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I'm sure I'm not alone when suggesting that Italy may be one of the best places to travel. It's incredibly convenient to get around, the language is beautiful, the landscape spectacular, the lifestyle luxurious, the cities diverse, and the food, cappuccinos and gelato all arguably unbeatable. And let us not forget about the wine... the WINE! I fear I would become an alcoholic if I lived in Italy or France, and am quite certain I consumed, at bare minimum, a bottle and a half of red wine a day; but how could one not when the house red - unlabelled, uncorked and undeniably delicious - costs 8 Euros a bottle in the restaurant.
The trip to Italy was, for all intensive purposes (or intents and purposes if you're a lit snob), a boys trip to catch a Formula 1 race in Monza and a Moto GP race in San Marino. But it was also my first trip back to England and Italy since living there so many years ago - and an opportunity to get in touch with some old memories. It is always amazing how distant, locked away memories can come back with such crispness and clarity - still being able to navigate my way around the small Italian town of Udine in particular.

MILAN AND MONZA F1

Milan was okay - bar the lack of street signs and one-way roads. It's clearly a city of industry, not culture; it is in fact the largest non-capital city in the European Union in regards of GDP - and understandably considered among many to be the fashion capital of the world. What was most interesting to me was the intermingling of old world buildings and modern architecture. Of course, I made the obligatory tourist visit to the Duomo - the world's 5th largest Cathedral, and if one ever ventures to Milan, I highly recommend dinner at Deus Ex Machinas' Cafe.

After a tram, train, bus ride and a thirty minute walk, we found ourselves at the Autodromo di Monza - a historic track that has been around since 1922. This F1 experience was special - it won't happen again. I was fortunate to watch the race from the pits, eat lunch and drink beers with the owners (Vijay Mallya in the flesh) and drivers, and celebrate with the winning pit crew and family in the pit lane, mere inches from the champagne shower.

UDINE

Udine holds a special place in my heart - the epitome of a small Italian town devoid of tourists - a place I visited often at a young age due to the old man's work. At the center of town stands a dominant castle hill, offering panoramic city views. From here the town sprawls out amongst a maze of cobblestone lanes filled at midday with bicyclists and pedestrians, the odd commuter van making deliveries. Just as I remembered it, a quaint square sits just south of the castle, housing town hall, cafes and a weekly market. We only spent one night here, where we tucked into a dark alley and found a bustling restaurant filled with locals; enjoying a couple bottles of the house Cabernet Franc and my first ever digestivo, a post-dinner drink mixed of herbs, flowers, spices and alcohol to help you digest your meal.

VENICE

Venice is sinking, so if you want to experience some serious history, get there quick. During our visit, water crept into the hotel lobby and up to our feet while we ate lunch in one of the many Piazza's - and we didn't even see it at its worst: just as we were leaving they were bringing in and installing the maze of boardwalks that perch some six inches above the cobblestone to get tourists around during the high season.

It's a bit of a tourist trap here, but once you accept it for what it is, there are some beautiful sights to be seen. The history is immense too, and while I had a fairly knowledgebale tour guide in my travelling parnter, this is one city where I wish I had a pocket book to get me around and explain all the stories. Fun fact - quarantine comes from the Venetian dialect meaning fourty days (quaranta giorni), and originated when the Venetians left any visiting ship out to sea for forty days to ensure no disease or plague was brought to the islands. It was easy to get lost in the many narrow passages and lanes, especially once you began to get away from all the well marked streets close to the tourist sights - and this is where I thrive. We experienced a high speed boat chase on the North side of the main island, and I thoroughly enjoyed the three and four piece orchestras battling for diners at Piazza San Marco, shadowed by the towering basilica and Campanille.

RIMINI AND SAN MARINO

On the East coast located on the Adriatic Sea is the famous seaside resort of Rimini. It was low season while we were here, so fortunately it was possible to find a piece of sand on the beach and the vendors were at a minimum. It's easy to see how this place could get "turnt" on long weekends and during the holiday season with a promenade of hotels and beach chairs. Side note - I discovered Sangiovese here - highly recommended for your next meaty dinner.

A thirty minute drive from Rimini, visible from the beaches, lies the Republic of San Marino, the self proclaimed oldest state and third smallest country in Europe. The main part of the city is a massive fort at the top of a winding hill - driving switchback after switchback to reach the peak, I was envious of the road cyclists we passed and how they must have felt upon conquering the little country. Once at the top, there are many tourist stores and a couple of restaurants perched on the side of the cliffs - two castles on either side almost identical create for some breathtaking views and photos.