Australian Grand Prix: Race Report

McLaren’s Jenson Button has won a thrilling Australian Grand Prix ahead of Sebastian Vettel and the Scuderia Ferrari has achieved its goal of finishing the first race of the season in the points, much to my great relief.

A few years ago, I would have been incredibly disappointed if Ferrari had only managed to achieve ten points at the season opening Grand Prix and would have most likely been ranting and raving about what an epic disaster it was on this very blog…my how things change. With the way that the F2012 has been performing and after yesterday’s dismal qualifying session, I am viewing Fernando Alonso’s fifth place finish today as a minor miracle.

The brilliant Spaniard, who began the race with one of his trademark position-gaining starts, managed to take his Ferrari from a lowly twelfth place on the grid and salvaged somewhat of a decent result. In fact, in his hands the Ferrari did not look bad at times, largely thanks to an inspired team decision to switch to medium tyres at the first pit stop. Alonso put in a handful of fast laps and ran as high as fourth position before tyre degradation meant that he came under pressure from the Williams of Pastor Maldonado in the later stages of the race.

In contrast to Alonso’s performance, Felipe Massa had a lacklustre race, never featuring amongst the leaders and running outside of the top ten for the majority of the day. When Bruno Senna attempted to pass his countryman on lap 48, the pair collided, ending Massa’s disastrous opening weekend.

In the aftermath of the race, the Ferrari driver blamed his woes on tyre wear, resulting from the F2012’s poor balance. After having a terrible season last year, however, Massa has used up all of his get out of jail free cards and it seems as though the writing is on the wall for him. Sauber’s Sergio Perez, who is also part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, put in a fine drive today to reach an eventual eighth place and there is no doubt in my mind that speculation will begin shortly about exactly when he will usurp Massa’s position within Ferrari.

Aside from Ferrari’s race, there were of course many other highlights from the afternoon and the following are just five of my favourite talking points from the day:

1. Kimi’s confusion. After starting his return to Formula 1 off with a disappointing eighteenth position on the grid, Kimi Raikkonen was keen to prove exactly why he is a former World Champion in the Lotus. The sometimes too relaxed Finn, who is known as the iceman, put in a solid performance to end the day in seventh position. While weaving his way through traffic, the thirty two year-old came across several blue flags which were meant to warn backmarkers to make way for the leaders. Instead of ignoring them, however, a confused Raikkonen radioed his engineer, Mark Slade frantically asking what they were there for. “Blue flags are for cars behind Kimi, they’re not for you.” Was Slade’s somewhat amused answer.

2. The safety car. Being the first race of the season, there was always bound to be at least one safety car period for the drivers to contend with. Even though the majority of the field were fairly well-behaved in the early stages of the race, the stewards were forced to call the safety car out on lap 37 when Vitaly Petrov’s Caterham ground to a stop on the start/finish straight. The timing played right into the hands of Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel as both McLarens, who were at the time running in first and second position respectively, had pitted on the previous lap. Vettel was able to use the safety car to his advantage as his rivals circulated slowly around Albert Park and emerged from the pit lane in front of Lewis Hamilton. This year the FIA have reintroduced the rule where lapped cars are allowed to unlap themselves during a safety car period. In my opinion this is a fantastic thing as it ensures a straight fight between the main contenders once the race is restarted. Critics of the rule say that it adds to the time that the safety car remains on the circuit and that overtaking backmarkers should be a part of any racing drivers skill set. What do you think about it?

3. A resurgent Williams catches an unlucky break. Poor Williams. After impressing throughout the weekend, somehow the former championship winning squad managed to leave Melbourne without a single point to their name. It looked as though Pastor Maldonado was about to finish the race in sixth position when he made a silly mistake and slammed his car quite violently into the wall. Perhaps in that moment Frank Williams lamented his decision not to keep Rubens Barrichello on for one more season. Still, Williams can gain some comfort in the knowledge that their new chassis is clearly a great deal more competitive that last year’s beast, the FW33 and surely the team’s first points of the season will come sooner rather than later.

4. Australian drivers perform on home soil. Australian natives Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo both started off their seasons with solid drives in front of their home crowd. For Webber, his fourth place finish was the highest that he has ever achieved in Australia and Ricciardo took the ninth spot to complete a dream weekend for him that saw him make the final part of qualifying for the first time in his career. No doubt there will be more to come from the young Toro Rosso driver.

