I was aware that there was going to be a national train strike on Monday, but I was not aware that the strike would also include all local buses until I saw this sciopero sign on Sunday in (while in Modena) at a bus stop attached attached to one of the poles where the bus schedule was listed. It was a strike notice.
That meant that I had to re-think my plan for Monday (in Bologna). My original plan was to walk up to San Luca. After finding out that the buses would also not be running, I thought about changing my plan for the day. It looked like it would be much too far to walk by foot.
The person at the front desk at my hotel told me that it was only an extra ten minute walk to the beginning of the 666 arches which lead up to San Luca. This is where the “do not try this at home” warning comes in, especially if you have been walking and walking and walking for the past two weeks. It was definitely NOT a ten minute walk.
BUT, as luck would have it, because I took that walk, I saw my first little Italian Elektrocar.
Not far from my hotel, as I started my walk to San Luca, I saw a tiny yellow car parked on the side of this little road next to the ring road. At first, I thought it was a Smart Car (my favorite car). As I walked over to the car to take a photo, I realized it was even smaller than a Smart Car. It turned out to be a very cool yellow electric car.
Just as I was about to take a photo of the car, the woman, who I assume was the owner of the car, showed up. I asked her if I could take a photo. She seemed pleased that I was interested in her car. After I took a photo, she opened up the tiny latch, which I swear was made out of plastic, to show me the plug. I put an arrow where the latch is located because it is hard to see the latch in this photo. The tipped arrow is where the hinge is. The latch opens from the windshield side outward and obviously bends at the hinge.
As she opened the latch, I wondered if the entire body of the car was also made out of plastic. That is one mystery that I have yet to solve because I was not brave enough to ask her this question. As she pulled out the plug, she explained how she charges her car. I wanted to take a photo of the plug, but again was not brave enough. I didn’t want her to think I was a crazy American obsessed with her car.
shave ice & gelato 
That is one cute little car! I’d love to move around in one of these while doing my close-to-home errands. The website on your link has the specs of the car and it says that the body (scocca) of the car is made of an aluminum alloy ( lega di alluminio ). I have no idea what that means other than it makes the car very light.
Did you walk all the way to sanctuary? The walk must have been exhausting but you must have been rewarded with some splendid views.
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Girasoli, I love that little car — but I think I’d be too tall for it; I can barely cram myself into a smart car. Yet I’d love to have one…..
I do have one question: at this point, have you moved from Modena to Bologna? The link from the lovely photo of San Luca suggests this is in Bologna and the 666 arches rings a bell (since I had been planning to go to Bologna and still intend to do so.)
And if this is in Bologna, how was the hotel? And the city in general?
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Cool car! And I love your “do not try this at home” warning. I know how much pounding my feet take in Italy!
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María, I was hoping someone could figure out the body material from the specs. My car vocabulary is lacking! Yes I did walk all the way. It took It took me 45 minutes to reach the start of the 666 porticoes and then 40 more minutes to reach the top. Of course I stopped often to take photos along the way. And then I had to walk all the way back! It was definitely worth it though and I would do it again in a minute. I think if I knew in advance the time it would take, I would have been better prepared.
Sandra, yeah, I don’t think I would be that comfortable inside it either. It is cute though! Sorry, didn’t mean to confuse you – yes, the car and San Luca are in Bologna. I still have more photos of Modena, but didn’t want to start boring everyone with more of the same. I will post more on Bologna this week. I loved Bologna after the initial shock of the “big city” after coming from tiny Acqui Terme. Of course after my daytrip to Florence, Bologna did not seem so big anymore. I wrote more on this in my Bologna posts back in July. I loved the hotel.
Annie, I know just what you mean. Even though I love to walk, my feet get tired after walking so much every day. But it is all worth it in the end!
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Hi Girasoli, that’s a really small car. Not much bigger than the small motorcycle in the back ground. I just saw my first SMART car here on the freeways of LA the other day and was just blown away. Next to the big SUV’s that LA folks love to drive it looks so tiny. I wonder what kind of mileage it gets on one charge? I bet it’s a lot.
Cool post!
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I am not sure on the mileage Kathy. Good question. I am not sure I would want to be in one though on the roads in Italy. Not sure if Smart Cars are that safe on the highways in Calif. either with all those big trucks. I do love them though…
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