Yae for ROME!!! <BR>Richard: <BR>How *bad* was the Air Conditioning at the Due Torri??!! I took Richard's reccommendation & booked it for SEPTEMBER!! If it's not really, really *good* a/c, I will be miserable (I'm a 'baby' when it comes temperature differential ;-&gt;). Please advise... <BR>Thanks. <BR>And GREAT post!

Wow! I can't believe you found this old post! The A/C wasn't great, but it wasn't good anywhere. It may not have been turned on, the Italians are notorious for only having the A/C on at certain times of the year. I was there in May. <BR> <BR>Hey! Check out my newly updated websight. There is a lot more info about Rome including hotels, restaurants, travel info and tips. <BR> <BR>http://home.earthlink.net/~richardab/ <BR> <BR>Follow the path -- <BR> <BR>Enter&gt;Fly&gt;Europe&gt;Rome <BR> <BR>Have Fun!

to the top<BR>

This is a great post, I thought I would bring it back to the top!

Richard, <BR>i have to agree, a wondrul posting.. you are the class A number 1 traveler!! <BR>we once went to Rome and planned to travel out from there but ended up spending over 3 weeks and loving every second. <BR>i HAVE REALLY ENJOYED AND HAVE KEPT LOTS OF HINTS FROM THIS POSTING. <BR>

Interesting post, thanks to whoever brought it to the top. I enjoyed reading all of Richard's comments. <BR> <BR>My observations from our recent trip to Rome: <BR> <BR>. We also didn't have any trouble with the legendary gypsies in particular, or crime in general. <BR> <BR>. We didn't feel that smoking was "out of control" at all. Seemed to us like fewer people smoke in Rome than in, for example, Paris. <BR> <BR>. The Sistine Chapel impressed me due to the tremendous talent and effort of Michaelangelo. I loved the colors but was bored by all the religious imagery. If I had to see either St. Peter's or the Sistine Chapel, I'd take St. Peter's in a heartbeat. There was also an incredibly colorful ceiling I liked in the Borghese Museum. (P.S. I loved the "what's all the whoop whoop" phrase!) <BR> <BR>. We liked the Roman Forum but found the neighboring Palatine Hill to be a bit underwhelming (although all the greenery was very nice.) <BR> <BR>. We had no problem whatsover with the traffic. No only did cars & bikes stop for us in crosswalks; they also stopped for us when we weren't in crosswalks. The key, we discovered, was to not hesitate once you step off the curb. If you hesitate, they won't stop. Perhaps we were naive, but not once did we feel in danger crossing any street. <BR> <BR>. We thought the fact that you can use a restroom in a cafe or bar, even if you don't make a purchase (supposedly by law) was wonderful. <BR> <BR>. We loved drinking cappucinos, eating gelato, and walking around Trastevere in the evening.

Hi Richard, <BR> <BR>I've enjoyed your post...and I'd like to add to it... <BR>1, <BR>Pedestrian traffic...Capo has right, when you stepped down they will stop...I have not seen any accidents..pedestrians or cars... <BR>2, <BR>Had no problem with crime, altough the subway system is not very convincing, be careful there... <BR>3, <BR>The Forum is breathtaking when you think back 2000 years.... <BR>4, <BR>The most coplete museum I heve ever seen is the Vatican Museum.....and the Chapel is also amazing....but it is true, it is crowded.... <BR>5, <BR>St Peter Cathedral.....most of the churches you can go in with shorts, or mini skirts, but no tanktops...but you cannot get in to the St Peter Cathedral wearing shorts or mini skirts..period....the pant or skirt has to cover your legs fully... <BR>6, <BR>People who drive....West from the entrance of the Vatican Museum, rigt at the wall of the Vatican, there are free parking spot..right accross the Hospital....hard to get parking in Rome...you can reach all the major attractions by subway or just walk from there, like we did... <BR>7, <BR>When you drive watch for the Vespas all around you....I loved to drive in Rome, I got lost several times, but seen part of Rome I have not planned to see, and it was amazing... <BR>8, <BR>Italians obey the red light, but signs...if you want to get around you have to be a little bit agressive...they never cut me off or blocked me.... <BR>9, <BR>the best in ITALY......ICECREAM!!!!!! <BR>

I was jsut reading the comments on this posting that i made in 199 and it made me think about going back again! Rome is an amazing city that will leave an impression on everyone. Since this trip in 1999 I have also been to Florence and Venice but ROMA still regins supreme! <BR> <BR>Its funny how timeless Rome is, everything in this posting is still valid 2 years later. <BR> <BR>In case you haven't seem the rome pages on my websight, please visit! <BR> <BR>http://home.earthlink.net/~richardab <BR> <BR>Thanks for the memories!

One last thing to say about Rome is a little phrase my husband thought of while we were there.... <BR> <BR>Molto Poopi (watch where you walk) <BR>

My daughter and I just returned from a 16 days vacation in Germany, Italy, and Rome, and we carried everything we needed in two backpacks that also had side handles and wheels, giving you three ways to carry them. They were $20 at Eckerd Drugs; I've also seen them (better quality, I'm sure) for $25 at AAA offices. <BR> <BR>We brought easy drying materials and hand washed a few things each night and they were dry by morning. There are MANY laundromats (lavanderia) outside of inner city Rome (10 minutes away by tram or bus), but we never needed one. <BR> <BR>Unlike my previous trip to Rome three months ago, I experienced no street crime this time, nor witnessed any. There were several Gypsy women with babies begging in the Metro and on the streets, and especially at the line for the Vatican Museums, but no pickpocketing this time.

Romey: <BR> <BR>Don't be embarrassed by your story. <BR>It happens all the time, everyday. <BR>I know Rome very well, and have been a frequent passenger on the buses. <BR>I try to tell everyone that bus #64 from Termini (train station) to the Vatican is the worst one in the city. It is the most popular to every weirdo and crook. <BR>At times, in the past, I did not have any choice but take that bus and have seen all kinds of things. <BR>The strange guys getting off on some part of some unsuspecting person was an everyday event. <BR>Pickpocketing is about the same but has its moments (hours and season). <BR>I always felt sorry for tourists when someone tried to pull something off on them. Usually, if someone notices what is going on, they will alert you. <BR>My mother was told this guy had his hand in her belly pouch and caught him. Beware, these people are fast and bold. They are not worried about you catching them cause they will just hop off at the next stop. <BR> <BR>I guess I just wanted to ad this because you are not the only one to have not said anything to this guy on your shoulder. <BR>Most tourists never say anything, they just pretend it is not happening. I believe most, no matter what the age are to embarrassed to say anything. <BR>I just hope that if anyone reading this finds themselves in this situation anywhere in Italy, they won't be afraid to make a scene. HIT, GRAB, PULL, KICK, SCREAM. Whatever. The people around you know you are a tourist, and when a tourist yells out we know they are having some sort of a problem with creeps. Most people will help you. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

For all of you that still are traveling, this is a lot of great advice! RichardAB's websight has a lot more plus some nice pictures!

Richard-this was great! Thanks so much for sharing~we are leaving this Friday for Florence and Rome, can't wait!And now I have another taste to try-the Montenegro~we have heard that you cannot get a bad meal in Italy, my husband and I will certainly check into that! <BR>

ttt

Message: Romey & Micia <BR> <BR>"City buses are never really full here - people just keep piling on, which <BR>is great because you can get somewhere and not spend hours in a <BR>queue. It is every man/woman for him/ herself so go for it! <BR>If a lady has a problem with a man pressing against her deliberately <BR>(and maybe worse), she may not like to create a scene, especially if <BR>she doesn't speak Italian. The best thing to do I think, is to step <BR>backwards, one foot at a time, and tread firmly into the man's feet <BR>(even better if you have heels) - you could then turn round, smile and <BR>say how very sorry you are!" <BR> <BR>This is a piece from an article in the July issue of my ezine. The problem with men on the buses is quite a common one - they prey on the fact that you won't understand what is happening at first and then won't want to create a scene. Most women are also too embarrassed to talk about the experience so it is not discussed in the same way as the pickpockets on the no 64 bus. <BR> <BR>

ttt

When is the best time to go to Rome? I am looking for that time when the tourists are no packed in like sardines and the weather is nice.

topping for the idiot that thinks capo is the only one who knows anything about rome

who is capo?

Thanks for all the advice, Richard. We go to Italy in May and will be in Rome for 3 nights. Thanks to everyone else who posted as well.