INTRODUCING: MICHAEL TAYLOR

It’s my great pleasure to welcome my good friend Michael Taylor to DRIVING & LIFE. We have been friends for more than 30 years, but just as I was retiring from corporate life in the USA back to Queensland’s Gold Coast, Michael was preparing to leave Australia, and follow a dream. G’day Michael:

 

“I’ve been in Italy going on 14 years now, since January 2006. I landed in Modena, in the heart of supercar valley, with Maserati, Pagani, Ferrari and Lamborghini all within 30km.

 

"But I moved from there to Cernobbio, on Lake Como, about 200 metres from the Villa d’Este hotel, which is a fairly upmarket address. According to the stats there are 7000 official residents, but realistically closer to 3000, because people from Milan and southern Switzerland have houses here, which they only use in summer.

Michael and Sammy; Cernobbio from Lago di Como; Downtown Cernobbio; Villa d'Este; Cernobbio aerial

"We’re just one ferry stop from Como city, and Milan is 40 minutes away. Switzerland is over the hill. We hiked into it accidentally once.

The Taylor tribe - summer and winter on Lago di Como

"I was bored at home in Australia. It is a wonderful country but professionally limiting. If I was going to play the game, I figured, I might as well play in the main game, so that’s what I did.

"Italy was an easy choice because Germany was already covered by a couple of people writing in English; England was strewn with Aussie scribblers; and nobody cares about French cars. That left Italy."

The Michael Taylor I know is best described in Australian terms, as a 'larrakin', and now he lives life with love; for his three princesses, Cernobbio, Italy, and fast cars.

"Perfetto"

Welcome Michael.

JOHN CRAWFORD