Vroom by the Sea

by Peter Moore

Women wanted him. Men wanted to be him. And one hot summer he roamed the Italian seaside breaking hearts throughout Sardinia, Sicily and along the Amalfi coast. Racy, loud and an incorrigible show-off, he was the epitome of Italian machismo. He showed Peter, his less flamboyant companion, another side of Italy tourists rarely see. His name was Marcello and like Sophia from Vroom with a View he was a Vespa, one the same shade of orange as Donatella Versace. Two years after riding from Milan to Rome in search of la dolce vita, Peter Moore's life has changed dramatically. He has married Sally and she is pregnant with their first child. With fatherhood only five months away Peter reacted the way some men facing nappies and travel systems do, he panicked. But man, Peter sure found an understanding wife. Sally gave him the opportunity to go off, just once more, to be irresponsible. For Peter this was a wild, final, two-stroke powered fling - with permission - through some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world on a Vespa with white go-fast stripes that brought a smile to peoples' faces everywhere it went. From the wild, untouched corners of Sardinia and Sicily to the faded fifties glamour of the Amalfi coast, it is a journey that reveals Italy's obsession with the sea - and getting a great tan. Like Vroom with a View this is another laugh-out-loud whilst grinding your teeth with jealousy travel memoir and they can sell its go-fast stripes off.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Italy, Vespa

392 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Peter 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]

Reviews

[Shona · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Julene Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read! Great descriptions and happy adventures. Thoroughly recommend it.

[Kamila D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 🌟 🌟

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Alex Boon · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Discoverylover · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 :-)

[John Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Anthony Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

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....

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Katarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

makes me want to travel...

[Fitri · Rating 3 out of 5]

loving the previous one, vroom with a view.

[Mark Chillingworth]

Enjoyed 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.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[IRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome.

[Elizabeth Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Peta Hay · Rating 4 out of 5]

another inspiring book. Some great laughs too

[Bradley Voyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and entertaining; Vroom with a view the predecessor was better.

[James Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Katarina Forss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

[Rick B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly as good as its predecessor, "Vroom With a View." A must read for those who love travel, Italy, and Vespas.