ofelia

<BR>We just got back from Italy last Tuesday and I must say that we enjoyed very much our visit. Thanks to all of you guys for all the tips. Special thanks to Paolo and the rest of the guys who responded to my questions and concerns. <BR>Since our visit are just highlights of each city, we are looking forward of coming back. <BR>Feel free to ask and I hope I would be of help. <BR>These are my thoughts: <BR>There are a lot of tourists. <BR>Train travel. It is very easy to travel on a first class within Italy. I purchased all my first class tickets and my seat reservation of the first leg of my trip (VEnice-florence) here in US. <BR>I made the seat reservation of the rest on our departure from Venice. The cost of seat reservation over there is half the price (about $6/ticket compared to $15 of rail europe). I printed the schedule from rail europe hence I just marked the time I want to leave. The ticket person I have spoken speak good English so I did not have any problems. Did what you have told us, validate our tickets in the yellow validation machine. <BR>They serve crackers and beverage in the first class. To look for your track (binario), just match the time of your departure against the monitor/big board coz sometimes the final destination of your train is not your destination. <BR>We did not have any problems with pickpockets. We feel safe. But like in any city, we are extra careful of our surroundings. Everybody is friendly especially to my little one. <BR>Ate gelato everywhere. <BR> <BR>Venice-- We feel in love with Venice. We like our hotel Albergo Gambero which is located between Rialto bridge and San Marco. The room is small but newly renovated. Bathroom is newly tiled and tub (no shower curtain) is new, hair dryer is provided. Breakfast is roll, milk, coffe, cocoa. Contrary to Frommers, Le Bistrot (restaurant) managed by our hotel does not serve pizza anymore. Ate at Trattoria Madonna. Squid in black ink with polenta is very good also the artichoke. We had also a good pizza in a quick snak bar along calle de Fabri. The waiter is very friendly with my little one. The little one jsut love feeding and chasing pigeons in St Mark Square. <BR>Florence --- It is very noisy here.. what with the cars and motorcycles hovering around. We ate at Il Latini and we are disappointed especially my husband who he is really looking forward with bistecca all florentina (he love beef steak). We just shared the beef steak (it is big for one person). It is realy thick but very rare. He always order his well done. What a change really. We made a reservation through our hotel for 7:30. We were there 7:20 and there are already lot of people outside. Most customers are tourists. They mix different people in one table. <BR>Tuesday morning at Duomo is really very crowded. We saw a long line at Accademia, we went straight to the exit door based on my confirmation e-mail. I reserved ticket through the internet here for 8:30am. But we arrived there about 9:30am but still honored our reservation. David is really magnificent. <BR>Stayed at pensione Centrale clean and elevator can only accomodate 2 persons. Breakfast is good: boiled egg, ham and chees, bread, cereals, fruits. It's near the San Lorenzo market where you could see a lot of leather goods, ties, scarf and souvenir stuff being sold. <BR>Rome -- Compared to Venice and Florence where you could from one sight to the other. Rome is big. Stayed at Lydia Vener at the top of the Spanish steps. I had hard time sleeping at night with the noise outside. We took the Metro from central train station to Barberini and it was really an experience. I think it is rush hour.. it is really very crowded. <BR>Did our baroque tour (Spanish steps, Trevi, Piazza Navona and Pantheon) on our own. We went to Vatican Museum via cab (cost is 10000 from the our hotel in Spanish steps. We were there at 8am. There was already a long line when we came in. At 8:10, they started allowing people inside... only to realize later that they only allow people in tour groups to go inside early and we have to transfer to a newly formed line for an 8:45 opening. At 8:45, we were able to get in, I rented an audio tour.. and went to Raphael and Sistine Chapel.. The works are really magnificent although it is really crowded. I would suggest to others to take a Vatican tour guide especially they have an exit short cut to St Peter. Since I rented an audio, I have to return it back at the exit. After this is a 20 minute walk to St Peter square. <BR>We had the ancient rome tour using the scala reale. We are only 2 couples (plus our little one). It is a 4-hour tour but not too tiring we stop for restroom and snack, I would recommend them. We ate at Da Mario and satisfied. <BR>Capri -- Its beautiful, disappointed because I did not see the blue Grotto (closed bec the water is rough) I got dizzy riding the hydrofoil. Stayed at Hotel Luna with a spectacular views. <BR> <BR> <BR>

kk

Wonderful trip report, Ofelia. Sounds like you had a really great time. <BR>I was interested in the types of hotels and their costs where you stayed in Venice, Florence and Rome. Were they 2,3,or 4 stars and the costs please? <BR>Also what cities did you fly in and out of, and on what airline? Thank you.

mary

How did you get reservations to see the David. If you have a number or website, I would appreciate it. <BR>Thank you <BR>Mary

Gail

Mary, if you go late in the afternoon, reservations at the Accademia are not necessary.

ofelia

<BR>To mary , I used http://www.waf.it/museires.htm to reserve my Accademia ticket. <BR>To KK, We flew in to Milan then to Venice and flew out of Naples to Rome then back to US via Al Italia. <BR>Hotels I booked in using the Frommers From $60 cost L230,000/night for double (Albergo Gambero in Venice); L190000/night in Florence and 240000/night in Rome. <BR> <BR>