Rookie Mistakes: ITALY

The same mistake we all have made--trying to do too much in too little time.

1st Trip to Italy Goof:

Didn't know that Europe changes Dayline Savings Time earlier in the year than the US. Didn't confirm return flight 24 hours prior - fortunately it had been moved back 1 1/2 hours. Ended up spending a couple unnecesary hours at Fiumicino, but it could have been a mess.

The first time we went to Venice, we stayed in Padua and took the train. I HATED Venice. Thought it was like "Disneyland on Speed." I couldn't wait to get back on the train and out of there.

In 2001, we decided to give it a second chance and stayed for a couple of nights in Venice.

Nightime was magical. The place we stayed was great (Pensione Accademia) and the overall experience was terrific. We're going back for three night son our Sept. Italy trip this year.

The only mistake I made was when I underestimated the driving times on the country roads.

Handling the produce at an outdoor market. I learned that lesson fast.

Thinking it was simpler to book hotels and plan the trip once you get there. Never again!

Winging it as far as accommodations go -- and not realizing that we were trying to do so over a holiday weekend (All Saints Day).

Hi,

Dayle mentioned that Europe doesn't change their clocks at the same time we do here in the U.S. I believe we do it on the last Saturday in April, so when do they do it in Europe? I don't want to miss any flights while I'm there.

Thanks

Thinking that you have to order an antipasto, primo, secondo... You don't have to order every course.

Don't even think of asking to take your leftovers with you!

In the spring, Europe changes the last weekend in March; the US changes the first weekend in April.

Not really a rookie mistake, I think but trying to withdraw money from an ATM machine outside a bank that was closed. The machine "ate" my husband's card and we had to wait until the next day (when the bank was open) to retrieve it. The bank's response: "oh, that machine is a little broken." After that we only withdrew money from ATMs in front of banks that were open but, of course, never had another problem.

Didn't realize that Labor Day in Florence was such a big deal. No shops were open, the Accademia (even though we had reservations) was closed as were most of the sights we wanted to visit.

Being a lover of good red wines, it took a while for me to catch on that all those people who told me "drink the house wine" were totally wrong -- for me. Most of it was undrinkable as far as I was concerned. But then I also learned it was fine to ask for a taste first to see if it was good, sometimes it is.

Not checking to see if there's going to be a train strike on the one day you plan to take it to Pompeii.

If you're staying in the Tyrol region, learn some German phrases too. Some folks in Merano don't speak much Italian (or won't).

And Ms. Go...Get back to work!

Thinking that driving on the Amalfi Coast would be no problem since I drive in Manhattan all the time...even though my Roman friend strongly discouraged me.

Thinking I could pick up a rental car on Sunday in Naples (even though I had a reservation). The rental agency was closed. Divine intervention I guess...

Thinking that drinking Tequila (lots and lots of Tequila) in a club in Testaccio was a good idea. It's not.

Thinking it's easy to get a taxi back to the hotel from Testaccio at 4am It's virtually impossible.

Buying the "cheap seat" tickets at the Candlelight Concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Music was lovely, but we stared at a large pillar the entire concert.

oops - sorry. Wrong country.

My biggest mistake?... Using the return portion of my airline ticket! : )

Good one, nutella. Why didn't I think of that?

I still make this kind of mistake: when buying food I never know my weights/measurements (in Italian).

In Rome I practically threw my back out carrying an enormous wedge of Parmesan I had bought back to the apartment. Maybe I had asked for due kilos of cheese?

We ate it all anyway.

Walking out the door of my cousin's house after leaving a 25 watt light bulb on. He tracked me down and made me go back to turn it off.

Casale-Abruzzo Villa Rental
http://www.angelfire.com/film/casale

1) Carrying a wallet in Rome which was quickly donated to charity (snatched on the metro).

2) Not taking motion-sickness pills for the agonizing boat trip to Capri from Naples.

3) Missing the last bus of the day (twice!) on the Amalfi Coast and getting scorched by taxis.

4) Not giving a dozen roses to my wife for her tolerance of 1,2,3 above.

Believing that when the Michlin Map site said a route would take XXX amount of time, that it would. Afer being late for 2 appointments and a dinner reservation, we now pad it aleast 1/2 hour, longer if we are using country roads.
Lisa S

I agree, underestimating the power of a train strike. Caught me on a power shopping day in Tuscany.

Not taking advantage of all the minutes available and opportunities when they present themselves.

Not climbing to the top of St. Peter's dome (Vatican) on our FIRST trip to Rome, leaving it for another trip.

