John and Kevin's Big Christmas in Italy Adventure

[DrMomof3]

Glad you arrived safely! Enjoy!!!

 

[disprincessatheart]

Lol on the 1965 airplane steps! We flew to the bahamas last month and had the same experience. I have a feeling though that the Rome airport was somewhat more impressive than the one room shack we toured in Nassau.... The billboards were home made - picture the bulletin board in a 3rd grde classroom, complete with colored construction paper stapled background, cardboard style boarder and some pictures on it with push pins.

 

[Tink rules]

Hey Michelle! Good to see you over here. I've been having a blast listening to the podcast and feel like Kevin is my long lost friend. He doesn't know me, so tell him I'm not a stalker!

don't we all stalk Kevin?

He grew up not far from where I live so when he talks about Upstate NY.. I feel like I'm up here with him...



I'll send you a pm over on FB... The thieves are still talking and I'll get you the link... We've had a few additions to the crew... (baby wise...) you might have heard.. but still lots of gossip!

 

[DisneyKevin]

Morning Folks,

It's 8:45am and we are up and have already had an incredible buffet breakfast.

Our group is going on a walking tour of Rome that will include that Spanish Steps, the Colliseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and assorted other places.

As we have done the guided walking tour previously, John and I are going to check out something our friends Marilee and Dino told us about.

There is a sightseeing bus that circles the city (365 days a year). You pay one price and you can get on and off as often as ou wish.

I'll tell you more about it after we've done it.

It's 36 degrees this morning and crystal clear. Looking forward to getting out and exploring Rome.

Ciao for now.

More later.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

My turn to post!!!!

Italy baby!!!!

I have to start by saying I LOVE where our hotel in Rome is located this trip. We are within walking distance to restaurants, shopping, sites and transportation - a Metro station is less than a block away. And when I say walking distance I don't mean skinny Italian walking distance - I mean fat American who works from home walking distance!!!

Our hotel room is very nice. Showing its age and wear a bit but still nice. This is definately a case of paying for location.

After we got in yesterday we walked to the Vodaphone store and bought microsim chips for our iPads to use in Italy. They were 25Euro each for 1 month or 3G of data - whichever comes first. A little pricey but I'm told the rest of the trip wifi is free in the hotels (this one is not) so I think we will be able to get by.

We also stopped and got a couple of sandwiches and drinks to take back to the room. The people here are so incredibly nice - even if they do drive like they get money if they actually hit someone.

Had a nice dinner last night and met the folks on our trip with us. Everyone seems great.

Went to bed relatively early and started the day with breakfast. I have had prosciutto (sp?) 4 times already and I only had 3 meals - I love Italy!!

Off to try the bus that Kevin mentioned.

Ciao
John

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Glad you two made it safely and are having a wonderful time. Stay safe and Merry Christmas.

 

[NitroStitch]

Howdy Folks,

Uneventful flight over.

We booked with Delta, but we're put on an Alitalia flight. The plane was in need of some repair.

The armrest of my seat was held on with duct tape that came loose during the flight. The flight attendant asked if had broken it. I told her yes....and brought my duct tape repair kit which I used when you weren't looking. I was tired and cranky at hat point.

Priceless response! I'm only sorry you had to deal with the question but I LOVE the answer. Still giggling...

 

[Cherinva]

Have a wonderful time today !!! If I don't get a chance to get back on the boards, here's wishing both of you a very Merry Christmas !!!

 

[Applemomma]

Enjoy your day!!!

Hope the bus works out for you; that sounds like a fabulous thing to do and will have to tuck that knowledge away. I'm always planning for any possibility, whether I can afford it or not!

 

[Rozz]

Merry Christmas John and Kevin!
I am following along! I can't wait to read your updates so I can re-visit Rome and Florence through your eyes and 'see' the other places you get to visit where I've never been. Thank you for taking us with you! Have a safe and wonderful vacation!

 

[connie1042]

I would of said the same thing, if they had asked me if I broke the arm rest. You guys are just to funny. Have a great trip. I will keep checking in. My next post will be my 2000, who would of thought!

 

[sayhello]

Morning Folks,

It's 8:45am and we are up and have already had an incredible buffet breakfast.

Our group is going on a walking tour of Rome that will include that Spanish Steps, the Colliseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and assorted other places.

As we have done the guided walking tour previously, John and I are going to check out something our friends Marilee and Dino told us about.

There is a sightseeing bus that circles the city (365 days a year). You pay one price and you can get on and off as often as ou wish.

I'll tell you more about it after we've done it.

It's 36 degrees this morning and crystal clear. Looking forward to getting out and exploring Rome.

Ciao for now.

More later.

Kevin, I did the Hop On/Hop Off bus in Barcelona, and it's a great way to get around and see a lot of the city! I think it's wonderful that more & more European cities have them. I wonder if they exist in the US? Would be great. Enjoy! I look forward to hearing what you guys thought about it.

My turn to post!!!!

Italy baby!!!!

I have to start by saying I LOVE where our hotel in Rome is located this trip. We are within walking distance to restaurants, shopping, sites and transportation - a Metro station is less than a block away. And when I say walking distance I don't mean skinny Italian walking distance - I mean fat American who works from home walking distance!!!

Our hotel room is very nice. Showing its age and wear a bit but still nice. This is definately a case of paying for location.

After we got in yesterday we walked to the Vodaphone store and bought microsim chips for our iPads to use in Italy. They were 25Euro each for 1 month or 3G of data - whichever comes first. A little pricey but I'm told the rest of the trip wifi is free in the hotels (this one is not) so I think we will be able to get by.