5. Hamilton eats his words. Am I the only one who dislikes the way that Lewis Hamilton clearly thinks that he is a better driver than Jenson Button? Probably not. Before the season began, Hamilton was quoted as saying that he wasn’t concerned about finishing last year with fewer points than Button and implied that the result had to do with his own mistakes rather than a particularly brilliant performance from his team mate. When the Britain put his McLaren on pole position yesterday it seemed as though there may have been some truth to his words and that we were about to experience a dominant win from the former champion. Good thing that his team mate was having none of it. When Button was interviewed by Martin Brundle on the grid, he seemed calm and confident and after the lights went out in Albert Park, he carried that attitude through into the race. Button’s driving was reminiscent of the kind of form that saw him win the 2009 World Championship with Brawn GP and he proved today that his wonderful season last year was no fluke. He is certainly far too much of a gentleman to say this himself, so I will say it for him…ha ha!

Now that the inaugural weekend of the 2012 world championship is over, the teams must quickly pack everything up and make their way to Malaysia, where the Formula 1 circus will reconvene in less than one week’s time. Until then I leave you with Kimi’s conversation with Mark Slade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDfOmEIt_As

**Photographs for this blog post were generously provided by Gianluca Martini.**

Australian Grand Prix: Qualifying

Yesterday in Melbourne, the twenty four cars that normally make up the Formula 1 grid took to Albert Park to find out once and for all where they stand after a long winter of testing and development. When the lights turned green for the first part of the inaugural race’s qualifying session, teams scrambled to get their cars out on track in the glorious Australian sunshine after poor weather limited their running yesterday.

Almost immediately, Narain Karthikeyan proved to be an irritation in his troubled HRT. The Indian driver played the part of mobile chicane, blocking both world champion, Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, causing the pair to wave their fists angrily as they finally made their way past. After qualifying well outside the 107 percent rule, both HRTs were refused permission to race from the stewards and will have to hope that they can find a spot on the grid in Malaysia next weekend. Karthikeyan was, however, sceptical that the team could improve the car before then. “It’s going to be a lot hotter and we have cooling problems already, so it’s going to be hard.” He told the media after the session. “We don’t want to bullshit ourselves; it’s going to be very difficult.”

The major surprise of qualifying one was the loss of former World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, who made his return to Formula 1 in Australia. Even before the session began there were rumours circulating within the paddock that as the rain fell during Friday’s second practice session, Kimi simply declared to his team that he did not feel like going out on track. This caused several commentators to revisit the major pre-season debate of whether or not Raikkonen is motivated and ready to race. When, in the dying moments of the first session, the Finnish driver made a mistake and could do no better than eighteenth position on the grid, their scrutiny seemed to be legitimized. Afterwards Raikkonen explained that a miscommunication meant that he thought he had time for another lap and therefore slowed as the minutes counted down to zero. “We had plenty of speed and I just ran wide in turn twelve and we were supposed to have one more lap and that’s why I slowed down.” He explained. “Probably if I’d just kept going we would have been fast enough to go through. I was supposed to have one more lap and I was just speeding up through the last corner when the red lights came on…It was close but I just missed my last lap.”

Whatever the reason for Raikkonen’s poor grid position, it was made to look even worse by his teammate Romain Grosjean, who not only made it through to the final part of qualifying, but managed to put his Lotus in third position for Sunday’s race. For Grosjean, it was a dream start to his season and he must have felt a little bit vindicated after his previous spell in Formula 1 ended so badly. “Very few people still had faith in me after my first life in Formula 1, but we’ve all worked very hard to start a new adventure and I’m very happy to be able to put a great performance in right from the start of the season.” The reigning GP2 champion stated. “This third position shows one thing: you must believe in your dreams and hold on to them, whatever happens.”

Ferrari’s dreams of hoisting this year’s constructer’s championship were dealt a solid blow when the team had their worst qualifying sessions in recent memory. Felipe Massa barely managed to make it out of the first qualifying session and both of the F2012s failed to make the top ten, with Massa qualifying in a lowly sixteenth position. That isn’t to say that Fernando Alonso didn’t look capable of making it into the final shootout for pole position. The Spaniard touched the grass while heading into turn one and ended up beaching himself in the gravel, bringing out red flags in the process. After the disappointment he assured Ferrari fans worldwide that he would still be fighting for points on Sunday’s Grand Prix and assured the media that the team would give it their all to make up the deficit in the coming races. “We have to work and I’m sure we’ve worked 24 hours a day before this race, now we need to work 25 and it’s the only way to improve the car and to win races soon.” He summarised. Although, as a tifosa, it was a very bad day for me, Fernando’s lost-in-translation comment brought a smile to my face. Surely he didn’t mean to imply that winning races would be impossible for the scuderia this year and as I chuckled to myself, I relaxed and decided that Sunday could still go Ferrari’s way.

