The lounge of the Mandarin Oriental in Munich looks out on the Neuturmstarsse in central Munich. The hushed soundtrack of the lounge usually comprises of the rustle of business suits, muted conversations and soft effervescent sighs as Perrier bottles are opened. Suddenly there was an aural explosion, a raucous roar of a thoroughbred V8 that made everyone in the lounge and on the street jerk their heads towards the source – a screaming red Ferrari California.
My car had arrived – I had just received manna from motoring heaven.
My three day round trip from Munich to the Bavarian and Austrian Alps was a driving holiday in every sense of the phrase. The car wasn’t just a means of getting to places it was the star of the trip. Along with the car came a SAT NAV system that had the itinerary for days 1, 2 and 3 loaded into it. The roads within the itineraries had been carefully researched and reconnoitred by the rental company. This wasn’t a sightseeing drive, this was an adrenaline rush fed by the throaty soundtrack of the car and the thrill a Ferrari affords at the wheel.
Of course the places I drove through were stunningly scenic – through little Alpine villages, over scenic mountain passes and along aesthetically perfect Austrian lakes.
Our trip started off with 61.8 kilometre blast down German Autobahn No. A95 and in those 20 minutes the car showed me its brawn. The image of the speedometer needle sitting at 250kph is seared in my mind.
The most evocative symbol of 19th century Bavaria is Neuschwanstein Castle, towering over the village of Hohenschwangau. As we approached it, the weather was a mess of rain and heavy cloud, but, this only added to the castle’s charm. Rising like stronghold found in stories that begin with ‘A long time ago in a land far away....’ Neuschwanstein’s tapering steeples have inspired the castle in Walt Disney Pictures’ logo. King Ludwig II of Bavaria commissioned it as a personal refuge and also as homage to Richard Wagner, the German composer who wrote very tempestuous music. Looking up at it towering above the village, I almost expected Wagner’s mythical Valkyries to come riding off the ramparts.
Fussen , 4km from Neuschwanstein and the castle itself are highlights of the German Romantic Road, and our route towards Austria crossed both these places. We roared across the Austro-German border a few kilometres after Fussen and were now driving in the Tirol region of the Austrian Alps. You could call that evening an uneventful transport section thanks to the rain. Top down and an easy foot over the throttle over wet roads made the Ferrari grumpy like an energetic stallion on a tight leash. But the day ended on a very high note because the Interalpen Hotel Tyrol in Telfs – the included accommodation of my driving package was simply over-the-top luxury. Superb views, gourmet cuisine, an award winning spa and incredibly large rooms made this the perfect stop to recharge for the next day.
The next morning the sun was shining and I was beaming. That day I realized the true worth of having roads sourced out for the drive. The rental agency had chalked out a circuit where we’d have maximum fun with the Ferrari. From Telfs to Innsbruck we drove through typical Austrian villages like Vols, Gotzens, Mutters and Tulfes.
The car always turned heads. I remember some little school boys yelling out “Holà Alonso”. Since these roads were so painstakingly researched and sourced out, most of them had minimal traffic and there I could give the Ferrari a loose reign. I can’t even begin to describe what a sensation it was to drive those roads in a car that lusts for curves. Top down, the landscape rushed by as if I was in a video game. Corners aplenty – Hairpins, ‘S’ bends, chicanes – they were all there to indulge in. A 20km route called the Zillertaler Höhenstraße in the Schwaz region of Tirol was the highlight of the day’s drive as it was stunningly scenic and mouth-wateringly twisty.
The posh Austrian town of Kitzbuhel was the second night halt. Often likened to Aspen, Colorado, this is where the swish set comes to ski in winter and be seen in summer – the boutiques and restaurants in the cobble-stoned town centre speak of this.
The third days drive was more lakes than mountains, and the roads were flat with lazy curves. We drove past Achensee, Sylvensteinsee and Walchensee,
all tranquil lakes - the last two in the Lenggries municipality of Bavaria. This also was the last Bavarian town we drove through before hitting the Autobahn.
My trip ended the way it started with the speedo needle stuck at 250kph, but today it was a sunny day, the top was down and my ears were filled with the unbridled growl of the Ferrari’s V8. And, it plays in my head still!
Your Ferrari holiday planned
Elite Rent-A-Car (head office Geneva) specializes in renting out exceptional cars and customized driving itineraries. You have a choice of Ferraris, Mercedes-Benz, Porches, Maseratis and other fancy cars. You can either opt for a solo trip where they give you a route loaded on the navigation system or if there’s a group of people then a guided self-drive trip. They have breathtaking itineraries throughout Europe and can tweak a particular one to suit your taste. Plus they have a 24X7 helpline for anything at all.
The accommodations arranged are very luxurious and have stunning settings. If you’re on a guided trip luggage is transported for you. On a solo trip Elite will store extra luggage for you. (This three day trip in the California costs about INR 300,000 but it depends on the itinerary and the car.)
For more information go to www.eliterent.com or email them on elitereservation@eliterent.com.
In India their representatives are Travel And Beyond – Contact Gulu Jagtiani on Ph: 022 22152215
