Modena: Among Fast Cars and Vineyards

January 2026

After the failed Madrid experience of last week, I set off for my work trip to Modena with expectations kept deliberately low. There is a certain self-protection in assuming a journey will be unremarkable — early alarms, conference rooms, hotel corridors, and the familiar rhythm of work travel in winter. Sometimes, though, those low expectations leave just enough space for a place to slip in quietly and surprise you.

Monday began with an early start. A 9am flight sounds reasonable on paper, but when you add two hours for check-in and an hour’s drive to the airport, it quickly becomes less so. My first view of Italy came from the air, flying over the Alps. I took the obligatory plane-window photograph, trying to capture the moment.

On arrival, I was whisked straight to the hotel and pleasantly surprised to find that not only did my room have a window that actually looked outside, but it offered a gentle easterly view across farmland and vineyards. A small thing, perhaps, but one that immediately lifted the mood.

Monday evening was spent on a team treasure hunt through the streets of Modena, which gave us plenty of time to photograph the city’s beautiful details before rounding off the night with pasta and local wine.

The restaurant window proudly displayed some of the real treasures on the menu, though with over fifty guests dining on the company, these were strictly off limits.

The local wine was Lambrusco. I still carry memories of the Lambrusco of the 1980s, but this was something else entirely — soft, fruity, and lightly sparkling. I made sure my glass was topped up more than once.

Tuesday began with an early run before the day’s training. The air was sharply cold, but a joyous sunrise made it feel like a reward rather than a challenge. Wednesday’s run was less forgiving: the day was still icy, and a light rain needled me the whole way round.

It was another day of training and presentations. I find it hard to sit still, so I found myself doodling, which extended into some serious pencil drawing…

After a long and busy day, we were treated to something special — a private evening at the Ferrari Museum. Following a guided tour of some truly beautiful cars, we were let loose on the simulators and challenged to a pit-stop tyre change. I think it’s safe to say the Ferrari team’s jobs are not under threat from us.

Dinner and the awards evening were held surrounded by replica F1 cars and trophies, which made a wonderful backdrop for our own celebrations.

Thursday brought the journey home, but with a late afternoon flight, I managed to steal a couple of quiet hours birding around the vineyards. Hooded crows, goldcrests, and reed buntings kept me company as I wandered.

Nothing particularly rare or exciting — just a gentle, joyful end to the week. It was a timely reminder that not all work travel is disappointing after all.

And yet, as much as Modena surprised me, the real joy came with the homecoming. The enthusiastic welcome from Pepper at the door, the familiar comfort of a roaring fire, boots kicked off, coat discarded, and the simple pleasure of being back where everything feels settled and known. Travel may broaden the mind, but there is something deeply grounding about returning home — to warmth, to routine, and to the quiet happiness of exactly where you belong.