At the sharp end of the grid, McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes all looked more than capable of challenging for pole position. There were also fantastic performances from Pastor Maldonado, who drove his much improved Williams Renault to eighth position on the grid, and Daniel Ricciardo, who earnt a spot in the final qualifying session for the first time in his career, much to the delight of his home crowd.

In the end it was the McLarens who occupied the front row, with Lewis Hamilton just edging out Jenson button by 0.152 seconds. Red Bull was also caught off guard by Mercedes as Michael Schumacher grabbed an impressive fourth spot on the grid and his countryman, Nico Rosberg ended up in seventh. Sebastian Vettel blamed his sixth place on a mistake made during his final lap. “I wasn’t entirely happy with my final attempt; I did a mistake at the beginning of the lap so I should have been higher up.” He admitted before adding. “But I think McLaren was out of reach today so congratulations, they were really quick.” Vettel’s team mate Mark Webber qualified just in front of him ahead of tomorrow’s race and Nico Hulkenberg brought his Force India towards the front of the grid, when he finished the day in ninth.

With more than one driver out of place for the race, the Australian Grand Prix promises to be even more exciting than qualifying. Look out for Kimi Raikkonen to prove his worth as well as both Ferraris to try and make their way further up the field.

**Photographs for this blog post were generously provided by Gianluca Martini**

Australian Grand Prix: Friday Free Practice

Okay I’ll admit it, even though I am really excited about the start of the 2012 Formula 1 season, I feel like I have been hit by a bus, knocked over by a marching band and trampled upon by a herd of rampant elephants! Any European enthusiast who tells you that they were not suffering from severe sleep deprivation by the end of this morning’s second free practice session at Albert Park is either a liar or a chronic Red bull drinker. In Italy, free practice one began at half past two in the morning and free practice two ended at eight o’clock, creating one very intense Formula 1 all-nighter. 

Like every other fanatic in the world, I turned on my television this morning wanting some answers to all of the questions that have been floating around since the 2011 season ended all the way back in November. Which team would have the fastest car? Is Ferrari really in as much trouble as everyone is saying? How will Kimi Raikkonen perform upon his return to the sport? Which colour earrings will Lewis Hamilton be sporting? Sadly at the end of the day I have to admit that I can not even answer one of the questions, not even the one about the earrings. I was too taken aback by the presence of Lenny Kravitz and Nicole Scherzinger in the McLaren pit to pay any attention to Lewis’s ridiculous jewellery. I guess that there is no truth to all of the recent comments insisting that his days of celebrity schmoozing and personal distractions are over. All I can say is that Felipe Massa had better watch out on Sunday. He is one driver who is more than aware of the havoc that a distracted Hamilton can wreak during a Grand Prix weekend.

As for the remaining questions, the unpredictable Melbourne weather kept the mystery alive when it alternated between dumping buckets of rain onto the Australian spectators and glorious sunshine throughout the day. The result was that none of the teams were particularly keen to run their latest challengers as the rest of the weekend is expected to be dry. When the cars finally began putting in their hot laps, McLaren’s MP4-27 emerged as a strong chassis and the Mercedes looked formidable in the hands of Michael Schumacher. Both teams seemed reasonably pleased with their position and with the way that their cars were handling.

The opposite can be said of Ferrari, whose car looked ragged and unpredictable. Felipe Massa had an off-road excursion during the first of the morning’s sessions and Fernando Alonso also had a twitchy moment of his own. Still, the team can gain satisfaction from the fact that although it appeared to be a bit of a handful, the F2012 also looked fast, with Alonso ending both of the day’s sessions in an encouraging fourth position.

