Hello there AndrewDavid, just saw your questions to me about Italy. I have never been to Sicily but I love Naples (leave it to me to love somewhere that some think is the dregs of society, LOL). It is bedtime here in California, but this weekend I will post again on this thread regarding Naples (Napoli).

BTW, I don't know all the proper OZ terms but my paternal grandfather who took my father at age two from NZ to Australia had a parrot that he acquired from a shipcaptain (my grandfather had been a shipcaptain also). Evidently this parrot had a "mouth" on him that would make a sailor blush. The story in the family was that my grandmother would have guest for formal Sunday tea and without fail this parrot would all of a sudden start swearing in the very worse way. Evidently the local Angelican Priest, Minister, whatever he was called, finally announced he was no longer coming to their house for tea due to the filthy mouth of the parrot. My dear London born grandmother was horrified but my Scot/Canadian born grandfather was evidently quite pleased. Evidently that didn't hurt his feeling any, LOL.

And Neil, Perugia is a fantastic location!! The chocolates are not bad either. Good luck to you two for working out an accomdation there. I am sure you will love Perugia and the surronding location. It is so beautiful.

Best wishes to all you lovely folks in Oz. And Neil, I won't even comment about your getting grumpy at age 27...for shame!! As usual you give me a good chuckle.

Cheers!!

Drinks! Drinks?? No drinks to be had here - this is the dry continent -and we aim to keep it that a-way - no incontinence!

AD- congrats on 25 years - just how does J put up with you You didn't answer my last email - looking for current address?

Italy...watching for Italy stories - this year's planned trip was cancelled - but maybe next year?? Reports here - they'll get lost on the Europe board.

LoveItaly - yep - far too proper those Anglican minister types - wouldn't have fazed a catholoc priest at all!

Hi Margo, LOL, you know I was thinking the same thing. Our local Catholic priest.....well lets just say my DH almost had to declare bankruptcy one night at a party/fund raiser due to the number of drinks he to buy him. But this dear priest was from Ireland, so what can I say?

I didn't get the Naples info posted here today, I am sorry. But will tomorrow for sure. Today got a bit out of whack, lots of phone calls etc.

Hugs from California.

Hello AndrewDavid, what I love about Italy mostly is the life style. Here we seem to live to work and almost feel guilty squeezing in some fun and relaxation. In Italy people work hard but it is not their main focus. They live to enjoy life and yet their enjoyment seems to come from simple pleasures. Sitting at an outdoor cafe in a piazza enjoying some kind of a drink with friends and/or family without worrying about how much time they are spending. Taking enjoyment in a simple dish or two of properly prepared food usually made from very fresh ingredients. Sitting around the dinner table in the evening talking and just enjoying being together. Going into a restaurant in the evening and not being rushed because the restaurant intends to want several sittings at the table so they can make more money of course. This sometimes causes confusion with tourist as they sit and wait for the check and do not understand they will not be given the check (bill) until they request it as that would be considered rude as though the restaurant were rushing them out the door. Wish we had that custom here. Often we are given the check before we even finish eating.

Italians tend to spend a lot more time outdoors as though it is part of their living room so to speak. The piazza's and sidewalks are full of the young ones eyeing each other, flirting and so forth. Families are seen with their little ones, enjoying them, buying them a gelato. The elderly take their walks without worrying about being out at night and all alone.

The beauty of Italy from her coastlines to her mountains to her agriculture areas, lake areas, to the fabulous cities, the islands, are so beautiful and so full of history. It is really hard to explain how the most small little place can be so charming and interesting.

Basically the Italians are warm and polite people and very charming. They still have such a pride and love for their family and their country. Of course one runs into someone grumpy occassionally but basically that is not the case, at least not in my experience.

And oh, did I mention the wine?? My goodness one can buy a wonderful bottle of wine in Italy for 50% of what one mediocore glass of wine cost here in N. California.

Nowhere is paradise of course and of course there are irritations sometimes. Everything seems to take longer to accomplish. The traffic in the cities is horrendous. And there certainly are not well marked street signs, often you will just see the name of the street carved into the side of the building. Streets can be narrow and consequently harder to drive. Italians drive like the devil was after them but they are generally skilled drivers but having said that Italy does have a high incidence of auto accidents.

