Heading to Italy

[Ron]

Hey Gang, I will be in Italy 12-22, so I will try to post if possible. I have a world blackberry but don't know how cumbersome it will be to try to post on it.

Have fun!

[jim-ratliff]

Hey, Ron, that's an awesome wine tasting and pasta trip.? Have a ball.

However, kind of selfish that you aren't taking your Orange-helmeted Italian friend along??

[midwif]

Ron
Business or pleasure? Where in Italy? One hears the biking is only second to the eating!
A few details please! Any skiing there at that time? Or too late in the season. The mountains are at lower levels than other euro countries.

[Glenn]

I'm a little late to this thread...have a blast!!! 

[bf_hill]

Just got back from a 10 day cruise around Italy on Oceania cruise lines myself....well, last summer...

Venice was fantastic, the towns of Cinque Terra were beautiful.  Rome was....Rome.  Florence is a must.  You will have a great time, enjoy the espressos!

[Gary]

Yes I too like pasta ....selfish, nope that's not Ron..I'm sure he needed some solid time with his lovely wife with all the out west time he's had.

ANd ALice and I with some biking friends are heading for Tuscany in October for a 5 day bike ride(good timing for getting the ski legs in shape) and then some down time in Florence, Venice and Rome. SHould be a great fun.

AND THEN.....skis season....oh man...how many days to go?

Oh so much to do before ski season...oh yeah....some work in there too.

G

[Ron]

We had a fantastic trip. although peole say you don't need to know Italian, you better have a decent working vocabulary unless you want to stick to the tourist traps. We started in Rome, which we loved. We had a incredible private tor of the vatican and then Rome. We both really love history art and such. We try our best to avoid anyhting touristy other than the museums and all. Learned a lot and of course ( learned many crazy pope stories and the history around the Sistene chapel- wild story), we ate at some great local restaurants and such. Every day was a 2 hour lunch and a 2 plus hour dinner. food there is great. I love seafood and fresh pasta's cooked with simple ingredients. Florence was aslo great; such history and beauty. More graet food and wine. Went to see "david" and the Uffizi museums. Again, more local spots and good rustic foods.? venice? Well, venice is pretty much a giant tourist trap that is very beautiful but is in disrepair and over priced. We found one of the streets which was named for our family in the 1500's.? That was very cool. There are actually 3 others in venice with my name. It's OK to visit a couple of days but I wouldn't go back there. We did take a ferry over to Burano, a small fishing island with multi-colored homes. Not much to do there but eat, so we did!? I had incredible octopus (poli-pulpo) and grilled fresh sardines. The owner of the tratoria recognized the last name and started to send over a few rounds of Lemonchello and grappa!? We went with our neighbors and the 4 of us walked about 10 miles per day, Even with all the food we ate (although the food was very healthy, they don't really use cream sauces) and the wine we drank, 2 bottles at lunch and dinner!!!? My wife actually lost a pound I lost a couple as well. One thing we noticed, the only fat people were the Americano tourista's.......
some pics-

our street!


Rome "No Bush Day" grafitti, gotta love it


my better half at Trevoli fountains? (amazing!)


Just some cathedral ceiling incredible


Classic Venice scene


REAL proscuitto- Grand reserva sorrento Bellisimo!


Typical 4pm rosso vino break....


A killer piatta (plate) of Assagio (assorted) griglia (grilled) mare chaira (seafood)

[midwif]

Great pics Ron!! Looks like you had a wonderful time.
The food looks amazing.

[Glenn]

Simply awesome! I went over when I was 20 or so. I had a real blast. We were down in Regio-Calbrio....you could see Sicily from the hotel. I'd love to get back there again. The food, the wine, the 12% beer the bartender at the hotel gave me....sweet 

[Gary]

and he couldn't find one ski store....how horrifying!

Nice pic's Ron.....

Come on, level...you bought at least one thing for skiing right?

Gary

[Ron]

looked all over for a ski shop or a sports shop that had something related to skiing. Nothing, senza. Too far from the resorts. Keep in mind the vast majority of women and men dress up much more than we do. You don't see guys walking around in work boots,n hikings shoes or even sneakers. They just don't wear them around. Guys: fashion jeans or nice pants, collared shirt with sweater, leather jacket or nice blazer. Shoes, dress or sketcher-like shoes. Women, tight jeans with knee-high boots is the hot fashion, long peasant-like shirts over the jeans. Shirts with boots and funky designed thigh-high stockings. Sunglasses: men, oversized black frames (like Bono), early 20's teens, ray-ban aviators, women, big Dolce gabbano like oversized frames.  Very chique!  Ray-ban is definitely the hot brand in sunglasses. buy stock now. 

[Glenn]

My wife would love it there. She loves fashion!

[Gary]

Anyone wearing orange ....cause that's my kind of town!

No ski store...no sporting store....thank goodness they have great  food, wines and history!

G

[Ron]

orange, not so much..... but you wouldn't want to wear what everyone else is wearing!

you could wear this:? ? I had to take this picture. This had to be a German tourist.....  GARY, note the Murse, (Man Purse)

[jim-ratliff]

wow, I like those pants.  That color in a ski pant with my Supershape Magnums and a white jacket.  Feeling like Ron I am.
Now if only I could ski as well as Ron, or Gary, or Brad, or Lynn, or Ed, or Michael.

Hmmmm.  Could we get some more intermediate level skiers to come next year???