Of the front-runners, the team that appeared to be most caught off guard today was surprisingly Red Bull. Clocking a speed that was twelve kilometres an hour slower than both the McLaren and the Mercedes through the speed trap, Red Bull could only manage to finish the day in tenth and eleventh positions respectively. Although the team’s strength last year was not the car’s straight line speed, there were apparently a few worried faces in the Milton Keynes based squad’s garage. In the aftermath of their difficult start to the weekend, reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel stated that he was unhappy adding that Red Bull would have to go “a lot quicker tomorrow” if they hoped to compete against their rivals.

At the blunt end of the grid, HRT struggled with an ill-fitting nosecone that forced the team’s mechanics to literally file pieces of carbon fibre off of the unruly part in order to get it attached to the car. Narain Karthikeyan’s twenty-third place lap, with a time that was a staggering thirteen seconds off of Michael Schumacher’s pace, has prompted team principal Luis Perez-Sala to admit that there is a real possibility that his cars will not qualify for the season opener. “It will be difficult for us” he said “I’m not thinking now about the speed of the cars, now we are trying to fit all of things to make do as best as possible to make P3 tomorrow, doing several laps and then we will see on the qualifying. For us Melbourne is like a place where we are going to take certain information from the cars and go forwards for the next races.”

Finally, in terms of what is new in the paddock, Caterham driver Heikki Kovalainen showed off a new helmet design in Albert Park today. http://www.t3.com/news/f1-driver-heikki-kovalainen-to-race-with-angry-birds-helmet His new helmet is red in colour and pays homage to the popular computer game “Angry Birds”. As I mentioned in my previous blog post on January 26^th http://lovelifeandferrari.blogspot.com/2012/01/angry-bird.html I am quite the fan of the game and so it is only fitting that Kovalainen, who is one of my favourite drivers, now looks like a motorised version of the game’s red bird. Although the design is a result of Rovio sponsorship, I like to think that Heikki has a sense of humour it. I have always admired him for being one of the drivers on the grid who has managed to remain down to earth despite his profession and once again he has given me good reason to smile. In fact, I also found it amusing that he was practicing his golf swing today while waiting to head out on track. Heikki, you are phenomenal…don’t change a thing!

As the sun sets and I prepare myself for another sleepless night of Formula 1 action, I find myself nervous, excited and full of hope. Tomorrow we will see once and for all just who will be the team to beat and I know that I will be sitting on the edge of my seat during qualifying. Formula 1, it’s good to have you back!

**Photographs for this blog post were generously provided by Luca Martini, who is attending the Australian Grand Prix this weekend**

What a Girl Wants: Ferrari Fashions

Yesterday, as I was browsing through my inbox, I happened to come across the latest email from the Ferrari store. “The Wait is Over-F1 is Back-Order Your Ferrari Official Teamwear Today” it exclaimed and I opened it excitedly to see if there was anything new that caught my eye. Not surprisingly once I clicked on the link provided I was seriously underwhelmed by the selection on offer. While there were a lot of different options for men, the women’s section of the site was uninspiring and honestly kind of ugly. As a female Formula 1 fan, this is a problem that I experience frequently.

In the world of fashion it is usually women who seem to have a bountiful selection of clothing available for purchase and nine out of ten of my female friends have wardrobes that are fully stocked with the latest trends. In contrast, many of my male acquaintances seem to purchase clothing only when it is absolutely necessary. To them clothing is about functionality as opposed to fashion and I’m sure that many men all over the world begin their day by scooping a t-shirt up off the ground and smelling its armpits to see if it is wearable or not. I don’t want to generalise here, I know that there are also many men who are both well-dressed without going overboard and hygienic, my boyfriend included but overall I would say that most men couldn’t care less about fashion.

If fashion is usually considered to be a female passion and plenty of men go shopping only a handful of times a year then why is it so hard to find fabulous Formula 1 merchandise as a woman? Perhaps it is because Formula 1 is usually associated with male fans and the women who are pictured attending Grand Prix are often scantily-clad models who clearly have no appreciation for the sport itself. As a result of this many of the teams, Ferrari included, sell women’s clothing that is mainly tight, revealing and sometimes poorly-made. As a female Formula 1 fanatic, this is a constant source of frustration. I’ll admit, in my wardrobe there are a few skimpy Ferrari tank tops and I have even contemplated purchasing a Ferrari bikini but overall and especially when I am attending a race I want to be wearing an item of Ferrari clothing that is comfortable, functional and will not expose my assets to the thousands of male spectators around me! On the other hand I do not want to wear something that resembles a sack and makes me feel frumpy. I still want to look good at a Grand Prix but I also want to be respected as a genuine fan and not some sort of an airhead groupie.

