Apple in Mainland Europe for IMM 2003 05 Jun 03 to 14 Jun 03 (the HOT one!)

DK, Mr DK and Apple went on a hot MINI adventure in Mainland Europe, primarily to attend International MINI Meet (IMM) 2003, but also to visit friends in Switzerland and Belgium.

First stop -- the outskirts of Basel in Northern Switzerland to meet with the other MINI2ers attending the MINI2 meet. Click here to see the full details on MINI2. Thanks to quicksilver of MINI2, who was an excellent leader of the convoy from Basel to Italy, where IMM 2003 was being staged. snoopy/oriano of MINI2 kindly found a lovely hotel near the Pomposa circuit for those of us who could not face camping.

Due to the heat, DK did not stay at IMM for very long, and left shortly after collecting her IMM 2003 attendance pack. DK and Mr DK then spent most of their time trying to stay cool by alternating between their air-conditioned hotel room and Apple, only venturing out in the evenings for food and ice cream. Italy is 'ice cream heaven' for DK, who ate her way through a number of gelaterias' offerings. However, despite sampling so many flavours, she merely confirmed hazelnut to be her favourite!

After IMM 2003, DK took Mr DK and Apple to visit friends in near Zuerich, Switzerland. Whilst there, they tried to escape the heat by driving to the mountains. DK had a wonderful time driving Apple up and down the mountains, negotiating her way around the numerous hair-pin bends. There were some hairy moments, like the one when DK parked Apple a bit too close to the edge, on a slope, and had to hill-start her with nothing behind except thin air! Mr DK did not like that at all!

The journey from Switzerland to Ath, in Belgium, took longer than expected: DK got lost despite the help of her iPaq/GPS, which could not have foreseen the roadwork and new road layouts in Mulhouse, France!

Still, equipped with a thermostatic cool box, they managed to bring back a full load of food shopping back from Boulogne, including some lovely sausages and stinky cheeses. 

Apple survived being driven in Italy without any incidents, and brought DK and Mr DK home safely with lovely memories of their trip. Here are a few pictures from Apple's adventure.

A MINI is not just a car - it is a way of life!