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Message |
    
Walker
Citizen
Username: Walker
Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 2:57 pm: | 
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Can anyone recommend a travel agent or web site for a vacation to Italy? We are going for the first time, we have never been interested in big tour groups. I know they have private escorts but am not sure how expensive they are. Do you think you can wing it and travel the country without guides? |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1788
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 3:06 pm: |
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I always prefer to travel without guides. If there's any country you can wing it in, it's Italy.
You'll probably get a lot of responses, but I suggest you give some more info first.
When are you hoping to go?
How long do you want to go for?
Do you want to hit the cities, the countryside, small towns or some combo?
Do you prefer to stay in one area and soak up the atmosphere or do you like to hit as many spots as possible? |
Boomie
Citizen
Username: Boomie
Post Number: 330
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 3:34 pm: |
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Its very simple to wing it. Rent a car and drive the country. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 2341
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 3:39 pm: |
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I disagree. I tried winging it in Italy, and although I had a great time, I realized over the years that I missed a lot of things. I would say that group tour is not the best idea. When we went to Germany we hired local tour guides to show us around and it was great |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1681
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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We did a tour group for Italy. I would recommend doing a tour - but pick one that has flexibility on meal arrangements or is for small groups only. People say you can't get a bad meal in Italy, but we had oodles of them. I realized the main problem was that when you have a large group - you tend to eat at places that encourage large groups - and these were clearly not the places that serve up the best food. We went off on our own a few times and found our own meals and they were great, but the downside is that you've paid for those group meals you're skipping out on.
I like the idea of a guide, simply for the fact that you don't waste time figuring out how to go places - that's taken care of for you. |
Walker
Citizen
Username: Walker
Post Number: 19
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:17 pm: |
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Thanks for the info so far. To give a little more info, we want to go this September for 2 weeks. We want to concentrate on Florence and Tuscany, I think we should hit Rome for 2 days. I heard the train from Florence to Rome is not that bad. Would you try to book online or go to a travel agent. Being a complete rookie any suggestions are appreciated!! |
kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 503
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:18 pm: |
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I agree with dave23 you'll need to supply more info if you want fine-tuned answers to your question, but maybe you haven't decided yourself exactly what you most want to do in Italy.
To help decide, you might want to visit the Slow Travel website, which has a wealth of information about independent Italian travel (including hotel recommendations and train advice) and a message board. Also, the Fodor's message board can be a useful resource for planning independent travel and getting hotel recommendations within a reasonable budget.
As for hiring guides, first try buying or borrowing books like the Michelen green guide (Italy) or even read Rick Steves on the web and see if you really want more info. That said, probably the single most difficult place to visit in Italy is the Vatican, which is both enormous and so mobbed with people you can barely see anything. If you are going to Rome and are intent on seeing the Vatican, it may be worth a splurge to join a small group in a private tour. Again, Slow Travel and Fodor's have tips on how to find very good guides in Rome.
Although you don't need a private guide to get a lot out of visiting Pompeii, such guides are available at the site or can be booked in advance, and many people report they are well worth the money (which is generally not much anyway). Otherwise, many good guidebooks to Pompeii are available.
It makes a lot of sense to rent a car if you want to visit the Italian countryside. But if you plan to stick to visiting cities (or the extremely car-unfriendly Amalfi coast), it makes sense to take the train or ferries.
"Winging it" it Italy is fantastic fun if you are not going in high season (between mid-May and the end of September) and are not going to the most popular tourist destinations. Otherwise, Rome, Venice, Florence, much of Tuscany, all of the Amalfi, Lago di Como and Milan (and Bologna) all require advance booking of hotels unless you are willing to go without air conditioning and towels larger than a dishcloth.
Most people find that the "less" they do in Italy, the more they love it, so if at all possible, select the part of Italy that most appeals to you and really enjoy it, as opposed to hurtling from one famous location to another in an attempt to see "everything." Have a good time!
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kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 504
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:28 pm: |
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Hi walker
Our posts crossed.
There is no reason you can't book your trip online. Given your interest in Tuscany, I still especially recommend that you take a look at the information available on the Slow Travel website. You can explore the options of renting a car and renting an apartment on a farm or villa for a week and see if that would suit you. It is not at all as difficult as it sounds and many first time travelers to Italy do it with great success. But even if you prefer to stick to hotels and B&Bs and public transportation, the Slow Travel website can be a great aid.
There is no reason you cannot book your air tickets yourself using a webiste like Orbitz. For comparison shopping you should check out the option of roundtrip tickets to Rome from Newark (Continental flies direct) and you should also check out what is available flying from Newark to Pisa. You won't be able to get a non-stop flight, but Pisa is an international airport with good connections and some low-cost carriers.