Okay, okay perhaps I am being a little bit harsh on Ferrari merchandise, after all they do make a few items that are winners in my book. My ultimate favourite item for wearing to attend Grand Prix is Ferrari’s piquet polo shirt.* This polo shirt is a decent length, made from elasticised cotton which really breathes really well in the heat of a race weekend and buttons all the way up. The miniature Italian flag, which is embroidered on the shirt’s right sleeve, is a cute detail that I also love. My piquet polo shirt has been through the laundry countless times and still looks as good as the day that I bought it more than two years ago. I will definitely buy myself several more of them when I next encounter the model because they are seriously that good.

The other item of Ferrari merchandise that I find myself wearing again and again is a Ferrari team polo shirt that I am embarrassed to admit is from Ferrari’s children’s range of clothing! Although it was made to fit a pre-pubescent boy, I find that it actually hugs my curves reasonably well. Still, I would prefer something that is tailored to fit my body and long for the day when Ferrari decide to include team polo shirts that are designed specifically for women in their clothing range!

In my opinion the teams are missing out on a huge market when they don’t provide women with the same number of options that the men get. Think about it. It you are male, there is no doubt that you have looked inside your wife or girlfriend’s closet on multiple occasions and wondered why she has the need for fifty plus pairs of shoes and a handbag for every day of the week. You have listened and perhaps drifted off as she attempted to explain to you the difference between shorts and Capris and you shake your head in disbelief when she exclaims that despite having more that twice as many clothes as you do, she still has nothing to wear! Even though there may be fewer women than men who are passionate about motorsports, women would likely purchase more clothing than their male counterparts do and they would probably spend money on official merchandise several times a year.

As I mentioned above, I am hoping that Ferrari add more items to their women’s clothing line in the near future. The combination of both Formula 1 and shopping would surely prove too much for me to resist and I would likely drop hundreds of dollars a season on new clothing. On second thought, maybe it is a good thing that their range is so limited at least where my bank account is concerned!

*Ferrari make several different types of polo shirts for women, so make sure that when you are purchasing your shirt that you specify that you want the piquet polo. I mistakenly purchased the red polo shirt that is pictured below at the Italian Grand Prix last year thinking that it was a piquet polo shirt. When I tried it on, the material was so thin that I needed to wear a tank top underneath it and it has become deformed and horrible after only several washes. Not a good buy!



What to Do in Melbourne

In two days time the 2012 Formula 1 season will kick off at Albert Park in front of thousands of eager Australian spectators and the international media. The Ferrari team began arriving in Melbourne yesterday and will now start the tough process of transitioning from European time to Australian time, which is ten hours ahead of us! I can say from experience that this is no easy task. When I flew out to Melbourne for the very first time in December, I had previously never been on a plane for longer than six hours, therefore the thirty plus hours that it took me to reach my destination felt like an eternity and by the time that I arrived in Tullamarine airport I felt like the day before yesterday’s breakfast that had been left out in the sun for too long.

Although I briefly mentioned my trip to Melbourne in my previous blog post all the way back on January 26^th http://lovelifeandferrari.blogspot.com/2012/01/australia-and-italian-earthquake.html I didn’t really talk about all of my experiences in the uniquely charming city. Therefore the following are just a few of my favourite things to do in the city of Melbourne:


1. Take a ride on the tram. Melbourne is a lot like San Francisco simply because the city is home to an extensive network of trams that weave their way through the city and surrounding areas. One particular route that is geared specifically to tourists is known as the City Circle. You can catch this tram outside most of the main tourist attractions in the inner city and it does what is essentially a loop of the core area, stopping frequently at different points of interest along the way. The tram is articulated and tells you a little bit about each of the attractions as it passes by them. I found that it was a great way to get around the city, not only because it showed me what to do, but also because the service was absolutely free!

2. Treat yourself to some Shao-Long Bao. Hutong is one of Melbourne’s most popular dumpling bars. Located within the city’s enormous China town, locals have to make reservations days in advance just to sample this famous restaurant’s scrumptious offerings. Their Shao-Long Bao soup dumplings have gained them special notoriety and my particular favourites were the wontons with hot chilli sauce and the hot and sour soup. I ate there on three separate occasions during a two week period and still find myself craving the wontons to this day!