We also stopped and got a couple of sandwiches and drinks to take back to the room. The people here are so incredibly nice - even if they do drive like they get money if they actually hit someone.

Had a nice dinner last night and met the folks on our trip with us. Everyone seems great.

Went to bed relatively early and started the day with breakfast. I have had prosciutto (sp?) 4 times already and I only had 3 meals - I love Italy!!

Off to try the bus that Kevin mentioned.

Ciao
John

Glad your trip is off to such a great start! We walked past your hotel on the ABD Med add-on, and I agree, the location seemed excellent!

I really, REALLY love your comment about the Roman drivers! So very true. Have you noticed how they park their Smart cars?

Enjoy yourselves!

Sayhello

 

[Michele]

I wonder if they exist in the US?

We used one in Washington, D.C. on our trip last summer.

 

[sayhello]

We used one in Washington, D.C. on our trip last summer.

Oh, well that's cool! I'm going to have to do some research on which cities have them! Thanks.

Sayhello

 

[vermontgirl]

Sounds like an awesome time already!
Please keep updating us if you can...inquiring minds want to know!

 

[DisneyKevin]

Almost 7pm here and we are back at he hotel.

We had a busy day today.

We took the hop on - hop off bus for the entire route.

While this was a good idea in theory, the bus left something to be desired.

The cost is 21 euros if booked through a hotel and 25 euros if you pay on the bus. For that 21 ( or 25) euros you get a ride and ear buds. There is a narration in several different languages.

I sort of expected it to be a bit nicer than poorly maintained city bus. This is not a luxury ride....but it gets the job done. Also, the second level is open air and I imagine that is a much nicer experience. It's just far too chilly to ride in an open air bus.

After looking around a bit, we stopped and got lunch and came back to he hotel to take a nap. Yesterday's traveling caught up with us.

After our nap, we headed out to he Trevi Fountain, where we unexpectedly caught up with our group. From there, we walked to the Pantheon (just beautiful) and then to Piazza Navona ( where there is a HUGE Christmas market).

We stopped at Grom, which we are told is the best gelato in Italy (there is another one in Florence....and one in NYC and Malibu) and walked around some more.

We bought a Christmas witch for our tree and had some dinner at a sidewalk cafe (pizza, roasted veggie, meat and cheese appetizer) and then taxied back to our hotel.

We're back a bit early as tomorrow is a very early day. I'm told that we have the first appointment of the day to see the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel.

Some things that have surprised me......

Everyone in Italy wears a scarf and they are all tied impeccably. I wrap mine around my neck. They must teach "scarf" in grade school.

Soda in Italy is a controlled substance and it must be measured by the government. We stopped in a cafe yesterday and the menu read.....1 liter of water 3 euros, 1 liter of wine 5 euros, 1 can Coke Light 10 euros.

There are less Christmas decorations in Rome than in the US. There are some, but all told, my neighborhood in St Cloud has more Christmas lights than the entire city of Rome.

More later.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

Well the bus was a bust!!!

Not really, I just thought that would be funny to post...

It wasn't what we expected. It was more like a mass transit bus than a tour bus. A little dirty and very worn. There were plugs and volume controls for headsets (which they provided) but it was very crackly and hard to hear.

It was also very cold on the bus.

We stayed on for the whole loop, some people did hop on and hop off.

All-in-all it was OK if you have free time or want to get around the city easily but it was certainly not a replacement for the ABD guides.

We got back to the hotel and grabbed a bite to each at one of the little places by the where we're staying and went back to the room to eat. Food was great. I got us something that looked like an empanada but it was ham and cheese inside what was basically a donut. It was heaven.

We both took a nap and then decided to head to the Trevi Fountain where we ran into the rest of our group. *We joined them for the rest of the tour and it was great.

We wound up in a Christmas market - great fun - had a gelato at Grom - had a pizza and antipasto in a small cafe and now back in the room.

Livin' La Doce Vita....

 

[skunkvette]

We got back to the hotel and grabbed a bite to each at one of the little places by the where we're staying and went back to the room to eat. Food was great. I got us something that looked like an empanada but it was ham and cheese inside what was basically a donut. It was heaven.

We call them Panzarotti.

Cathy's brother is a chef and once a year throws a party where he makes them fresh in his kitchen, stuffed with meats, chesses and sometimes tomatoes.

He uses the left over dough to deep fry and roll in sugar and cinnamon for dessert.

They are to die for, glad you had the chance to experience them Old World style.

Have fun!

 

[jcb]

Oh, well that's cool! I'm going to have to do some research on which cities have them! Thanks.

Sayhello

The concessionaire (Tourmobile) that did the on/off tours around the national mall lost its contract earlier this year. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tag/Tourmobile/

The reason is explained here: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/07/28/the-never-ending-tourmobile/

The Park Service is looking at a new, non-exclusive contract, http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/...rvice-seeks-temporary-replacement-tourmobile/

and the D.C. Circulator (which is dirt cheap if you have a smart trip card) is wanting to add a national mall route and rumor is this will happen in 2013.

The Park Service is also looking at adding bikeshare stations: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.co...ing-five-bikeshare-stations-national-mall9093

Now back to Italy.

 

[sayhello]

Some things that have surprised me......

Everyone in Italy wears a scarf and they are all tied impeccably. I wrap mine around my neck. They must teach "scarf" in grade school.

Get Christy H. to give you a lesson! She learned the fine art in Paris this year!

Sayhello