Ducati Monster Forum

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/ducati-factory-closes-earthquake-hits-bologna (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/ducati-factory-closes-earthquake-hits-bologna)

After the second quake, a 5.8 the other day, Ducati has shut down the factory to ensure everything's ok.

If you hadn't caught it, there's been a 6.0 and 5.8 very close to Bologna in the last 10 days. Lots of building damage including collapses of buildings dating back to the 1500s

most of Bologna is ancient buildings, I wonder if the Two Towers are ok...  :-\

Hopefully, nobody from here wanted to visit the factory and museum this week!

Apparently less intense than the last quake but more deaths and damage. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05/29/58-magnitude-earthquake-hits-northern-italy/?test=latestnews (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05/29/58-magnitude-earthquake-hits-northern-italy/?test=latestnews)

Yep, many buildings in the Italian historical centers are many hundreds of year old. Does not take a big one to cause damages.
Not only Ducati closed for precaution, but also Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini.
Thing is, a great part of the 20+ death that the two quakes caused, were workers within factories.
Some very old buildings (which does not apply to the brands mentioned above), but some (one at least, Ceramiche Sant'Agostino) were pretty new, and authorities are having a chat with the builders at this time.

Actually,

          Betty and Jukie (OzMo's) have just landed there.

              Hope they are Ok





                                       Mmick

Hopefully, they can still make it. I remember when I lived in Flagstaff and people wanted to see the Grand Canyon but it snowed 3' over night. Shut down all roads there for 3 days. Ruined a lot of vacations for those people coming Japan, Germany, etc.

Well we didn't get a response to our online registration so I don't know if we were going anyway. We will be in the area next week so we'll see how we go ... have a hospital to re-visit.

Threadjack;

What do you mean you have a hospital to revisit.

      You've just landed there, what have you done to yourselves?

End Threadjack.





                               Mmick

re-visit.

happy memories from a previous trip, no?  ;)

Yeah.

Say a few thank yous if we can. Hopefully the good folks at the hospital have not had much to deal with in the last couple of weeks.

Alright you lot, I can confirm that the factory is open but the museum and factory tours are still closed/suspended until further notice. The 'factory outlet' across the road is still open and catering for US/Aussie sizing but they no longer offer duty free.

On a side note ... we called into the hospital, caught up with a couple of the nurses and Jukie's doctor. He is now the head of the trauma department and still a top bloke. He (we/they) got into trouble for being too noisy. The Boss was surprised they remembered her (it has been three years) ... but those that know Jukie know she is not that forgettable.

they can't anymore.  just keep your receipts and you turn them in at Fiumcino.  you give the customs folks your credit card # and the VAT refund posts directly to your card about 3-4 months later.

The towers are still OK but I was unable to climb up. My extremely dodgy interpretation of the handwritten note on the door was that it was being renovated. Don't know how long it has been this way but the scaffolding looks to have been up for awhile.

It may not be due to the quakes but may be an added precaution. I suspect this is also the case with the factory as some parts of it are quite old and from what I understand it is these type of buildings that have claimed the casualties in the quakes.

Ooh thanks. I don't even know what the VAT is worth we might have to look into it.

19%.  Go to the Prada outlet store and buy everything.  The Euro is weak now too ($1.26 to €1), and you get that 19% back. 

Euro was $1.46 to $1 just a few weeks ago (that was the rate when I did my Ignitech group buy)

I don't think it has moved that much against the Aussie $ ... and what the hell is a Prada - I'm pretty sure I don't need one of them (and neither does the wifey).

NB

http://www.ducati.com/news/letter_from_gabriele_del_torchio__ceo/2012/06/12/2522/index.do (http://www.ducati.com/news/letter_from_gabriele_del_torchio__ceo/2012/06/12/2522/index.do)