7 July. We get up a little later and arrive at Villafranca Park to attend the Tourism Village Talk Show dedicated to the 50 L's 500th birthday (we couldn't miss it, being proud owners of a 500 Lusso) and the 60th of the 500 Sport by the national technical commissioner Enrico Bo and the technical commissioner and ASI advisor Carlo Giuliani (28). Once the conference was over (unfortunately, because we would have listened for hours!) we decided to spend half an hour at the market in Parco Serre... even if then the hours became two, wandering around the various stalls with spare parts of all kinds, consulting each other and negotiating the price with the seller, almost always coming out happy and "victors" from the hunt for the perfect spare part. By doing so, however, we lost the Grand Tour of the Arroscia Valley and, after eating a sandwich, we decide to go to the water park “The Caravels”.
We start as always in a group and, once there, with our old ladies we go around the path inside the park; here the smiles, greetings and joy involve children, adults and elderly people who are fascinated to see us all arriving in a line with these little cars of various colors, which for the little ones are "big toys". We spend a quiet afternoon in the name of fun and relaxation among friends, without worrying about our cars, parked in the parking lot protected by security: this and more for real VIC (Very Important Car)!
Upon returning we decided to have a dinner of the cheerful gang (that's how we defined ourselves), in the spirit of the true and sincere friendship that was created thanks to the passion that binds us, but also to the Meeting that made us all leave together for days of healthy and pure fun (29). At the end, after saying goodbye, everyone went to bed in view of the big event on Sunday!
8 July. We didn't even need the alarm clock to get up, we were so excited to take part in the grand final parade of the 500 at theHippodrome of Flowers in Villanova d'Albenga. After leaving our accommodations, we all head to the place together and, at the entrance of the structure, we breathe a beautiful “charged” atmosphere (almost like gladiators at the Colosseum… even if we only have to parade and have fun!). We begin to walk around the inside of the circuit to get to our station, that of the cars coming from Sicily. While waiting for everyone to be ready to parade, we enjoy a small aperitif with even biscuits in the shape of the legendary cinquino!
The time has come to return to our 500s, the parade is about to begin and here we are, with the engines warmed up (30), ready to go! This is the moment when you understand little or nothing, you are gripped by the desire to be seen and heard, the honking and the horns are normal, even our little ones are excited (it's the first time for them too, they have never participated in an event like this). Little by little the various nations parade (including Hungary, this year's guest nation) and then the regions... Lombardy, Veneto, Sardinia, Sicily! Here it is our turn (31), the emotion rises and the song "Un'estate al mare" by Giuni Russo is played; we stop and start to wave and dance, everyone waves at us joyfully and smiling, but then an improvised tarantella starts... you can't understand anything anymore (32). The atmosphere is festive, there's nothing else to say and, once the tarantella is over, we climb back into our little ones and set off again for the parade. It feels like being at the June 2nd parade, except that here parading there is an army of small cars and proud owners of their creatures. We leave the racecourse still in disbelief of what we have just experienced, happy and excited; after a moment's pause to come back to ourselves, we decide to go to Sanremo in perfect style slow drive! Our little journey begins by travelling along the western Ligurian coast, from village to village (33), admiring the natural wonders that the landscape offers us. Strictly with the hood open, we tackle mountain paths, winding climbs and then descend again to admire the sea (34-35). Here we find the sign “Sanremo”, we have arrived (36)! After a tour of the various streets of the city, amidst the honking of horns that make the tourists turn around, who immediately return greetings and smiles, we arrive near the Ariston Theatre (37), an obligatory stop for this destination; subsequently, feeling the need to put something under our teeth, we park our beloved 500s on the seafront and decide to have a nice refreshing ice cream. Reluctantly we realise that it is getting late and we have to go back, but first we pop into the stationery shop to buy the sticker of the city of Sanremo (every goal reached with our 500s is worthy of being remembered and therefore must be immediately stuck on the suitcase of my Saphira!).