Not drinking more wine...gosh, could have had SO much more!

Not having time for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

The first time in Florence, not staying in a central hotel. We were way out.

Getting a bit "churched out" and not checking the insides of a few churches we passed by, then regretting the omission later.

--Marv

We were pretty up to par on things in Florence, but when we arrived Venice's train station we were so excited to board the vaporetto and head down the Grand Canal that we mistook the vaporetto landing for the vaporetto itself. Boy did we look goofy standing there with our frontal view, all ready to go, until we saw the "real" boat show up.

Never taking the time to stand in line to see St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. We kept saying we'd go back later when the line was shorter and it never was. Now we have to go back to Venice to see it. Aw, shucks!

When using public restrooms in cafes, etc., be sure to check where the light switch is on entering. Sometimes the lights go out during "your stay" and you can easily reactivate if you know where the switch is. Was rather unsettling the first time this happened to me in Sorrento!

Trying to see London on our 5 hour layover to Italy - exhausting!

Drinking on the flight over - after drinking the whole day before at our wedding (I didn't see my swollen ankles for 3 days! Had no idea that could happen in your 20's!)

Telling the Hydrofoil ticket seller in Garda "I'll go anywhere the boat takes me" - Nope. Had to name a destination to get a ticket.


Staying 'near' the Spanish steps in Rome - with 'near' being a very relative term. I learned transportation in Rome is too tough to follow, definitely a city to stay central in (for us).

Not haggling with the water taxi driver at the airport in Venice (Vapporetto was on strike, so I thought I was lucky to get anywhere).

Staying in Manarola (CT) the last night before a 10Am flight out of Milan.


But... they all pale in comparison to the things that worked out well!

1. Paying too much for our taxi ride from the airport into Rome. Man, were we suckers.

2. Spending only 1 day in Florence. Looking back, that was a crime.

3. Spending too much time in Assisi (it's worth only one night, not two).

4. Changing some of our travelers checks at a currency exchange before we realized our ATM cards would work over there.

The best things we did:

1. Giving ourselves 2 weeks on our first trip there.

2. Spending the majority of our trip in Rome. I'm already planning our return trip.

3. Our hotel on Via Veneto (Westin Excelsior - I highly recommend it. Especially if you like to pay $7 for a can of Pringles).

Statia - were you just in Venice between Dec.23-26? I was on the vap dock waiting to go down the canal from the train station with a group of English-speakers were laughing at themselves because they all thought that we were actually on the boat already.

No, Sandi, we were there summer of '03, but I'm glad to hear that others make the same mistake. Actually when I posted the incident in my trip report, someone responded that they had done it, too.

1) Ordering 3 cokes with a meal in Piazza Navona without knowing that they charged 5.50 euro each (Ouch).

2) Assuming that the information booth attendant at the train station spoke english.

3) Thinking that the Tabacchi shop would be open at 7AM, and not having a bus ticket to the train station. We rode the bus anyway without a ticket.

4) Asking the waiter for the check, il conto, after finishing the dessert. I was scolded (twice) by the restaurant manager for rushing off.

DonnieD, when were you supposed to ask for the cheque? It sounds like you were finished.

Even after dessert, diners are expected to continue on with an evening of conversation, sipping on wine, and people watching. I think that complete digestion of the meal is expected before departing.

The table is yours for the evening, not just for the meal. Eating and rushing off was not appreciated.

Years ago when I was 17, after 7 weeks backpacking with a friend all over Europe, we arrived at the Rome airport for the flight home without enough lira to pay our airport tax. Who ever heard of airport tax, anyway? Surrounded at the airline desk by a crowd of men trying to check in for the flight, I did the only thing I could think of: pulled my shirt a bit more low-cut and burst into tears. About 50 Italian guys fought to pay our airport tax. This was in the pre-euro days and we had tons of change from other countries that couldn't be converted to lira. The euro--not to mention being old enough to have a credit card--pretty much takes care of this problem.

Not figuring out how to UN-lock the locks on toilet doors BEFORE shutting oneself in.

Frescoes - too may frescoes. Pace yourself.

Eating "Chicken under a brick" - that was the literal translation on the menu - in Lucca. It was almost as bad as it sounds. We christened it "pollo alla autostrada".

Staying in a self catering house seemingly at the top of a mountain near Arezzo. The wind blew up every evening forcing us indoors - no sitting on the patio sipping a glass of wine for us!

Not spending time looking around the fabulous outdoor antique market in Arezzo. Rushed off to do other things.