The train between Florence and Rome is excellent. It takes less than two hours and you don't have to book it in advance. Just buy your tickets it Italy. You can get an idea of how frequently the trains run by using the Trenitalia website. Just remember that the names of the cities you want to go to are actually "Roma" and "Firenze."
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connied76
Citizen
Username: Connied76
Post Number: 22
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:44 pm: |
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We are going to Italy as well, end of Sept for 2 weeks and are booking everything ourselves. Got air from EWR to Rome and then Venice to EWR on Alitalia for $600 pp (before gas jumped so high!). Started with Rome and just keep getting info from travel books and tripadvisor.com. We will book hotels and have a general idea when we want to do the sights and will book train when it gets a little closer but other than that, just going to the sights and if we decide we want to, hiring a guide at the sight. Don't want to drive so we may hire car/driver for a long full day to drive us to Pompeii and the Amalfi coast a bit. I personally hate packages and tours. I always find myself wishing I could leave the tour and do what I want. The only place we might do a 2 hr tour is at the Vatican (through them) because I have read that you do not have to wait on line- if you have a reserved tour with the Vatican, there is a separate entrance.
We did Greece on our own last year and had a great time. That being said, you do need to have the time to dedicate to looking on the internet for good info and sticking with it to view new info posted on trip advisor, etc. |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 739
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:46 pm: |
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As someone that has spent lots of time in Italy (my family is "off the boat"), I can assure you, either option can be great, but it really depends on what kind of traveler you are. The questions dave23 asks are very good ones, and you should consider them before making a decision. Certain parts of Italy are amazing to travel on your own, others I wouldn't drive through by myself if my life depended on it!
If you're willing to do the research and work, you can plan an amazing trip for yourself, without a guide. There is SO much travel info out there nowadays to help you find out what areas might interest you, and to find hotels and restaurants ahead of time.
The problem I see with a lot of these big tours is that they cover several major cities, which are rather far apart, in a short span of time. If you're into seing a city, hitting some of it's major tourist spots, doing a little shopping, having an average meal, and getting back on the bus two days later, then this "hit-and-run" kind of tour might be for you.
My suggestion is to pick one, maybe two cities as your "anchor". Experience all that it has to offer, and explore the smaller towns and villages that may be a half-day's drive away. That way, you'll experience the attractions of a major city, and still get to see some of the quaintness of lesser travelled areas. You'll get a real flavor for the area and the people that live in it. One of my favorite areas is Florence, with smaller cities like Sienna and Urbino nearby, beautiful mountain drives, as well as Ravena and the beaches.
Just realize that Italy is huge, and unless you have a really big chunk of time to spare, resolve yourself to the fact that you will only get to truly explore one small area. In the dozens of times that I have gone to Italy, I still have not been to the Southern areas yet! But I promise you that even one small area will give you a wonderful taste of Italy's amazing culture and history.
Let me know if I can help answer any questions for you. |
Wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2492
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
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I agree with everything Kathleen and the other posters after her said. My husband and I traveled throughout Europe on several trips and never went on a tour. We did listen in on some guided mini-tours in certain places (sponging off the group I suppose). We traveled by car (amazing to feel like the old granny driver in the right lane on the autostrada even though we were doing over 80 mph) and were very happy we did, finding out of the way spots because we weren't dependant on train stops or schedules. Although we often went during high season, we didn't book rooms in advance except for arriving and departing cities. We stayed mostly at pensions somewhat above the cheapest. My guidebook for pensions - always wonderful and in the heart of middleclass Italian neighborhoods usually - was Let's Go Italy (or Let's Go ______). It was also a great book for restaurants and sights - although Michelin was also good for sights. Bring the Berlitz book if you don't go on a tour and I assure you that you will at least learn how to say "do you have a room for two for the night" and "where is" (although you might not understand the answer) in Italian! We loved Florence and its surrounding so much that we cancelled a side trip to Rome, realizing that we would be skimping on both if we went. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1791
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 5:02 pm: |
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Walker,
- Do the research yourself and try to enjoy doing it. I've never had much luck with travel agents. Dive into the sites kathleen mentioned above. I've found Fodors' many good and very active message boards to be helpful.
- Like Dego says, anchor yourself in spots and do daytrips.
- Don't just stay overnight in the cities. Also do two- or three-night stays in the villages and immerse youself. Move slowly. You can (and will) go back.
- Take up Dego's offer to answer questions.
