Recently, I shared a link to our Vespisti Isarwinkel site in a community and invited people to have a browse. We’ve put a lot of time into the site: stories from the region, destinations, food and drink, historical background and of course our passion for Vespa.
The initial reactions were sobering. People were concerned that already overcrowded places might become even more popular through posts and supposed insider tips. There were worries about environmental impact, about noise, and arguments that the area should really be explored on foot, by bike or by public transport.
These are thoughts that deserve to be taken seriously. Not every quiet spot needs to become the next social media sensation. There are sensitive places that should be protected. And of course it’s legitimate to view motorised leisure trips critically. In our posts, we’ll continue to make sure we don’t artificially hype quiet corners or give the impression that you need to tick off as many places as possible as quickly as possible.
But as the discussion went on, it became clear: it wasn’t just about Vespas. At some point, the question arose whether “Vespa-Zuagroaste” of all people were trying to explain the world to others.
And that’s exactly where it’s worth pausing for a moment.
“Zugroast” – or “Zuagroast” – is what people are called in Bavarian who weren’t born here but came to the region later. The word can be affectionate and playful. But it can also draw a line: the locals here, the others there.
We don’t want to explain the world to anyone. We simply talk about what moves us: our love of Vespa, encounters, landscapes, small stories and life in the Isarwinkel. We don’t claim to have invented the region, and we don’t want to tell anyone how to live here.
But those who live here, take an interest in the people and history of the region, show consideration and get involved, are also allowed to belong. Home isn’t solely a question of where you were born. Home grows over time – through respect, being a good neighbour, commitment and genuine interest in the place where you live.
Of course, people can have different opinions about Vespas. Some ride bikes, others hike, ride motorcycles, classic cars, campervans or e-bikes. We ride Vespa. That’s our hobby, and that’s why it’s part of our site.
But for us, the Vespa isn’t just a leisure vehicle. It’s also a sensible alternative or complement to the car – especially for shorter journeys and trips on your own. Our GTS has modern engine and exhaust technology, is quiet and fuel-efficient. That certainly doesn’t replace every journey on foot, by bike or by public transport. But in many everyday situations, it can be a practical and comparatively resource-friendly way to get around.
Fortunately, there were also other, friendlier voices. One message particularly pleased us: “Really great, the homepage! The design, the colours – so lovely. And I’ll happily take up the suggestions.” Perhaps it also came from a Zugroaste, perhaps not. What matters is something else: it shows that you achieve far more with openness and appreciation than with exclusion.
We don’t want to be loud or preachy, just to move through the world with an open mind.
Perhaps that’s the simplest attitude in the end: you don’t have to like our way of spending our leisure time. You don’t have to read our posts either. But different interests and different paths in life should have room to coexist in a community.
Being a Zugroast doesn’t mean remaining forever foreign. You can arrive, fit in and be dahoam – without taking anything away from anyone.