Mistakes in Italy:
1. Not making sure our hotel took credit cards before it was time to check out.
2. Not having my gangly pre-adolescent daughter try on the skirt she planned to wear to St. Peter's before we went - she'd grown a few inches and it was too short, and it was the only skirt we had with us. I pleaded with the guard (in Spanish, sad to say) and he let us in.
3. Assuming the "pedestrian only" path to Piazza Navona meant no motorbikes. I stepped from a restuarant directly into one's path. My waiter chased the driver with a raised fist yelling, "Mamma Mia!" so it was sort of worth it.

I do regret making a salesgirl hyperventilate from watching me search through a stack of sweaters for my size. This was before I knew it was against the rules.

I got screamed at (by my friend) the first (and last) time I touched produce with my bare hand.

Taking too much time writing postcards to everyone at home. Now I do not send any or just a few.

Eating too much of everything (not hard to do in Italy).

Overdoing sightseeing one day and then being very tired the next day. I have learned to pace myself.

Not going back to Italy enough!

Would someone start a thread about rules of Italy, either formal or imformal. I didn't know you shouldn't touch the produce. I didn't know not to look through a stack of sweaters.

What else?

Hi all,

I don't know these rules of Italy either. If you aren't allowed to touch produce with your bare hands, then how do you know if you want to buy it? If you can't look through the display of sweaters for your size, how do you get one?

So areinert, I will start a thread about rules of Italy.

This wasn't even the first trip!

Assuming that the panoramic view shown on the website for the property would be the same from our apartment. It wasn't. Instead, our apartment was part of a converted stable and faced the inner garden. It was beautiful and beautifully furnished but not what we expected.

We were in a busy train station trying to buy tickets to our next destination. While my husband and one daughter stood in line at the ticket booth another one stood with me in line for the machine. The third one was the runner - going back and forth between us to let us know which team was closer to the purchase. The machine line won and we entered our destination and the money and out popped our tickets. We grabbed them and ran to our train with minutes to spare. Luckily, running after us was the girl that had been behind us in line who found our return tickets still in the machine trough.

In the Rome train station, I allowed a husband-and-wife team of gypsies to haul my bag for me. I didn't really allow them, one grabbed my ticket, the other grabbed my bag, then charged over to a train car, threw my very heavy and very huge suitcase on and demanded money. I gave them a 2Euro coin and grumbled, then realized quickly that they had put me on the wrong car. I had to haul my huge bag off, and run for my life to make it to the proper train car. Never again, never again, will this happen to me. In fact, the next time I go back, I will bring some serious game with me. Plus, I know how to read the train tickets now, which is harder than one might realize. (I am ashamed to admit, I had read much about these things happening before my trip, and could not believe how fast these two got me. I though I had my game on that day!)

The other mistake was taking that huge bag. It was like a trunk on wheels. I brought way too many clothes, thinking that I wanted options of what to wear each day, and I wound up wearing the same two pairs of pants and three shirts to every damn city. Next time, I am taking a teeny tiny bag...

On our first and last nights letting pushy waiters convince us of what to order...of course they chose the MOST expensive things (not on the menu, very special). Everything was good but the bill...ouch!

Also agree about not feeling like you HAVE to order every course. Just get what you want.

Trying to find our hotel in Venice after a three-hour lunch and several pitchers of house wine. All I remember is a lot of canals. Ahh, to be young again.

We forgot to stamp our tickets before getting on the train. Not a huge deal but it cost us 5E.

flying Alitalia.

First mistake: Not having an exit plan when visiting the relatives in Sicily.
Next: Driving on the autostrada where road construction is in progress ( almost everywhere)when you are sleepy.
Driving in Naples!!!
And presuming that the map you have is accurate and that all the streets go two ways. We have never seen a city map that shows which streets are one-way. My husband just says that he is only driving ONE-way. OH, Bella Italia

I was in Florence for a week in March 2004 and it was great. For the mistakes I have a short list:

1. The time did change a week earlier there and caused us to end up having to take a train an hour later to Pisa
2. The trip to Pisa - Unless you absolutely need to see the Leaning Tower I didn't find too many redeeming qualities to this town.

Aside from those few things the trip was amazing and we stayed in an apartment directly across the street from the Palazzo Pitti and ate at many fine restaurants. In addition we find a great 12-euro bottle of wine (or three) at the central market in Florence that was great with out cheeses we had purchased. The best night there was spent at our apartment eating fresh cheese, drinking wine and playing dominoes while recounting the day's travels.

