Italia...probably the country I am most familiar with - it's culture, history, calcio and cuisine. I can see myself getting fat in Italy! Sampdoria (of Genoa) was the first football team I ever supported - Gianluca Pagliuca then Walter Zenga were goalkeeping heroes of mine...even their names are magnificent.Â
I've been fortunate to have a couple of fidanzatas grace my life...visiting their home towns and soaking up a lifestyle that anyone would trade in their own to enjoy - beaches, pizzas, vistas and a near unparalleled sense of civilisation.
ITALY ROUTE (miles):
Base Campe Europe to Marseille = 290
... to Monaco (via Cannes) = 150
... Genoa = 120 ... Florence = 150
... Rome (via Siena) = 200
... to Pompeii (via Napoli) = 16
... to Cosenza = 180
... to Villa San Giovanni = 110 (...boat to Sicily...)
... San Giovanni to Crotone (via Siderno) = 170
... to Bari (via Policoro) = 190
... to Pescara = 195
... to San Marino = 170
... to Venice (via Cesena & Argenta) = 170
... to Bologna (via Chioggia) = 125
... to Turin (via Piacenza) = 205
... to Grenoble = 150
... to Clermont-Ferrand = 170
... to Cahors = 170
... to Base Camp Europe = 145
TOTAL = 3220miles
The keen eyed amongst you might notice that the boat to Sicily is not elaborated on. The reason is simple - ain't no way I am taking TatsuZZR on to the roads of Sicily. I once witnessed, on a drive from Catania to Agrigento, a car overtaking a car that was already overtaking a car on a single carriageway way, going up hill and approaching a blind bend. Pure lunacy! I think I shall allow locals to chauffeur me around.