Posted on 03/19/2002 4:17:31 AM PST by mountaineer
In fact, my sisters and I are planning a trip to Italy/Switzerland/France in Sept. or Oct. Aren't there Italio-philes on the Guild? I seem to recall some who said they've been many times. I'm also interested in info on Paris. I sure would like to talk to you about travel tips.
I've never been to Italy - no desire to go - but I have apssion for Switzerland! Never been there either in the flesh but I visit through my books often. Sorry, I am no help with your question. HOB
It looks like a huge golf club is about to make a Titleist out of his head.
(Boy, does he look AWFUL)
Our first trip in 1983 originated in Frankfurt where we started our Eurail adventure to Vienna for a few days, south to Venice for shopping and gawking, back north to Monte Carlo, Nice, and then to Geneva where Pam's sister's family lived.
We had no reservations for lodging so we could stay as long, or as short a time at any one stop. The only place my strategy proved weak was in Monte Carlo: turned out that we arrived around 12am during Grand Prix. Reservations during this week are like season tickets to the Packer's football games - they are so prized as to be mentioned in folk's wills! Yikes. So we reboarded the next train and continued on to Nice where lodging was secured.
Last October our neighbors spent a wonderful two weeks in Rome and are ready to return - there is that much to see and do in the Eternal City.
Whatever you do -pack LIGHTLY. All those duds you won't wear sure do start to weigh heavily upon the shoulders. You will have a wonderful time, guaranteed!
Jeepers...x42's face is the same color as his tie.
If I can't talk you into seeing better places in the world than Italy or France then here's my two cents:
Skip Paris, see the French countryside. Skip Rome, see the Italian countryside.
I've only see Switzerland from the air so I can't tell you anything about it.
Now, if you really want to enjoy yourself:
See the sunrise on the beach at Penang on the Staits of Malaysia where you stay in a five star hotel for fifty bucks a night and see maybe twenty people on the beach all day.
Eat Maui-Maui on a banana peel while sitting on a volcanic outcropping off Mersing, Malaysia, where the turquoise water is forty feet deep and you can see the crabs crawling along searching for food.
Wander along a green and red coral reef off Bahari Beach in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, where the sand is the size of small pebbles and completely white.
Take a motor bike trip through the Serengetti, and stay in the bush for ten days taking pictures of everything from giraffes to rhinos.
See the Seychelles.
There are some beautiful places in the world that are not man made, but the travel agencies are going to try to get you to places from which they can make the most money.
At any rate, I wish you a safe and very happy trip, and may God return you safe and sound.
But it's the countryside we will be drawn to. Olive terraced hills with rose and apricot colored villas, wild roses, century old gardens, little village churches, ruins of old castles. Little old ladies in black mantillas placing wildflower nosegays at the virgin grotto on the edge of an old trail. That's what my daydreams tend to. I'm determined to drive and see the "off the road" places. I want to eat roasted partridge in a trattoria in the Appenine hills with this view:
Lodwick, I never thought about going with no advance reservations. I guess it depends on the time of year. I'll have to consider that.
It's funny you said that about skipping Paris. I'd actually considered that. Given that we'll only have about 3 days I think we should pick one place in the French countryside and explore it. Where would you go, considering what I've told you?
After arriving in Vienna, and struggling out of the train station with everything but the kitchen sink, and wondering where in the heck we would stay, we were approached by a 70ish gentleman who asked if we needed a room or a ride.
We ended up staying with this former POW (he was captured in N.Africa and spent the rest of the war in Bastrop, TX. He loves America and Americans) and his wife in their immaculate pensione with our own bedroom and private bath. Each morning Anna would bring us fresh hot coffee & tea, and assortment of fresh baked pastries and butter and assorted jams. The days were spent exploring the city, including a practice session of the Lippizoner(sp?) stallions, and various castles and museums.
We had a great time in these retiree's home, they made a bit of money, and we saved a ton.
Have you seen the movie "Enchanted April"? It is about 4 British women renting a villa in Italy for a month. It is a LOVELY film!!
Elton John says Mr. Liza Minelli sets of his 'gaydar' by collecting Lalique crystal
Liz Taylor could barely walk at the ceremony Saturday
Michael Jackson made an 18 word 'best man' toast called the shortest in history
And the ring boy at the wedding was making grenade noises as the flower girls were throwing the pedals onto the ground, prompting Liza to tell hin to 'cool it with the sound effects, kiddo'
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