3. Make some aquatic acquaintances. The Melbourne aquarium is a must-see destination for people who are travelling with children in particular. Aside from a very popular room filled with some outgoing and cheeky penguins, you will find countless displays on Australia’s local marine life as well as a giant room that makes you feel as though you are under the ocean, with various fish and sharks swimming above and on either side of you. When I visited, there was a special display dedicated to sharks in particular and the aquarium likes to change its featured exhibits throughout the year. The gift shop is also fantastic with reasonably priced souvenirs that are both unique and fun.

4. Come face to face with Ned Kelly. The State Library of Victoria is located right in the heart of Melbourne and boasts not only a beautiful exterior but also some very interesting displays about the history of the city and Australia in general. Currently the library is home to a rather unique collection of memorabilia from infamous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly. Kelly has become somewhat of a legendary figure to the Australian people and the collection includes not only his suit of armour but also his very creepy death mask.

5. Take a stroll down Riverside. Near the casino is a beautiful path that is lined with trees and overlooks the Yarra River. It is from here that one can take the most stunning pictures of Melbourne and spend the day relaxing by the water.

6. Go Boutique and cafe hopping through Melbourne's lanes. Part of Melbourne’s charm is that you can find just about anything within its core area and there are a large quantity of boutiques and cafes that are located within the city centre. In the summer people sit outside in street cafes and one can easily spend the whole day exploring both the lanes and the eclectic mix of stores and cafes that occupy them.

7. Take in an inning at the MCG. Cricket fans will be more than aware of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and its significance to the world cricket scene but what many people may not be aware of is that the grounds are also home to the National Sports Museum. Amongst the museum’s many attractions are the skeleton of famous Australian racehorse Carbine and the preserved heart of Tulloch. Formula 1 enthusiasts will also be interested to learn that there Is an exhibit that is dedicated to the career of Jack Brabham and even includes his Brabham BT19.

8. Drink a glass of wine in the Yarra Valley. The Yarra Valley, which is located about one hour’s drive outside of the city, is one of the world’s most famous wine producing areas. With wineries such as Coombe Farm, Oakridge, De Bortoli and hundreds of others to choose from you’re sure to find something to stimulate your taste buds. It was at the Yarra Valley that I discovered that I have a fondness for desert wines in particular and many companies organise wine tours to help guide you through the vast selection available. Luca and I went with Wild Wombat Winery Tours and had a phenomenal day out! One thing to bear in mind while you are on your tour is that if you buy your wine directly from the cellar door, it is usually available at discounted rates. Friends and family will surely be pleased to receive a gift of Australian wine upon your arrival back home.

9. Have a magic moment at the Healesville Sanctuary. The Healesville Sanctuary is located in the Yarra Valley region and is a great day out to supplement your trip to the vineyards. The sanctuary is home to some of the regions most endangered animals as well as Australian favourites like the kangaroo and koala. In addition to being able to see the animals up close and personal, visitors have the option of purchasing what are known as Magic Moments. These ten minute time slots allow patrons to feed, pet and sometimes even hold these beautiful creatures. I had my own moment with a kangaroo and it is definitely something that I will never forget. The sanctuary also puts on informative shows about reptiles, birds of prey and traditional aboriginal culture throughout the day. Admission to these shows is free with the purchase of a day’s general admission to the sanctuary.

10. Wander through the gardens near Cook’s Cottage. Nestled within the busting metropolis of Melbourne is the large and luscious Fitzroy Gardens. In addition to being home to some adorable possums that seem to roam the area freely and without much fear, the garden is the site of Cook’s Cottage. The cottage was the boyhood home of English explorer James Cook and was transported from Yorkshire and reassembled in Melbourne in 1934. As well as the cottage the gardens boast a miniature Tudor village which was constructed in England and gifted to Melbourne after the Second World War as a thank you for food donations which were sent to England. Right beside the village there is a very beautiful tree stump with little storybook creatures carved into its bark. The stump is the work of author Olah Cohn, who enjoyed coming to the park and telling her stories to appreciative children during her lifetime.

Although I’m sure that the men and women who work in the world of Formula 1 will have neither the time or the energy to do even half of the things that I mentioned above, I hope that if you are making your way out to Melbourne as a spectator that you will be able to experience even some of them. For sure the Formula 1 race is by far the city’s major attraction for a motorsports fanatic, but you would be crazy not to take the time to get to know this high energy destination a little bit more intimately if you are lucky enough to find yourself there.