The public transportation system is much better by any comparison compared to ours. But the transportation workers do not hesitate to go on a four or eight hour strikes whenever they feel in a foul mood about something. The only good thing is the strike has to be announced in advance and sometimes the strikes are cancelled at the last moment. But this can add stress to the average traveller. And the trains can be late and noone is surprised by this. That is why I always caution people to not use the train to get to the airport to depart for home if their flight is in the morning.

Of course I don't have to mention the architect, the churches that are filled with artwork, the museums etc. In fact it is easy to get overwhelmed with so much so I always try to avoid this feeling by just stopping and taking a break from all of the sightseeing. One of my favorite activities for downtime is to sit at an outdoor cafe and just people watch. It is better than being at the theater. Walking in out of the way neighborhoods, away from the tourist areas, is another good way to get a feel for Italy and it is always so relaxing.

Naples is beautiful, confusing, overwhelming, irritating at times and so very vibrant. I understand why some people do not enjoy their visit to Naples but personally I love it although I have not been for awhile. And unfortuantly my friend in Naples just obtained a new job in Florence, so that was a dissapointment to me although I am happy for him of course.

I know some people say Naples is dirty. Well I would say Naples is more rustic in someways and they do have an ongoing battle about their garbage. And of course some people are so afraid of the crime in Naples. But basically serious crime takes place in the suburbs, not areas where tourist are. Pickpockets and con artist, of course. But anyone who is use to being in big cities should know how to be aware of their surrondings and take care of themselves. I just read a post on the US Board by a poster who visited San Francisco from New York City and he was appallad by the panhandlers, the homeless. And I can sure understand and yet tourist flood to SF and love to visit. And I must say I wouldn't consider SF to be the cleanest city in the world, especially where the homeless hang out if you know what I mean. And just as a point of interest I was in a small popular town in N. Italy a few years ago where friends told me not to take a walk by myself out of the historical center because the crime was so bad due to illegal immigrants that had flooded their area. So it is not just large cities. I would say the biggest thing to be careful of in Naples is as a pedestrian be very careful crossing streets. The Neapolitans don't drive like the devil is after them, they like they are the devil! It is unbeliavable. So keep an eye out.

Speaking of overwhelming, I always get more overwhelmed in Florence than in Naples. I think it is because Florence is more compact and so to see all the sites one often gets so tired of the tourist. I always go to Florence when I go to Italy as I have many friends there but I really only enjoy it when I get away from the historical center.

Naples of course has a history of being invaded so to speak by many countries and cultures. The Bay of Naples is so beautiful. And I love the food in Naples (actually I love the food all over Italy).

I have never been to Sicily unfortunatly but I don't know anyone that has that hasn't fallen in love with it. I envy you as I have always wanted to go but noone else ever has.

I sure wish you a wonderful trip, I know it will be. I hope you will post a trip report as I would be interested in your thoughts and experiences.

AndrewDavid,

Are you Dinky's agent? If so, can you make sure he'll be there 9:30 AM on August 12th.

Hullo All!

Well, I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread, totally by accident, because I see so many "friends"...like LoveItaly, who apparently is a fellow Californian (possibly in my backyard - where?)who has waxed on poetically about Naples...I might be tempted.......if I hadn't been there already and disliked it. Hey! To each their own! You've totally hit the nail on the head for all the reasons we love Italy though.

AndrewDavid...who sent me an email (via this board) saying he was going to be in the San Francisco Bay area, and could he come to my office? I responded yes, yes!

But I don't actually know if he got that email or saw the posting, and now I find out he's going to be in Bella Italia during September, as am I! Wouldn't THAT be a hoot if we were able to meet in Italy from the Fodors Australia site?! Alas, I fear our schedules don't mesh. He's mentioned Naples (see above) and Sicily, which I'd dearly love to visit someday, but no room on this trip.

Neil...who always makes me laugh and exchanges receipes with me.

Margo..so funny as well, and hope that when I take Big Trip 2006 we can meet in person (tenatively planned at this point).

Regards,

Melodie

For those who are interested there's a full page story on Dinky in August issue of Australian Traveller Magazine. It seems Dinky is now so famous that "he's become part of the southern NT tourist trail, as memorable to some as Uluru or King's Canyon". Lovely, doing well for a dingo rescued as a pup from a dingo-baiting program.