I'm soooo jealous. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1208
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:29 pm: |
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Walker,
"Ciao"
We're leaving for Italy in 25 days. We did everything online, tix, car, hotels, etc...
It's our first time to Italy too. I searched alot on a few travel websites' forums such as Virtualtourist & Tripadvisor. We're spending 3 days in Rome, 2 in Naples, 4 in Capri, 4 in Positano, 1 in Bari
and 1 night again in Rome before flying back to Newark Liberty.
We'll do an organized tour in Rome only. Everything else we'll do on our own. http://angeltoursrome.com/en/tours.htm
We're taking a train to Naples which is about 1 1/2 hr. ride.
There's a hydrafoil to Capri and back to Sorrento where we'll rent a car and drive down the Amalfi coast. We are also driving across Italy to near the heel of the "boot" for a concert in Bari of Eros Ramazzotti. Then we drive back for 4 nights in Positano. We'll do day trips to Amalfi, Ravello, Pompeii and Salerno.
Good luck in planning your trip, it'll be alot of fun!
Maplewoody
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mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1146
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:06 pm: |
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Focus on Florence sounds delightful - you may find you don't even want to go farther. If you do venture out, though... Train from Florence to Rome is great, the views look like the backgrounds of Leonardos, but try to arrange it so you don't wind up standing the whole way. Also, I'd say allow at least 3 days for Rome. It's much bigger than the other cities (at least, the ones we visited) and just getting from one place to another within Rome (and the Vatican) takes some time.
Enjoy it all! Tell us the stories when you get back!
MC} |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1120
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:29 pm: |
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The only place you'll need a guide is Pompei & the Colusiem . Hotels , Hotel Amalfi in Amalfi , visit don't stay in Positano , go to Revel while in Amalfi . Florence is the greatest city in Italy , Venice will be to out of the way for a 2 wk trip. Stay on the Via Vennetto in Rome , if Rome is @ the end of your trip get rid of the rental car the minute you get to Rome. If you like to drive splurge & get a nice fast car . If money is no object Hotel Christopher on the Amalfi coast , don't go to Sorrento or Salerno or get lost in Naples. Capri ,I don't think it's worth wasting a day , The grotto Azure is a tourist trap. Watch the check @ resturants in Rome ,especially closer to the Fountain. Trinity is the best bar for lunch & nighttime hanging out in Rome. The Hertz counter sucks @ Davinci , use someone else, I allways get a better deal with a local rental place in rental car bullpen @ the A/P. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1121
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:44 pm: |
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Rent a boat from the 2 brothers in Miori on the Amalfi coast , They are wooden boats with 9 hp engines , get sandwiches from the deli up the block , have some of the lemon liqour he offers you. Rent Vespas from the Italian Sammy Hagar in the same town & take a trip to Revel. If your into night life, ask. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1455
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:47 pm: |
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Walker,
We did a similar trip about 2.5 yrs ago...we rented a lovely villa near Monteriggioni, which is between Sienna & Florence
The home was called Antica Magione (slept 8 - owners were really great & helpful) & we rented it through Tuscan Enterprises: http://www.tuscanenterprise.it/magione.htm
Click on the pink Tuscan area on map & that will let you search for homes
I think we found the house through this agent: marieke@great-travels.com
We flew out of Newark to Rome for 2 nights(can't remember which hotel, but in the Boscolo chain - Palace, I think: http://www.boscolohotels.com/luxury_hotels_italy_europe/rome-4-5-star-hotel.htm? adwgoo=romabranden - great hotel - but there are so many wonderful places to stay there- wish we had spent more time)
& then rented a car (they are tiny - get bigger than you think you need) & drove to Tuscany. The road signs were totally clear & we had no problems. We took day trips - Cortona & Sienna were especially lovely.
One overnight trip sans kids, as my folks were with us (train out of Firenze) to Venice (amazing - loved, loved, loved our little hotel: http://www.novecento.biz/en/)
We had no guides, but this is how we prefer to travel - I think it's individual - I like to plan & spend lots of time pouring over books etc. - it really is part of the whole experience for me. We did have the home owners arrange for us to have a cooking lesson/wonderful meal with a local lady (one of the best meals of my life) & they translated for us.
We had our kids with us & realy liked the book "Italy With Kids". I think the Rick Steves info can be pretty good:
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/italy_menu.htm
Feel free to PL me for any other info.
Have a great trip!
