| Author | Message | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1322 Registered: 3-2002 |
if you do get out of the city then you will crave a fast car - italian highways are the best place to speed in europe, doubly so if you are in a ferrari. | ||
| Malcolm Barksdale (Malcolmb)
Junior Member Username: Malcolmb Post Number: 70 Registered: 4-2002 |
I just returned from 2 weeks in Milan, Portafino, and Firenze, did Rome last year, and Lago Como. Think about going to Florence or maybe Portofino for a day or two, but you could really spend a week in Rome no trouble. I would suggest that you get into the country for a day or two though, like anywhere the country is a diff place. I liked the Vatican Museum, and the coliseum and forum and many restaurants. I think it would be hard to get a bad meal in Italy. I stayed at the Hotel d Russie, near Piazza de Popolo, it was first class.I had no trouble driving in Italy, the feared crazy drivers are an urban myth. Scooters are a diff storey, dont need a license.....Buy Microsoft Mapoint for europe, it is fascinating. | ||
| Rikky Alessi (Ralessi)
Member Username: Ralessi Post Number: 358 Registered: 5-2002 |
I doubt those kids are all really the women's own... | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 472 Registered: 2-2003 |
Is it fairly easy to get around on the railway system.....anyone think of any cool day trips or towns to visit..........maybe 1 or 2 hours away by rail. | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 992 Registered: 7-2001 |
Thankfully, I didn't encounter any Gypsies while I was there in June. I would NOT drive there under ANY circumstances! Those drivers are NUTS and the streets are as confusing as you can imagine. Great city though. The ruins are cool but it's kind of hard to imagine what each structure USED to look like because in many cases only a small fraction of the original building remains. | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 471 Registered: 2-2003 |
AHHHHHHHHHHHH..........okay.............I thought they were like this GANG of Gypsies, that mugged or kidnapped you..............thanks for explaining. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1319 Registered: 3-2002 |
they are kids and their mothers who usually come up to begging or trying to sell you something like a newspaper, while they distract you, the hand goes under the paper and into your pocket or bag and they steal then run away. you won't catch them. very annoying, but just be extremely rude to them and cautious and they will leave well enough alone. | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 470 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks everyone......I'm still confused on the Gypsy thing......do you mean they are dangerous, annoying or both.......kind of confused.......what / who are they? What do they do..........kind of wierd | ||
| James Lee (Aventino)
Junior Member Username: Aventino Post Number: 106 Registered: 6-2003 |
Romantic costal town of Positano is a nice day drive down to the south (just past Naples) if you have a day spare. Driving over there isn't as bad as some make out, I survived 3 months on a Vespa so don't rule out a rental car. The Gipsies are only really a problem around the main Rome train station and though it's easy to say, try not to look too much like a tourist and they'll leave you alone. But stay as vigilant as you would in any large city. Have a look around the Vatican and do all the usual stuff but stick to a leisurely pace, it's how life operates and you'll just get frustrated otherwise. Interesting Air Force Museum on Lake Bracciano about 40 minutes or so north of Rome and the lake itself is a good spot to stop for food. Nearest racetrack is Valelunga (sp?), remember driving past signpost for it and thinking it was famous once but memory is hazy. Anyone remember anything about it? | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 3420 Registered: 6-2001 |
You probably can get one at BN. It lists the nicer hotels and resturants, as well as tourist attractions. When i went to italy witth my family we used it to find most of the places we ate when we werent being fed by family. | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 469 Registered: 2-2003 |
Tim, I'm not sure where else I'll be yet......Definately in Rome from the 2nd - 9th of March.........then probably just "traveling around" for another week........exploring and using the railway.......what is the Michilin Guide? Can I get one at Barnes and Noble? | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 3418 Registered: 6-2001 |
Phillip, alot of younger people, under 30, you will encounter speak english. All of the younger relatives i visited spoke english because they studied/were studying it in college. My older relatives didnt speak english. Ive never been to maranello, but looking at a map, its pretty far, although it can be driven. We drove from venice to rome, which is probably farther. As for places to eat, there was this one place we ate where there wasnt even a menu, the waiter suggested stuff. It was not a toruist resturant. I dont recall the name, but i remember it was in the michelin guide, which is a must-have. Other than that, theres all the tourist stuff to see like the spanish steps, vatican, that famous fountain, and more. Where else in italy wil you be? | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 468 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks Ross, I'm also assuming at this point that most people/businesses there speak english......I hope thats not too presumptuous, but should I be brushing up on Italian? | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1314 Registered: 3-2002 |
tons of great restos. try 'due ladrone' on pzza nicosia. for fish try 'quinzi gabrielli'. lunchtime break while shopping in centro storico go to 'totto' or 'nico's'. go to pzza de la rotonda for a drink and to soak up the atmosphere and peoplewatch. you are way too far away to go to maranello without compromising your time in rome. save it for another time, along w/ bologna and milan, maybe pisa and lucca. | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 466 Registered: 2-2003 |
What gypsies???!?!?!?!  What are you talking about........... I'm just gonna walk into every resteraunt and beautiful hotel, and say, "Hi, I'm Philip Calogero, Mr. Glickenhouse sent me"...... Just kidding James........but I bet you may have a couple good recommendations. | ||
| Bruce Wellington (Bws88tr)
Advanced Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 3000 Registered: 4-2002 |
PHIL I WAS THERE ABOUT 15 YRS AGO, AND ALL I CAN SAY IS WATCH OUT FOR THOSE GYPSIES...THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, JUST KIDS, AND THEY ATTACK YOU IN PACKS...AND ALSO THEY DRIVE ON 2 WHEELS THERE... HAVE A GREAT TIME.. BRUCE | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 464 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hi Guys!! I just booked my trip to ROME! I am very excited. I have never been to Italy. I'll be in Rome for 6 days.......First off, how far is Rome from Maranello? If it's too far, I'll probably do a factory tour when I go back. But I'm sure there are a few people here that could give me ideas about Rome and nearby cities. Any good resteraunts, tours, suggestions...maybe a little out-of-the-way spot.......I'm going in March, so I expect the weather to be about 50 - 60 degrees F. Is that right. Any comments or suggestions are welcome. Thanks! |