Hello Melodie, yes I do love Naples but know many people that don't. It is interesting how we all enjoy different places. I always enjoy Milan also, but some people think it is gray and cold. Perhaps when you know people in an area or city it helps, you end of seeing and enjoying places that you wouldn't during a few days visit.

Andrew David asked me why I loved Italy, so I tried to explain. I too wish I could get to Sicily Melodie, I think that would be an interesting trip.

I sure wish you a beautiful time in Italy, September is my favorite month to visit. Enjoy every moment. Best wishes.

Hi I love Italy - I enjoyed Naples too, although its probably one of the most terrifying cities to drive in. So much colour, there's nothing wussy about the Neopolitans!

LoveItaly,

Well, geez, I'm outnumbered on the Australia Board by the two Fodorites who love Naples (you and Margo).

Where ARE you from in the Bay area anyhoo???

Margo - any large city in Italy is terrifying to drive in - it's not just Naples! I once tried to get out of Florence and I could SEE the Autostrada from the rental car office, standing outside on the sidewalk! And yet, trying to get there was a nightmare!

Regards,

Melodie

Hi Melodie, I live in Vacaville (the southern end of the Sacramento Valley). Have lived here five years. Moved here from the SF Bay Area after I lost my DH as my daughter, SIL and family live in Vacaville. A nice pleasant city to live in but must say in a way it is a bit boring and it is very HOT in summer. First time in my life I have not lived by the water, not sure if I have adjusted, think I have not. Cheers!

We visited Jim's Place around 8 A.M. and were very lucky to find both Jim and Dinky there. We mentioned that we had come 15,000 miles to see Dinky and Jim was very gracious and acommodating. Since it is so remote, you might want to check in advance. Here is the contact information:

Phone: 011 61 8 8956 0808

e-mail: [email protected]

P.S. Since Jim does not charge anything for Dinky's "performance", order a small bite to eat there. I'm sure he will appreciate the business.

Thanks so much, Orlando - This was the info I was looking for (but the digression was very entertaining).

Stating the bleeding obvious, maybe, but the '011' part of that phone number (the international access code) will apply only if you're in the US, Canada or one of a few Central American countries. In the UK it's 810, most of Western Europe (and NZ, China and some others) 00, and so forth. In Australia it's 0011.

If you're calling from a mobile (cell) phone you can use "+" in lieu of the international access code. I think that's a general rule.

BTW, if you need to call Emergency in Australia it's 000, not 911 (or 999). Under the influence of US TV shows we even have Australians who think ours is 911.

You are an impressionable lot, Neil

Can't argue with that, OWJ. Look at our voting track record.

I was joking of course but was also thinking of just how many US based fastfood restaurants I saw when I was in Australia (especially in Sydney) and all the television shows imported from the UK and US. It's not my fault but I apologize for all the Starbucks or McDonalds that have appeared on your landscape. I can not take credit or blame for that scary McOz burger though. Beetroot and egg on a burger does not work with my American sensibilities even after hours of drinking at Circular Quay bars--but that's a post for another time

Well, for me, cheese and pickles don't work - horses for courses, or whatever's in the pattie. No need to apologise for the McD and KFC shops - if Australians didn't line up to eat the awful stuff they wouldn't be here.

As for the US and UK TV shows, we're a sitting duck - with an English-speaking population about that of Texas, it's always cheaper to buy someone else's rubbish than make your own rubbish. Mind you, we've been inflicting soaps on the Brits for a long time (I like to think that "Neighbours" is our revenge for "The Bill&quot.

Cheeseburgers rule but not with pickles. Ick, ick and triple ick.

Sorry crosscheck for hijacking your thread ....

seems I always like to wait and enter the fracas much later. I'm kinda happy that I did wait on this one as it's typically Australian.

How do I get to visit with Dinky on my next trip? Does he allow Americans in for an audience? I can see that our last prez would love to meet up with "Dinky" and perhaps have a good summit together. However our "current" doesn't allow many audiences or talks any more.

Where does Jim perform? Is it somewhere in the locale of Pat's home? Looks like I'll definitely have to make another trip back in '06.

Oh and Happy Anniversary AD - enjoy your time together!!
Ellen