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Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1215
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 10:08 pm: |
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jet,
Why do you suggest to stay in Amalfi instead of Positano? Just curious.
as we're staying in Positano at Casa Cosenza. We're renting the car in Sorrento, not staying there. We'll visit Bari, Sorrento, Ravello, Amalfi, Vietri sul Mare, and Pompeii. We're staying in Rome, Naples, Capri & Positano. We'll only have the car the last 5 days in Positano to do trips along the Amalfi coast and to get to Bari for a concert. We've rented via Auto-Europa an Alfa Romeo 156.
 |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1457
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 10:14 pm: |
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Maplewoody,
my MIL is from Bari ( & FIL is from Sicily)! She's an amazing cook - you'll eat well (but then it's Italy, so you knew that already!) |
stefano
Citizen
Username: Stefano
Post Number: 507
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 10:25 pm: |
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that's me on the starboard side of the yacht |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1122
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:28 am: |
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Mwoody, Topography , Positano is @ one end of Amalfi, driving the Amalfi coast in the summertime is way annoying , Vespas work much better. Everybody is talking english in Positano. Having gelato in Amalfi & strolling the town is doable in Amalfi. Naples is downright dangerous. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1123
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:35 am: |
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There is a reason the majority, of Italian Americans list themselves as Napletan , the place is a s#$%H*&e and your grandpas & granmas got out. |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 746
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 3:00 pm: |
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Jet, as a Napolitana myself, I found that comment extremely rude. My entire family is from Naples, and although crime has increased quite a bit since my parents left there, it is still a beautiful place, rich with history and hospitality. A good part of my family still lives there.
Guess what - we live next to two of the most crime-ridden cities in NJ, but would you call Maplewood a "s#$%H*&e"?
Look, I don't want to start a whole big brawl over this and I'd rather just stick to helping the original poster, but hey, how about some common discretion when posting in here, huh? |
kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 507
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 3:02 pm: |
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Maplewoody,
Although traffic can be annoying on the Amalfi drive, and I stayed in Ravello, I would prefer to stay in Positano over Amalfi. Both towns are about even when in comes to being filled with foreign tourists, but Positano has the far better views and situation. In fact, I think there is little reason to do a lot of day tripping out of Positano, since the coastal towns are all so similar in feel. So if you find you'd rather relax and enjoy Positano for itself, don't feel like you're missing a lot. Pompeii is the most rewarding day trip in the area. (Be sure to bring sun shade: hats, water, etc.) Quality ceramics are available all along the coast, but if you stick with your plan to visit Vietri sul mare, you might consider including a swing by Paestum and Santa Maria di Castellabate, one of the prettiest and least touristed towns on the Costeria Amalfi.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Castellabate
http://www.slow-dreams.com/paestum_castellabate.htm
Napoli is a fantastic, unique and dramatic city jammed with art and life. Its poverty, the result of punishing national policies that have long disfavored the south, is visible and shocking, but it is not dangerous to tourists. There is a good deal of petty theft around the train station and you should pick a hotel elsewhere, but it's an amazing, fascinating place and the one city in Italy I most look forward to revisiting. Be sure to see the Cappella Sansevero and the archeology museum is a revelation. Buon viaggio! |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1216
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 6:35 pm: |
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We'll relax for 4 days in Capri at Hotel Luna. It's a lovely hotel with beautiful gardens and a pool.
We wanted to experience Rome & Naples as well as the smaller towns along the southern coastal area of Amalfi. In Naples we're staying at a little B & B in the theatre area. It is not near the Termini. In Positano we selected a small home with great views, Casa Cosenza. It's 1/2 way up the hillside from the beach... We'll visit little towns along the coast and spend most of the time in Positano. I'd like to see Pompeii and Paestum too. Are they both worth visiting together? I heard Bari is more dangerous than Naples. We're going there for an afternoon and evening concert of Eros Ramazzotti, and then we'll drive back to Positano.
 |
KRNL
Citizen
Username: Krnl
Post Number: 63
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 5:01 pm: |
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We just returned from the Amalfi Coast--stayed at Amalfi and then Sorrento. That area of Italy is very doable for the first-time Italian trip without resorting to an organized tour. Driving the Coast Road is only for the brave. From Naples we arranged car service through our hotel--and felt it was well worth it.
We used ferries to journey to Positano from Amalfi and Capri from Sorrento. Capri was the low point of the trip--too crowded with tourists for our taste. Probably better if you stay there. There is a light-rail service from Sorrento that you can take to Pompeii--a great day trip. Ravello was awesome.
Each of the towns has its own atmosphere--definitely touristy, but each wonderful in their own way.
Food is great and can be on the expensive side. Same with the hotels--we paid many, many Euros, but we scheduled the trip rather late. Rates go up in Mid-May through the fall. My sense is that Sorrento has more moderately priced hotels than Positano or Amalfi.
