A setting where the car looks even more beautiful | #alfaromeostelvio | 📷 by @mihaidascalescu | #caroftheday #instacar #carblog #alfaromeo #lameccanicadelleemozioni #summer #newcar #4x4 #suv #carlovers
We Took The New Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV To The Track
Since it bears the name of a breathtaking mountain pass, we thought the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio would feel at home on the circuit.
It’s time to lower that eyebrow and stop asking what’s an SUV doing on the track. It has no business there, but Alfa Romeo claims la meccanica delle emozioni is strong with the Stelvio. Naturally, I wanted further proof.
Moreover, a circuit’s tarmac provides an excellent environment for safely testing the car’s limits – or yours – in way more demanding a setting that a public road has to offer, where drivers have other priorities to tend to.
That being said, let’s get to it. After a few laps behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo Stelvio First Edition drawing its strength from a 2.0-liter turbo’ed petrol engine making 280 horsepower routed through an eight-speed ZF automatic and Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel drive setup, here’s what I can tell you.
1. Dynamically, this car tries hard to impress. And up to a point, it succeeds. Although it shares the same Giorgio platform with the composed Giulia, Stelvio’s extra kilos and higher ground clearance do tamper its agility. However, I dare say that Stelvio’s handling lives at least on the same street if not in the same flat with what you get from the likes of Jaguar F-Pace and BMW X3. The steering is accurate enough but less talkative on the track, but again, these driving conditions are rather opposite to what A and B roads have to offer. Extra points are awarded for the brakes, as they manage to rule Stelvio’s all 1,660 kilos with an iron fist.
2. The interior’s ergonomics fall in line with what’s expected in 2017. There’s a nice mix between “this car wants me to drive it” and “oh, but it’s also comfortable.” Every gear and knob are within reach, the seats are doing a consistent job of shielding your back from fatigue and bad posture, and overall, there’s a sense of simplicity that soothes like a breath of fresh air. Equally important, the infotainment display sits on top of the center console, where it should sit in every modern car although some carmakers keep placing it in all the wrong places.
3. Quality materials you actually want to touch. The premium flavor is there – kind of what you’d expect from the Germans – but I appreciate how Alfa Romeo didn’t go Jaguar and split the cabin into inviting materials in the upper half and scratchy plastics in the lower one like inside the F-Pace.
4. The sexiness is plentiful with the steering wheel, and the manly, oversized shift paddles only accentuate the “I want to drive this” feeling I was mentioning earlier on. Or maybe it’s me being subjective. Alright, I am subjective. 🙂
5. The gearbox-engine team works almost like the Netherlands football team in its glory days. Sure, a kickdown might cause a few jerks as the eight-speed transmission tries to get a grasp on what you’re asking. On the road, however, there’s no reason why you should plant the right foot on the throttle with such urgency because the gearbox is already obediently dealing with the engine’s grunt regardless of what gear it’s in.
6. If I were to complain, I’d do it about the graphics shown by the infotainment system. This is where at first glance, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio falls behind its competitors and while it does soak up a lot of physical buttons off the center console, the screen doesn’t deliver that visual neatness you’d expect and appreciate as you navigate your way through the menus.
We Took The New Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV To The Track was originally published on DL blog
The perfect place to hide 🙈 this lighthouse reminds me of Polly in #jennycolgan 's book Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery #seaside #lighthouse #picturesque #seashore #travel #travelphotography
As we are currently living in Southeast Europe, we have easy access to the Black Sea, where we often go for a road trip.
I know that for most people, the sea has this unique power to wipe away all bad thoughts, to recharge and to inspire. I never lived near the sea and it’s one of my dreams to be able to wake up in the morning and have a walk to the shore. Yes, even in a cloudy day, when you need a jumper or a jacket and the sea is not as blue and shiny. It feels like, in the most cheesy way possible, the sea allows me to find myself, when I breath in the salty crispy air.
When meeting with my beloved sea I usually pick up comfortable outfits, because I love to lay on rocks, on the sand, to dig for shells. I also don’t see the need to dress up as long as you don’t go for a fancy dinner or for a party on the beach.
My Zara cardigan is a trusted one – it went with me in a lot of trips and it never fails to keep me warm while also looking good, thanks to it’s two coloured knit and oversized cut.
My basic jeans and my white tee are both New Look and I have worn them millions of times. For shoes I went for these Adidas gorgeous green trainers, a new addition to my wardrobe for this summer. A bold colour, it’s true, and pretty hard to mix with other pieces, but it was love at first sight.
As accessories, I chose the Zoella grey backpack which fits a lot of stuff and it’s great for trips, and my Pandora and straw charm bracelets, which I never take off.
Comfy Outfit for a Cloudy Day at the Seaside was originally published on DL blog
We visited Cyprus for a short holiday to kick off this summer, and we drafted a small travel guide for you.
The mythology says that Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, was born in Cyprus, hence the popular name it has – Aphrodite’s Island. And we must admit that beauty is one of the keyword that best describe this destination. The mix of blue waters, impressive cliffs that build a very instagramable shore, the fine sand on the beaches, the noise of the big cities loved by British tourists and the scent of Greek ancient culture are perfectly completed by Cyprus’s location – south of Turkey, in a sunbathing-friendly climate from May to October.
Cyprus has a bit of everything, even if you are looking for a peaceful holiday with your kids or you’re a party animal.
