Pizza, pasta and pinot grigio. What's not to love? Mixed with culture and the sandy waters of the Adriatic, Italy has to be one of my favourite places. The fact that I studied Italian for my Leaving Cert makes me think every time that it will all come flooding back to me. It doesn't. It's worse I'm getting but I love trying.

Using Rimini as a base, a recent trip included a mixture of relaxation, sightseeing, indulging in gorgeous food and sipping very palatable wines. As I get older I know I can't just do the sunlounger thing all the time. So Rimini was a compromise between beach holiday and day trips. The beach area comprises mostly old-style small hotels backing on to the beach. Fifteen kilometres of sand and beach bars. I always thought that was what Rimini was all about but in fact there is a beautiful old town.