If budget is a constraint, staying outside of Florence in a villa or smaller town might make more sense. Traveling with another couple or group of friends can make this much more affordable than the Amalfi coast. Trains connect Florence and Rome.
Whatever you decide, Italy is a beautiful country. You will want to return again and again, so no need to try to see everything in your first trip.
Also, we saw many couples with small children. It seems like a very child-friendly country. (Didn't see too many school aged travelers as it was early May. My friends that have traveled with older kids all seem to report that they tried to visit too many cities/sights and that if they did it over again would opt for less intensive itineraries)
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Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1220
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 6:04 pm: |
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Did you fly into FCO (Rome) ? Is it easy to navigate around, get your luggage and get
outside to meet someone that's picking us up?
How far in advance should we arrive at FCO when we leave to come home?
We have a 2PM flight back on July 2nd. We'll have 2 days to rest some then back to work. |
KRNL
Citizen
Username: Krnl
Post Number: 64
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 2:34 pm: |
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Maplewoody,
We flew to Naples via Milano. All connections went smoothly, but in Milano the security lines as we moved from one terminal to the next were quite long.
It has been awhile since we were in the Rome airport so I can't be of any help. When we left for home, we arrived about 2-1/2 hours before flight time. You can never predict just how long it will take to check in and sometimes, when there is a dedicated "desk" for you flight, you have to wait around before that desk is opened. There seems to be plenty of duty free and luxe shopping to fill the time. We've learned from past trips that the earlier we get there the less stress for us. Sometimes you have to take a bus to the plane and the last bus leaves 10 or 15 minutes prior to the scheduled depature time. Once, on another trip, we ran very late and just made it onto the last bus--it was not fun.
ENJOY |
Walker
Citizen
Username: Walker
Post Number: 22
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 5:49 pm: |
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Thanks for the continuing information. Another question is it worth springing for first class on the flight? I am not even sure it is possible. What should a coach flight cost? |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1231
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 8:42 am: |
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Round trip tix for first class seating are $6,000 each....
You can find regular tix for $800 to $1200
depending where and when you book and what airline you are flying. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1126
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:05 pm: |
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Diva, whens the last time your were in Naples ? Me , about 8 mo. Naples makes Irvington look good. There's garbage all over the place , people don't stop @ red lights in certain sections. There are roving bands of criminals who steal everything that isn't locked down. there are beggars on the hyways going by Naples , I have friends from Salerno who have had bikes & cars taken from them @ gunpoint. |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 751
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 3:51 pm: |
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Gee, Jet, you're so dramatic you outta be in movies! You're seriously exagerating beyond belief, and I do hope that readers of your post will recognize your alarmist statements as just that. My goodness, as bad as you make it sound, it's amazing any of my family members in Naples even have rooves left over their heads and cars to drive - unless, of course, ::gasp::, they're criminals themselves!!
And now onto some USEFUL info for Walker...
I wouldn't suggest that you spend the extra cash for the first class ticket. It's not a very long flight, and if you can take the red-eye, you'll be there before you know it. I usually fly Alitalia and Continental, and I find both comfortable in economy, especially Alitalia. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1234
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 8:14 pm: |
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jet,
We'll be in Naples June 20-22nd, and we'll report
(if we live to tell about it) when we return home to Maplewood! |
Richard Kessler
Citizen
Username: Richiekess
Post Number: 140
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 8:03 pm: |
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When in Naples, try the pizza at Trianon...you will not believe how great it is... |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1137
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 - 3:59 pm: |
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Maplewoody , if the blank hits the fan , contact me , I'll send lawyers , guns & money. Have a great time. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1249
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 7:54 pm: |
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Grazie jet... We take off tomorrow late afternoon....
Ciao |
Lucy
Supporter
Username: Lucy
Post Number: 4164
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 8:31 am: |
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Have a blast I hope the weather is glorious for you Ciao! |
tulip
Citizen
Username: Braveheart
Post Number: 3565
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 10:51 pm: |
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We just met the plane as my son arrived from Italy. He had a month there through his university. He stayed in an historic villa in Florence. He wrote four papers, three on modern art, one on economics of the EU. On weekends he visited Rome, Bologna (which he said was one of the nicest cities that "everyone in Italy wants to live in") Naples, Venice. Of course, Venice was the "cleanest" and nicest city he visited. He loved taking the water taxi to the four hundred year old Jewish ghetto, seeing the community there. He visited many cathedrals, saw many things, learned many things.
He has evolved from boy to man.
Italy really transformed him. Wonderful place. |
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