“I hired a driver to take me to Positano. He was a registered driver in good standing. His card reads: ‘Signor Bassani Bassano, Experienced Guide – all Italy – and Throt Europe.’ It was the ‘Throt Europe’ that won me.”

 “Well, we had accomplished one thing. We had imported a little piece of Italian traffic right into our own front seat. Signor Bassano was a remarkable man. He was capable of driving at a hundred kilometers an hour, blowing the horn, screeching the brakes, driving mules up trees, and at the same time turning around in the seat and using both hands to gesture, describing in loud tones the beauties and antiquities of Italy and Throt Europe. It was amazing. It damn near killed us. And in spite of that he never hit anybody or anything. The only casualties were our quivering, bleeding nerves. I want to recommend Signor Bassano to travelers. You may not hear much of what he tells you but you will not be bored.”

–      – John Steinbeck,
     Positano, (1953)