We flew into Tenerife with the windows of the plane already framing a promise of sun, salt air, and something volcanic and mysterious rising somewhere beyond the clouds. Renting a car at the airport turned out to be the best decision of the trip. Tenerife isn’t an island you simply visit—it’s one you explore, curve by curve, as the road reveals how wildly different its landscapes can be.

Our first days were spent tracing the coastline. The southern highways were smooth and bright, lined with palms and flashes of the Atlantic, while small fishing towns appeared like pauses in a long sentence—white buildings, cafes serving strong coffee, and the sound of waves never far away. Driving north, the island changed its mood. The air cooled, the green deepened, and the roads narrowed as they twisted through laurel forests and villages that felt almost untouched by time.

Every day behind the wheel felt like crossing into a new country, but nothing compared to the day we drove up to Teide.

The road climbed steadily, the sea dropping away behind us until it felt like another world entirely. Pine forests gave way to open, alien terrain—dark lava fields, rust-colored rock, and vast empty spaces that looked more like the surface of Mars than an island in the Atlantic. Teide rose ahead of us, massive and silent, its peak often hidden by thin, fast-moving clouds.

Stepping out of the car at Teide National Park, the air was cooler and thinner, carrying a quiet that felt almost sacred. The scale of the place was overwhelming. Volcanic cones dotted the landscape, frozen mid-eruption for thousands of years, while the ground underfoot told the story of fire, pressure, and time. We took our time—walking, stopping, staring—feeling both very small and incredibly lucky.

Riding the cable car higher brought a view that made the rest of the trip fall away. The island stretched in every direction, the ocean a distant blue ring, and the clouds drifting below us like a second sea. It was the kind of moment that settles into memory immediately, the clear highlight of the journey.

As we drove back down the mountain later that afternoon, the light softened and the shadows grew longer across the lava fields. It felt like we were leaving a different planet and returning to Earth—sun, sea, and civilization waiting below.

​Touring Tenerife by car let us see its many personalities, but Teide was its heart: ancient, powerful, and unforgettable. Long after the tan faded and the suitcase was unpacked, it was that day on the volcano that stayed with us most—a reminder that some places don’t just get visited, they leave a mark.

A great little side trip for anyone visiting Tuscany or northern Lazio is the Tarot Garden in Capalbio, Italy. It was built by a student of Antonio Gaudi'. Niki de Saint Phalle began work on the garden in 1980 and it was officially opened in 1998.

​The sculptures represent the figures of the tarot card deck and are done in very colorful tile. It's a great experience just walking amongst these giant pieces of art, admiring the skill and patience it must have taken to bring it all to life. If you'd like to find out more about the garden, go to Il Giardino Dei Tarocchi website.

Thanks to my cousin Claudio for clueing me in to this fantastic garden.

For all you fellow F1 racing fans out there, FMCG International has developed a full replica F1 racing sim that you can actually climb into. Now, before you get too excited, I have to mention the price tag…$140,000. Yes, that’s 140 large to get this kind of experience in your gaming room.

It’s one expensive toy but, man...doesn't it look like a lot of fun?

Iceland was a great adventure. Waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes make for amazing scenery and awesome hikes. The landscape goes from volcanic bareness to lush green hills and most everything in between.

​It’s also a photographer’s paradise and I hope to go back soon.

The Ferrari 330 P4 is one of the most beautiful and important race cars ever built. Created for the 1967 World Sportscar Championship, it was Ferrari’s answer to Ford’s GT40 dominance — and it delivered both speed and style in unforgettable fashion.

​Powered by a 4.0-liter V12 derived from Ferrari’s Formula One program, the P4 combined high-revving performance with breathtaking design. Its flowing curves weren’t just aerodynamic; they were sculpted with an artist’s eye, making the car as stunning at rest as it was at full speed.

The P4’s defining moment came at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona, where Ferrari famously finished 1-2-3, creating one of the most iconic images in motorsport history. Though regulations later limited its racing life, the legend was already secured.

Only a handful of P4s were ever built, and today they’re among the most valuable and admired cars on earth. More than a race car, the Ferrari 330 P4 remains a symbol of an era when engineering, beauty, and passion came together perfectly.

I visited Bologna, Italy recently and one of the highlights of my trip was visiting Borgo Panigale and touring the legendary Ducati factory and museum. The experience was nothing short of incredible. The tour itself was exceptionally well done, packed with fascinating insights into Ducati’s history, engineering philosophy, and racing heritage.

One of the most memorable moments was seeing motorcycles in their final stages of assembly, just before they head out into the world. Even more thrilling was getting a glimpse inside the Ducati Corse area, where the MotoGP machines are developed — a rare behind-the-scenes look at where racing magic truly happens.

​For any Ducati fan, this tour is an absolute must. It offers a deeper appreciation of the craftsmanship, passion, and innovation that define the brand. In fact, as much as I admire Ferrari, I have to say the Ducati factory tour surpassed it. For true Ducatisti, it doesn’t get much better than this.

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