February 2022 – We received a message last August: “My name is Jozef Kandrac and on IG and Facebook since the summer of this year I perform under the nickname ‘signor vespa’. In July and August of this year, I decided on a challenging trip on a small Vespa Primavera 125: to pass around the Alps to St. Tropez from Slovakia. To ride more of 4,500 km in 15 days, classically as in the old days, outside the highways... Please if you are interested in my story and my photos please contact me via email, IG, FB. I decided to build my profiles from begin, honestly with the hearts of true Vespa fans and travel.”
OK J.K. - signor Vespa, we replied straight away that we liked the idea of his “slow” journey astride a modern Vespa, on secondary roads, travelling over alternative routes to discover places, landscapes, and people. And we asked him for some more information in order to dedicate an article to him. For example, the road map of the trip, how his passion began for Vespa, a symbol of freedom for over 75 years... But we received no news from J.K. until Sunday, 13 February 2020 when Jozef (finding the contacts of our editorial staff) sent us another email.
And here is his tale, along with his beautiful photos, taken from his social media profiles:
www.instagram.com/signor_vespa
www.facebook.com/signorVESPA
www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2805000293125239
“I only bought my Vespa in 2020, but until then I was just a platonic lover because I only owned other big bikes. I was fascinated by Italian design as a child and after a short stay in Italy that day came... And during the last year I travelled over 11,000 kilometres by Vespa Primavera 125 and decided to pass on my experiences and adventures with Vespa to fans and to inspire them. And this was start of the ‘signor vespa’ profile.
Besides the "great friend" for riding in the streets (J.K. refers to another vehicle of his, editor’s note), I also fell in love with driving in the country ... because the right soul of the traveller does not need speed. The pleasure of driving through the lands gives that feeling of freedom. Vespa is not an ordinary scooter; Vespa is a lifestyle that I like... The biggest trip of my life (until this time) that I had in mind for a year, I did with Vespa: journey from homeland Slovakia - Košice to St. Tropez across the Alps. It was 15 days and exactly 4,673 km unique, full of emotions and discoveries.
My plan of the trip and the main points were: Kosice, Bratislava, Hallstatt, Berchtesgaden, Grosglockner, Timmelsjorch, Stelvio Pass, Landwasser viaduct, Furka Pass, Zermatt, Chamonix, St. Tropez, Monaco, Genoa, Verona, Monte Grappa, Lake Bled, and back to home. In total 8 countries: Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Monaco, Slovenia, Hungary.
An incredible 15 days of countries exploring and great people in Europe who cheered and encouraged me. If I can mention at least one of these moments, it was when some boys in Genoa nodded to me from their car and encouraged me. Thank you.
Of course, I am planning another trip for the year 2022, I would like to get to know the whole of Italy during a round trip to Sicily and, of course, to visit the birthplace of the legend Vespa (in Pontedera, Tuscany, editor’s note.) or taste Gibraltar and North Africa (Morocco).”
Good Luck, J.K.-signor vespa, in all your upcoming journeys with someone who is no longer a “platonic lover”, but who has become a great life and adventure companion.
The photo below is regarding the Slovak Vespa meeting, in Banská Bystrica region (Slovakia).
Vespa Klub Slovakia: www.facebook.com/groups/vespaklubsk
