Every time I travel to Italy, I feel as though it is my first visit. Even when you think you really know the country, you can never anticipate what you will see. I can never get enough of it.
This time I traveled by car. Though it sounds exciting, I must warn you: think twice. There are narrow streets (Naples, Amalfi Coast, Florence) and terrible traffic (Florence, Rome, everywhere inside old towns). Your GPS is not completely reliable. Once I was lost in the middle of nowhere in a thunderstorm and unexpectedly discovered an amazing place called Bomarzo. Overall, though, Italian highways are in great shape and pretty empty compared with those in the US and Germany. They have excellent rest stops and dining places. Best of all, you can take in the countryside.
In spite of all the difficulties, plus the millions of tourists everywhere, I cannot deny my excitement and artistic joy from travel in this marvelous country: Italy.