Arriving
By plane, you can land in Cyprus on two airports: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport, both pretty up to date. The transfer from the airport to the final destination can be a little tricky, as in Cyprus you can mainly use a taxi, and the price is around 50-100 euro, according to the distance. So it can add a little extra weight on your budget.
If you rent a car, bare in mind that similar to the UK, in Cyprus you drive on the left hand side of the road. This might be a bit difficult to get used to if you are not British.
Stay
For accommodation you can either choose a hotel, or you can rent an apartment. Prices vary, of course, but in general Cyprus is accessible for a medium income. Keep in mind that, just like Greece, the accommodation is a bit overrated, so for a 3-star hotel, for example, you won’t be receiving the same comfort as in Turkey or the Emirates. Our advice is to check Trip Advisor for other travelers’ photos and opinions before booking a place.
Eat
Forget about the burgers and dive into seafood! Cyprus, as any other island, is the perfect place to taste fresh fish and seafood. However, all restaurants and taverns have updated their menus to please the western tourists, mainly British – so English breakfast and fish & chips are familiar dishes you will probably find in the menu.
If you are not into traditional Greek food or fish, there are a lot of international options: Italian restaurants, French cuisine restaurants, and even popular fast foods, such as KFC and Pizza Hut.
Oh, and don’t forget to try the Halloumi cheese!
Visit
Our best advice is rent a car, because there’s a lot to see in Cyprus. Start by exploring the beaches, to find the ones perfect for sunbathing on the fine sand and swimming in the calm sea, but also the ones where cliffs and rocks form the perfect environment for scuba diving, snorkeling and high diving.
When exploring the shore, stop for pictures and breathtaking views in places where the wind an sea have sculpted amazing caves and gulfs, such as Cavo Greco. In some of these places you will also find old traces of human presence – small white churches, still in use for weddings and services.
Limassol is a perfect destination you can try for clubbing and delicious dinners in the Harbour. It’s the second largest city in Cyprus, so get ready for noise, crowds and the usual slow traffic. But if a noisy beach is what you are looking for – loud music and chatty young people included – then Nissi Beach, in Ayia Napa is your one-stop place.
All in one, we loved Cyprus and we are eager to return. If you plan your holiday there, we would love to hear your thoughts!
DL Travel Guides: Cyprus was originally published on DL blog
We visited Cyprus for a short holiday to kick off this summer, and we drafted a small travel guide for you.
The mythology says that Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, was born in Cyprus, hence the popular name it has – Aphrodite’s Island. And we must admit that beauty is one of the keyword that best describe this destination. The mix of blue waters, impressive cliffs that build a very instagramable shore, the fine sand on the beaches, the noise of the big cities loved by British tourists and the scent of Greek ancient culture are perfectly completed by Cyprus’s location – south of Turkey, in a sunbathing-friendly climate from May to October.
Cyprus has a bit of everything, even if you are looking for a peaceful holiday with your kids or you’re a party animal.
Arriving
By plane, you can land in Cyprus on two airports: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport, both pretty up to date. The transfer from the airport to the final destination can be a little tricky, as in Cyprus you can mainly use a taxi, and the price is around 50-100 euro, according to the distance. So it can add a little extra weight on your budget.
If you rent a car, bare in mind that similar to the UK, in Cyprus you drive on the left hand side of the road. This might be a bit difficult to get used to if you are not British.
Stay
For accommodation you can either choose a hotel, or you can rent an apartment. Prices vary, of course, but in general Cyprus is accessible for a medium income. Keep in mind that, just like Greece, the accommodation is a bit overrated, so for a 3-star hotel, for example, you won’t be receiving the same comfort as in Turkey or the Emirates. Our advice is to check Trip Advisor for other travelers’ photos and opinions before booking a place.
Eat
Forget about the burgers and dive into seafood! Cyprus, as any other island, is the perfect place to taste fresh fish and seafood. However, all restaurants and taverns have updated their menus to please the western tourists, mainly British – so English breakfast and fish & chips are familiar dishes you will probably find in the menu.
If you are not into traditional Greek food or fish, there are a lot of international options: Italian restaurants, French cuisine restaurants, and even popular fast foods, such as KFC and Pizza Hut.
Oh, and don’t forget to try the Halloumi cheese!
Visit
Our best advice is rent a car, because there’s a lot to see in Cyprus. Start by exploring the beaches, to find the ones perfect for sunbathing on the fine sand and swimming in the calm sea, but also the ones where cliffs and rocks form the perfect environment for scuba diving, snorkeling and high diving.
When exploring the shore, stop for pictures and breathtaking views in places where the wind an sea have sculpted amazing caves and gulfs, such as Cavo Greco. In some of these places you will also find old traces of human presence – small white churches, still in use for weddings and services.
Limassol is a perfect destination you can try for clubbing and delicious dinners in the Harbour. It’s the second largest city in Cyprus, so get ready for noise, crowds and the usual slow traffic. But if a noisy beach is what you are looking for – loud music and chatty young people included – then Nissi Beach, in Ayia Napa is your one-stop place.
All in one, we loved Cyprus and we are eager to return. If you plan your holiday there, we would love to hear your thoughts!
DL Travel Guides: Cyprus was originally published on DL blog
A feisty Italian dropped by yesterday to say hi. And break our calves. Not necessarily in this order. #alfaromeo #giulia #alfaromeogiulia 🍀#qv #quadrifoglio 🇮🇪
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