of the rest of it fell flat. I didn't have any empathy with the author's voice. This is no fault of the author perhaps, but being as I am far from this regular, middle-aged heterosexual male with leanings towards the obsession with Catholicism and saints; I found the diary style of this man's progress on his travels difficult to get along with. I found myself cheerfully skipping passages discussing churches, saints and his thoughts on becoming a father. I am sure that someone with more in common with the guy would find all this less annoying than me, but I picked this up wanting to read just about Vespas and Italy!
I think I was most annoyed when he got all 'holier-than-thou judgemental' about one night stands and casual sex. He took a gossipy, none-of-my-business-but-here's-my-two-cents-anyway approach to an observation that in itself took a star off the rating.
Sadly most of the rest of it fell flat. I didn't have any empathy with the author's voice. This is no fault of the author perhaps, but being as I am far from this regular, middle-aged heterosexual male with leanings towards the obsession with Catholicism and saints; I found the diary style of this man's progress on his travels difficult to get along with. I found myself cheerfully skipping passages discussing churches, saints and his thoughts on becoming a father. I am sure that someone with more in common with the guy would find all this less annoying than me, but I picked this up wanting to read just about Vespas and Italy!
I think I was most annoyed when he got all 'holier-than-thou judgemental' about one night stands and casual sex. He took a gossipy, none-of-my-business-but-here's-my-two-cents-anyway approach to an observation that in itself took a star off the rating.
September 24, 2025
Over 20 years ago, I was planning a trip to Italy to see Rome and Tuscany with my then young family of three small children. I was stumped on where to stay in Tuscany as there are a number of great towns to stay in. I spied Peter Moore's, Vroom With a View, which I immediately picked up to read as the title was a take on one of my favourite movies, Room With a View. I spent the next couple of days being introduced to Peter Moore and his great outlook on life and travel. He introduced me to Lucca where we ended up staying which was a beautiful town, close to highways and a fun place to stay with our kids. So, of course, I picked up Vroom by the Sea, for my second reading, as we are heading to Sicily in a week and I didn't know much about it. Now I have some ideas about where to go in Sicily. It was a pleasure to read a Peter Moore book again. I think we could be great friends. I only wish I had a flashy Vespa like Marcello to travel on while in Sicily! I suppose we can always look at renting one!
April 11, 2025
I think fate is telling me I HAVE to go to Italy! First off I went and saw Eat, Pray, Love (which is gonna be high up on Mt. TBR when I get home!) and absolutely loved all the scenery, food, etc in Italy. Then my sis went to Italy and went to Pompeii (long time dream of mine!) and seemed to have a fabulous time there), and then I read this book.
*going off to add the Lonely Planet guide to Italy to my amazon wishlist*
What an awesome adventure to go on. I'm going to do that one day!
And yes, I was sorely tempted when I saw Vroom With A View at the bookshop on the weekend, but I was good :-)
I've promised to send this back to Alkaline Kiwi, so I'll put it in her Christmas package :-)
*going off to add the Lonely Planet guide to Italy to my amazon wishlist*
What an awesome adventure to go on. I'm going to do that one day!
And yes, I was sorely tempted when I saw Vroom With A View at the bookshop on the weekend, but I was good :-)
I've promised to send this back to Alkaline Kiwi, so I'll put it in her Christmas package :-)
January 4, 2010
Not that funny, not that well written, not a lot of culture. However the book featured a bright orange 1972 Vespa Rally so I couldn't put the damn thing down. The food and Saints got a bit tedious.
Never trust a man, especially an Australian, who refers to his wife's pregnancy as a 'condition'.
I hope he writes another book about riding Vespas around Italy.
Has inspired me to drive to the Isle of Elba for the Scooter Rally Toscano: http://www.scooterrallytoscano.it - only 870 miles. Any takers?
Shame it's so cold or I would go for a ride on my Vespa.
Never trust a man, especially an Australian, who refers to his wife's pregnancy as a 'condition'.
I hope he writes another book about riding Vespas around Italy.
Has inspired me to drive to the Isle of Elba for the Scooter Rally Toscano: http://www.scooterrallytoscano.it - only 870 miles. Any takers?
Shame it's so cold or I would go for a ride on my Vespa.
March 28, 2015
It didn't enthrall me, however it did arouse my interest in wanting to visit the Amalfi coast and Italy's islands, some I'd never heard of but they sounded idyllic, especially Capraia. It also made me want to ride around on a Vespa, although not for the entire journey, feeling the surroundings on my skin rather than passing through them in a bubble. Peter Moore paints a pretty picture with his description and he comes out with some funny original lines. Overall a reasonable guide book, informative and enlightening in parts.
November 26, 2013
Stunning book. One of the best travel books and funny and cool and all you would expect from a well travelled Vespa trying to carry its very witty passenger through some of the most interesting parts of italia....
September 30, 2010
I hadn't read any of the author's books in a while, and he does make references to Vroom with a View every so often, but that's okay - this one reads well as a stand-alone story.
April 21, 2013
makes me want to travel...
July 25, 2012
loving the previous one, vroom with a view.
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December 24, 2012Enjoyed Wrong way home by this author, but this book is a waste of time, glad it was used for a flight & not quality reading time.
December 10, 2013
A great book, guaranteed to ignite the wanderlust in you. Fun recount of the author's solo trip around Sardinia, Sicily & parts of Italy on a bright orange Vespa motor scooter. Really enjoyable!
July 14, 2016
Awesome.
July 4, 2014
Not as good as the previous book but still a excellent book. Borrowed a earlier book of his from Amazon for this month can't wait to read it.
August 5, 2014
another inspiring book. Some great laughs too
October 1, 2014
Good and entertaining; Vroom with a view the predecessor was better.
April 7, 2015
After reading Vroom with a View by Peter, and buying a Classic 1965 Vespa 150, I now lust for the Orange Rally 200 featured in this fun filled travelogue through rural Italy.
April 7, 2017
Nearly as good as its predecessor, "Vroom With a View." A must read for those who love travel, Italy, and Vespas.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews