A month in Rome -June '05
Oct 13th, 2004, 08:58 AM
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A month in Rome -June '05
I am so excited. I will be visiting Italy (& travelling abroad) for the first time ever. I am lucky enough to have a husband who is willing to take over the kids/house/bills for a month so that I can study at the American University in Rome for a month. I have so many questions that I can't seem to find answers to anywhere on the web.
I have heard that the days are very hot but the nights can be a bit chilly at that time of the year. Can anyone confirm this?
How do people dress in Rome at that time of the year? I have noted that many places will not allow entrance if you have bare arms? Does that mean I have to wear long sleeves or just no sleeveless tops?
Being able to spend a whole month there should give me planty of time to see many things of interest in Rome. However, I would also like to take day trips to other areas of interest that can be accessed by train/bus. Any suggestions? Also, does anyone know if there are places to rent bikes (pedal power not vespas) and if they can be brought onto public transportation?
I have heard Rumors that many restaurants are sexist and may ignore a woman alone as this is uncommon in Italy. Has anyone ever encountered this?If so, how do you get around it successfully?
Has anyone ever been in the position of cooking and purchasing groceries there? I have this incredible fear that if I want some chicken I'm going to have to kill it and pluck it myself. Any tips would be appreciated.
Any and all tips would be appreciated. Thanks all!
I have heard that the days are very hot but the nights can be a bit chilly at that time of the year. Can anyone confirm this?
How do people dress in Rome at that time of the year? I have noted that many places will not allow entrance if you have bare arms? Does that mean I have to wear long sleeves or just no sleeveless tops?
Being able to spend a whole month there should give me planty of time to see many things of interest in Rome. However, I would also like to take day trips to other areas of interest that can be accessed by train/bus. Any suggestions? Also, does anyone know if there are places to rent bikes (pedal power not vespas) and if they can be brought onto public transportation?
I have heard Rumors that many restaurants are sexist and may ignore a woman alone as this is uncommon in Italy. Has anyone ever encountered this?If so, how do you get around it successfully?
Has anyone ever been in the position of cooking and purchasing groceries there? I have this incredible fear that if I want some chicken I'm going to have to kill it and pluck it myself. Any tips would be appreciated.
Any and all tips would be appreciated. Thanks all!
Oct 13th, 2004, 10:05 AM
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Most of what you are used to at home exists in Rome in virtually the same way.
The weather is similar to Jersey in the summer. (You're from New Jersey, yes?) Wear what you wear at home--pretty much the same though you won't see many shorts in the city. Solve the sleeve issue in churches by carrying a sweater or shawl to drape over bare upper arms.
Lots of places to visit accessible by trains or bus. Since you are there so long you could almost try any part of Italy for a long weekend. Any specific interests?
You will be greeted and served properly in restaurants even if you are alone.
They have supermarkets in Italy much like in the US, but the deli counters have a magnificent assortment. Also, there are many specialty shops (butchers, bakers, dairy) with even better quality.
The weather is similar to Jersey in the summer. (You're from New Jersey, yes?) Wear what you wear at home--pretty much the same though you won't see many shorts in the city. Solve the sleeve issue in churches by carrying a sweater or shawl to drape over bare upper arms.
Lots of places to visit accessible by trains or bus. Since you are there so long you could almost try any part of Italy for a long weekend. Any specific interests?
You will be greeted and served properly in restaurants even if you are alone.
They have supermarkets in Italy much like in the US, but the deli counters have a magnificent assortment. Also, there are many specialty shops (butchers, bakers, dairy) with even better quality.
Oct 13th, 2004, 10:10 AM
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Hi JG,
Goody for you.
To help with howto pluck a chicken and other useful information see
Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340
Goody for you.
To help with howto pluck a chicken and other useful information see
Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340
Oct 13th, 2004, 10:36 AM
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A month means 4 or (if you extend it by a bit) 5 weekends, of which, you probably want to spend at least one weekend in Rome itself. For the others, here are some suggestions:
1. Florence
2. Naples
3. Pompei or Herculaneum paired with Capri
4. The amalfi coast
5. Venice
6. Orvieto
7. Tuscan hill towns (if you can get a car. make sure you get an internationa drivers license before you go).
Of course, like ellenem stated, you could pretty much go anywhere, but except for venice and florence(2.5 hours), everything else is within a 2 hour drive/train ride.
1. Florence
2. Naples
3. Pompei or Herculaneum paired with Capri
4. The amalfi coast
5. Venice
6. Orvieto
7. Tuscan hill towns (if you can get a car. make sure you get an internationa drivers license before you go).
Of course, like ellenem stated, you could pretty much go anywhere, but except for venice and florence(2.5 hours), everything else is within a 2 hour drive/train ride.
Oct 13th, 2004, 11:28 AM
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My dream!!!
I am so envious!
what a wonderful thing for you to be able to do!!
I was in rome on my own and certainly was not ignored, even though I was in my late 40s at the time.
I have never found rome to be at all chilly late may onward, but who can tell.
Only churches required covered shoulders ,so just make sure you always keep a lightweight scarf in your purse.
Will you be studying art or italian language? or something entirely different?
What fun!
I am so envious!
what a wonderful thing for you to be able to do!!
I was in rome on my own and certainly was not ignored, even though I was in my late 40s at the time.
I have never found rome to be at all chilly late may onward, but who can tell.
Only churches required covered shoulders ,so just make sure you always keep a lightweight scarf in your purse.
Will you be studying art or italian language? or something entirely different?
What fun!
Oct 13th, 2004, 11:48 AM
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JerseyGal, I learned the hard way years ago about an Italian Law. If you go to buy veggies or fruits (at least this is true in the supermarkets) look for the plastic gloves. You MUST have this plastic glove on before you touch any fresh produce. I was screamed at by 2 customers and a produce clerk because I picked up a tomato with my bare hand.
Did not know what in the world the problem was until a dear sweet older Italian woman ran over and showed me the plastic gloves and got across to me I MUST ALWAYS wear one before touching any produce. After my racing heart quieted down I finished my shopping.
Funny now, but not than.
Enjoy your month - I am green with envy, lucky you!
Did not know what in the world the problem was until a dear sweet older Italian woman ran over and showed me the plastic gloves and got across to me I MUST ALWAYS wear one before touching any produce. After my racing heart quieted down I finished my shopping.
Funny now, but not than.
Enjoy your month - I am green with envy, lucky you!
Oct 13th, 2004, 12:04 PM
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You made me laugh. You had better start reading this site more (or a guidebook or three) and get more of a feel for what to expect. I can just picture you running down the Via Veneto chasing a chicken to pluck! You'll laugh at this too after you return.
Oct 14th, 2004, 07:10 AM
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Cover your knees and shoulders, and waist! I was so glad to see that no Italian women were wearing those horrific belly shirts that are so common in the UK and Ireland--and usually on women who should NOT be wearing them. But the only midriff-baring shirts I saw in Paris and now in Rome were on English and Irish tourists.
Oct 15th, 2004, 01:57 AM
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JerseyGal - we found that the Standa supermarket in Via Cola di Rienzo was perfect for our needs during a two-week stay - the chicken was plucked and ready for cooking. I'm not sure where other Standa supermarkets are located, though there is one at Viale Trastevere 60, I believe.
Oct 15th, 2004, 12:37 PM
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There also is a good (super)market on S.di Crescenzi ,
which leads directly to P.della Rotunda (from the P.Navona direction)
The only thing is the entrance is couple doors away from the exit, so you need to look for it.
Other than that , they have just about everything, and you do not need to KYO
(kill your own
)
But, I am sure the school will have a slew of infor for you!
which leads directly to P.della Rotunda (from the P.Navona direction)
The only thing is the entrance is couple doors away from the exit, so you need to look for it.
Other than that , they have just about everything, and you do not need to KYO
(kill your own
)But, I am sure the school will have a slew of infor for you!
Oct 15th, 2004, 01:38 PM
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JerseyGal, hit the library and check out a pile of guidebooks! Every publisher has a different take on how to "do" Rome and you'll get a lot of good info.
Re: grocery stores. If you can shop at the ones in your own home town, you can do the ones in Rome. You don't even need to know a great deal of Italian, either. The foods are grouped on the aisles just as they are here and the pictures will guide you along. If you get stuck on directions, get a translation on babblefish or one of those other sites. (I assume you'll have access to a computer; in any event, internet points are all over Rome.) You'll be amazed at how delicious the prepared frozen entrees are, that is, if you have your own oven to cook in. Everything is metric; just remember that a 2.2 pounds is what makes up a kilo. (I'm pretty sure, at least!)
Re: bikes. Google bike rental Rome and you'll come up with a few hits. We rented bikes in the Borghese Gardens but that was only for an hour or two. I know you can rent them longer elsewhere.
Re: clothing. Bring layers. Short sleeves for daytime and sweaters or light jackets for evening and early morning. And don't forget rain gear, either. It can really pour!
It sounds like a wonderful trip. One of my friends went to Oxford on a similar trip and she loved it. And her husband and kids managed great for the month she was gone. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me. I loved Rome!
Re: grocery stores. If you can shop at the ones in your own home town, you can do the ones in Rome. You don't even need to know a great deal of Italian, either. The foods are grouped on the aisles just as they are here and the pictures will guide you along. If you get stuck on directions, get a translation on babblefish or one of those other sites. (I assume you'll have access to a computer; in any event, internet points are all over Rome.) You'll be amazed at how delicious the prepared frozen entrees are, that is, if you have your own oven to cook in. Everything is metric; just remember that a 2.2 pounds is what makes up a kilo. (I'm pretty sure, at least!)
Re: bikes. Google bike rental Rome and you'll come up with a few hits. We rented bikes in the Borghese Gardens but that was only for an hour or two. I know you can rent them longer elsewhere.
Re: clothing. Bring layers. Short sleeves for daytime and sweaters or light jackets for evening and early morning. And don't forget rain gear, either. It can really pour!
It sounds like a wonderful trip. One of my friends went to Oxford on a similar trip and she loved it. And her husband and kids managed great for the month she was gone. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me. I loved Rome!
Oct 22nd, 2004, 07:02 AM
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JerseyGal,
Are you coming to the GTG on 30 October?
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34533654
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34533656
Are you coming to the GTG on 30 October?
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34533654
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34533656
Oct 22nd, 2004, 09:58 AM
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JerseyGal, you are so lucky to be able to spend a month in my beautiful city..
I will be there also from May 29th until June 3rd... for only 5. I wish that I could stay longer, but I have many places to visit, including Venice, La Provence and of course Paris..
You can take a day trip to Florence, with the ES, is only 90 minutes or if you feel spiritual, take a trip to Assisi , is so beautiful there..
I will be there also from May 29th until June 3rd... for only 5. I wish that I could stay longer, but I have many places to visit, including Venice, La Provence and of course Paris..
You can take a day trip to Florence, with the ES, is only 90 minutes or if you feel spiritual, take a trip to Assisi , is so beautiful there..