Buying first class tickets for the train, only to find that there's no plan for the trains on the platform, a la Germany, Switzerland, etc., so when the train is stopped for one minute at the station, there's no way on earth to get to the first class carriage in time, so ended up in tourist class, standing up (or sitting on my luggage in the aisle). Lesson: buy tourist class ticket in future.

Not finding out the distances before taking a taxi. Booked a taxi from the train to our hotel, ended being practically across the street!!! Still had to pay the minumum!!
LisaS

On our honeymoon 22 yrs ago we assumed there would be a place to stay or a camping site in Montemurro. (Basilicata region) There wasn't that we could find! So we set up our tent in a field and hoped for the best.
Woke up at dawn to the sound of goats and herders coming along. Many of them. We stepped outside, calling good morning in our best Italian. They, hearing our accents, changed their grumpiness to smiles and head shakings at the silly Americans. It was charming and funny.
This last November on a trip there with our 3 kids we found an agritourismo which was nice but it wasn't anywhere near as romantic and fun! (No goats or herders)

Buying gelato in Rome off a street vendor, and THEN asking the price! Boy, what expensive desserts!

Monica

Ditto for one of the messages--if you are prone to motion sickness, take a pill before leaving on the boat from Naples to Capri. Take another pill before going to the Blue Grotto if the sea is choppy--have to say, I wasn't the only one who became ill.

Be very careful as some of the walk-in restaurants on Capri are very, very expensive. We ended up going to the local market and selected fresh ingredients for for the most delicious sandwich ever (a market right off the piazza)!

Never adjusting to the jet lag! Our sleeping schedule was out of whack almost the entire time, causing us to miss a few things because we didn't wake up in time (no alarm clock, of course!).

It wasn't my first trip to Europe, but it was our honeymoon, so we probably underestimated the exhaustion and carryover stress from our wedding planning! Next time- maybe I'll bring a backup sleeping aid, just in case.

After a wonderful three week visit with family in Tuscany, we made the mistake of thinking we would save time by flying Alitalia from Florence to Rome for a 20 hour layover. We had a $330 room reservation with a huge window that opened up a breath-taking view of the Fontana di Trevi. The plane was delayed, delayed, delayed, then cancelled. We had to rent a car, drive to Rome and didnt get there until 10pm. We should have been there at 10am, but had an awful time with the flight cancellation and alot of difficulty navigating the entrance to centro.

However, the view of the fontana was stunning at night and we avoided the crowds below. Since we had travel delay insurance with Amex. everything was refunded but the opportunity.

Oh well, I guess we will just have to return. After all we did throw three coins in the fountain! Lesson learned: Dont rush and never, never fly Alitalia on flights within Italy, the delays and cancellation cause more aggravation than the time it took to drive the auto strada with its gorgeous scenery.

Not a rookie mistake but a mistake I guess. The last time I was in the region of Veneto I fogot to go to Venice.

Not checking out which Florence train station we needed to get off at to catch our train to Venice.

Got a look at the local transport system that day.

Well, my recent trip wasn't my first to Italy, but my other time was 24 years ago, so...

I asked for a "latte" at a coffee bar for my mom, and she got a cup of hot MILK. Now I know to say "cafe latte".

I agree with Bob the Navigator; trying to do too much. Or the variation, having a too-long list of places to see and being disappointed if I don't see it all. That affects the pleasure of what I do see. I'm getting better at being loser about my expectations, but it's still a challenge to remember, especially when I start to plan a trip.
Paule

Walking around Termini station alone at 12 am in the pouring rain on Monday night was a no no and I learned it the hard way.

In replying to not knowing about touching produce etc. here is a phrase to know when you enter any little shop (don't try it at large places like Ferragamo. They won't be amused!)

1. Enter, make eye contact, smile and say either Buon Giorno or Buona Sera, depending on time of day (after 3 p.m. say Buona Sera)

2. If you see things you want to examine, simply smile politely and say
"Posso tocchare?" (Pron: Poe-so Toe-car-eh)

That means "May I touch?" I nearly always get a "prego" or "certo" as a reply, but if they don't want you to touch, they will come over and remove it from the stack, shelf, cabinet or whatever and hand it to you. N-E-V-E-R be presumptious and touch merchandise before asking first.

In grocery stores, in the produce section, they have little plastic gloves (disposable) you must put on before touching produce to put in your cart or basket. Don't just reach and grab. I've seen people tsk-tsked and shooed right out of shops for doing this. No kidding.

Since areinert wanted a separate post, I'll post this in a new thread as well.