I hope that my recommendations have been helpful and if you have any suggestions for fellow readers, please feel free to add them in the comments section below!

Recco Part One: The Storm Before The Calm

It’s a beautiful day today in Lodi and the warming sun gives me hope that soon summer will be here! The change in temperature as well as the impending start of this year’s Formula 1 season reminded me that it is already time to make plans for this summer and to purchase my Canadian Grand Prix tickets. Among the destinations that I want to see are Rome and Pisa, but there are also several Italian towns that are already familiar to me that I would like to return to even if it is only just for the day. At the top of my list is the Liguria town of Recco, which is located on Italy’s north-west coast, only a short distance away from Genova. This past summer I had the pleasure of spending several days in the little-known beach destination and discovered that it was the perfect place to relax and soak up the Italian sun.

It was mid-July and I had only a few days off of work and very little money to my name. Still, I craved to be by the water and began to research Italian beach destinations that were located within several hours of Lodi. When I stumbled upon Recco I knew instantly that it was the ideal weekend getaway for the North-Italian tourist on a budget. At only 2 hours away from Lodi, it was close and the cost of a train ticket was less that twenty Euros, an absolute bargain when you can imagine that tickets to Venice can cost over forty Euros!

Therefore on a Tuesday morning I set out for Recco in fine spirits with a bag containing several bikinis, a pair of jeans and loads of sunscreen. The trains in Liguria, as I soon discovered, were not at all like the trains in Milan. They operated on their own time schedule and when I had to change at Genova, my connecting train never turned up. Luckily for me a friendly local woman directed me to the appropriate platform and explained trains departed for Recco all of the time. It was quite chaotic, but it worked and in just over two hours I arrived at the Recco train station ready for my beach holiday to begin.

Unfortunately on that particular day clouds had engulfed the small town, which is known for its cheesy focaccia bread, and by the time that I arrived at my hotel I was soaked to the bone and a little bit fed up. After drying myself off and wallowing in self pity for several moments, I decided that it was time to make the most out of my short stay in Recco and explore the area, whatever the weather!

My hotel itself was exactly what I had hoped for and the view was spectacular. Overlooking one of Recco’s most famous beaches, the Hotel Elena* was practical, affordable and comfortable. The staff were also extremely friendly and as I left to explore the shoreline, which was located only meters away from the hotel, the receptionist told me that I was welcome to borrow her umbrella so that I would not get wet while walking around. This was one of several very thoughtful gestures that made my stay there pleasant despite the terrible weather on the first day.

The town of Recco is nestled at the foot of an absolutely gorgeous mountain which is lush, green and dotted with colourful houses. The shoreline was extremely breathtaking, with large rocks and high cliffs stretching out as far as the eye could see. On that initial afternoon, the horrible weather had the positive side effect of creating photo opportunities that were both dramatic and unique. The wind was very strong and the normally calm, turquoise waters turned into frothy waves which crashed violently as they hit land. The Hotel Elena was situated right at the top of one of the shoreline’s cliffs and the stone steps that were carved directly out of the rock and lead to the waters below inspired a childlike curiosity in me. As I explored different passages and dared myself to get ever closer to the raging ocean, I forgot that I felt like a drowned rat and began to enjoy myself.

In my travels, I noticed that all of the flags, which were positioned outside of the various lifeguard stations that I encountered, were red. When I asked the receptionist back at the hotel about them she informed me that this signalled that the water was far too dangerous to swim in. Apparently Recco was experiencing some of the worst weather that it had seen in years and several swimmers and surfers had already disappeared because they had ignored the warnings. The colour red told those who were foolish enough to enter the water that they did so at their own peril, no lifeguard would be able to swim against currents that strong and it would be almost impossible for helicopters and rescue boats to find bodies amongst the rocks and dark waves.

As I looked out upon the restless ocean from my hotel room, I hoped that the morning would bring blue skies and still waters. After all I didn’t come to Recco simply to take photographs, I came to Recco to swim, sunbathe and relax in general. I left the windows open that night and fell asleep to the sound of the cool breeze and the animated water below. Even at its worst, Recco was wonderful.

To be continued…

Be sure to check out my blog in the coming days for part two of my Recco experience!

*If you would like to know more about the Hotel Elena, you can visit their website at the following address: http://www.hotelelena.it/