Features / ‘It’s not about the car’ – says Ferrari driver exploring the isles
EXPLORING the world from the comfort of a Ferrari 458 Spider may not be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about travelling but Israeli software developer Shahaf Galil insists it’s not about the car but about being free and feeling inspired by people and nature.
Galil, who is based in New York, disembarked from the NorthLink ferry on Friday morning and is currently exploring Shetland as part of a tour of the British Isles and Ireland.
His black Ferrari, fitted with cameras and a drone, has raised eyebrows wherever he goes, so give him a wave when he roars past you.
He says he has always loved cars, and to him the 4.5 litre eight cylinder Spider is the most special modern Ferrari that there is. Besides, he always has longed to go out exploring.
“I have been lucky enough to have done well in New York,” he says when speaking to Shetland News, “there is a time in life when you must work, and there is time in life when you have to start living your life.
“It something anybody could do tomorrow, and it is not about the car. It’s about travelling, it’s about being able to be free, to explore and discover new things, and being inspired by people and nature.
“I find the best way to travel is to explore, find new places and people, and have unexpected experiences. The car is just the setting for this.”
After visiting Scandinavia and Iceland last year, he set off on a tour of the British Isles.
“I started jumping the Scottish islands and find Scotland to be one of the most beautiful places in the world,” he said.
“Up until this trip Norway and Iceland were my top two, and now there are top three. I am not sure which one is more beautiful, but I am sure the people here are much more friendly than anywhere in the world.
“It has been such an amazing trip.”
Galil is taking plenty of photos of his car in beautiful settings but the cameras on board his £200,000+ vehicle also allow him to capture nature.
“Many times, I pass through places where you can see wild animals. They come and go in a second, and it is nice to be able to capture that.”
So, why is the car black and not red as Ferraris should be? “Red is not good for you, especially if you go on country roads where you have bulls; black is more practical,” he smiles.
Shahaf Galil’s journey can be followed on Facebook and Instagram.
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