Italy vacation thread

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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    edited September 2016
    Also, if your thinking you'll save money by going in the "off" season, think again. Their off season is cold weather, December to March.....who wants to tour Italy in the winter ? Half the stores and eating joints close up those months too, boats don't run either. Boats stop running early like the 1st of October. No....you want to enjoy the country when it's warmer. Summer I would avoid as it's even more crowded than when I went. I went when I did to avoid the summer crowds and still have nice weather.....while boats were also still running. Perfect time to go.

    Another tid bit of advice when planning, leave yourself a couple days to readjust coming back. Don't plan on going to work the next day, you'll need a couple days, believe me. Of the 2 weeks we had, we planned for 2 days at the end to adjust and we needed it. Then we planned for 2 days of just travel there and back. That left 10 days, and you prioritize where you want to spend that time and how you'll get there. Don't try and do too much in too short of time or you won't enjoy any of it. Takes some thought, planning, and being realistic.
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  • When you did your shopping, do the merchants want/expect "haggling" over the prices ? Or would they be insulted ?
    In some countries, the "Price" is the starting point for negotiations, in others you'll be asked to leave if you make a counter offer.

    Nice price on that Murano, btw.
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  • gmcman
    gmcman Posts: 1,739
    Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing...glad you all had a great time.

    Funny you mention the driving there, I was over in Europe as a kid back in the mid 80's, went to Rome for a week on a field trip....most memorable time I can remember.

    I remember when we heard sirens someone would say that another pedestrian tried to cross the street. Was alot of mini cars like small Fiat's and they would haul arse on the cobblestone streets like a street race....freaking crazy.

    Those pics bring back memories, nothing like driving down the main road and looking down one of the streets seeing the colloseum off in the distance....truly spectacular sight.

    We did get to see Pope John Paul II speak at the Vatican, took quite awhile as he spoke in 4 or 5 languages.

    Thanks for sharing, I would love to get the family there....actually if you like vacations, Rome is truly a must see.
  • WagnerRC
    WagnerRC Posts: 2,138
    e25n3huma0rp.jpg


    took the boat over to the Murano factory. fun times
  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,056
    wezlz9hmh3en.jpeg

    http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/10/16/beyond-toilet-paper-how-to-treat-shaving-nicks-and-cuts/

    Russ a little manliness info on nicks and cuts little tidbits that might come in handy!

    Carry on Tony I'm enjoying this thread along with most of the pictures.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    WagnerRC wrote: »
    e25n3huma0rp.jpg


    took the boat over to the Murano factory. fun times

    Dang, I'm jealous man. Murano glass is some of the most beautiful stuff around.

    No, no haggling, the price is the price. Nice thing though is usually there is no tipping, but I tipped 10-20% anyway and people were most appreciative. Even the taxi drivers looked at me with amazement. They may offer you a discount if you buy more than one item though in stores. For instance, I bought those Armani underwear, 35 euros a shot, lady want to sell me 2 for 50. Had I known they'd have been the most comfortable things a man can slide his sack into, I would have taken her up on it.

    Don't expect good service there either like your accustomed to here. They get to you when they get to you and they could care less. So when a waiter or waitress does hit your table, be ready because you may not see them for awhile. The higher end joints are more attentive, like one would expect. I found no matter where I went, nobody smiled, nobody was glad to see you. Almost like you were bothering them. Aside from a few smaller mom and pop places, it was the same in every city. I thought to myself, you do know without tourist your in the crapper, right ? That's not the M.O. Italians have. I guess when you see so many tourists day in and day out, that's the look you get.

    The older lady in the shop I bought the wine glasses at, couldn't speak a lick of English, and I spoke little Italian, yet we communicated. She carefully wrapped each individual glass in bubble wrap, paper, and taped it. I thanked her in Italian, took her hand and kissed it while saying goodbye and she smiled. Was nice to see for a change. They are definitely more receptive to those who can speak the language a bit as opposed to those who speak none of it. I try to look at things from both sides of the fence, imagine you own a shop here, and nobody who came in could speak English. You might be pulling your hair out too.

    Also, just an FYI, the smallest denomination in Euros, paper money, is 5 bucks. Expect to have a pocket full of coins a few days in. I tried using them up at the Gelato shops but still had like 2 lbs of coins in my pockets. I wound up either tossing them into fountains and making a wish, or giving them to the kids for Gelato. I used cash everywhere, except for the hotel rooms which we put on the CC. Most stores will take a CC, only with the chip in it, so beware. The smaller stores prefer the cash, unreportable as their taxes are fairly high.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    edited September 2016
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    edited September 2016
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
    Envy has painted me green, Tony.
    I've been to Germany, France, England and Ireland. But Italy is the place I want to see one day. Bella!
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    If your into history, Europe is the place. If your into food and wine, Spain and Italy. You can see why Rome was the center of the universe back then, but you can also see why so many left for America.

    There was a few times when the wife couldn't finish her main coarse. The waiter would come over and ask, "You no like ? ". They take offense if you don't scarf it down. lol

    I...on the other hand had no problem anywhere I went. :)

    Oh.....and btw, there are no doggie bags and to-go containers. You eat it or leave it.
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    You wore a matching Chicago Bears shirt and hat while in Italy?!?!?! :D
    I always knew you were my favorite.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    mrbiron wrote: »
    You wore a matching Chicago Bears shirt and hat while in Italy?!?!?! :D
    I always knew you were my favorite.[/quote

    LOL.....funny, walking down the street in Rome, a young lady walks by me and yells "Go Cubs". I smile.....eh, not worth it. Half an hour later, a guy walks past me and says "Da Bears....right ?" I laugh, Si Senore.

    A little later I go to get a taxi. 5 taxi's lined up at a spot and I go to the middle guy and ask if he can take me to xyz. He gets out waving his hands, "OHHH Primo". Meaning....take the first Taxi MF'er. I yell back, "I would if they had drivers in them".

    You have to wait for that driver to show up. He might be having coffee, looking for a toilet, or talking to some sweetie around the corner. They don't care, you do things their way or don't do them at all.
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  • sandworms
    sandworms Posts: 1,043
    Excellent write up T! keep 'em comin, helps me reminisce from 3 years ago. We followed our Italy trip with a Med cruise to Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Pisa...8bapv6dqte4b.jpg, 596t1kjd5rk7.jpg
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    So to continue the journey, we leave Florence, Taxi it over to the train station and head towards the coast of the 5 cities, really 6 but who's counting. We stop in Veraggio, which is on one side of the mountains that separate the coastal cities. My father in-law was born and raised not far from there in a small town called La Capanne way up in the mountains. The pics following will be of that place. We stay at relatives who own and run a hotel. He cooks home style Italian for 100-150 people every night in season. These people work from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. He also has a penchant for all things American. He once came here and took a month long road trip with buddies. California....Yosemite....Grand Canyon...Florida....Arizona, he was all over and fell in love.

    Anyway, other relatives come to take us up the mountain to the house and we also stop at other relatives homes on the way up. Keep in mind, this are is just a stones through from Carrera, where the finest marble in the world comes from, and has so for centuries. The gravel on the sides of the road going up the mountain is all made from crushed marble.

    While at the house, my wife's aunt is the only one still living there, her Nonna's sister. 85 years old and eats like a horse, smokes, walks up and down the hillside. They all made us lunch which of course was fantastic too.

    Let some pic's roll.....

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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
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    The top window on the left is my father in-laws bedroom window.....and this is what he looked at every day....

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