"She is concerned with the idea of the canal water overlapping and sweeping her away."
If that's the case, then I think you are in for a memorable trip with your cousin no matter where you decide to go. Unfortunately, they aren't the sort of memories you'd like to have.

OMG.. I didnt even see that she is 40 years old..no it cant be.. she must be around 18, right.
Natalie Wood had a little help I believe, although that is not proven.

Hi Faith,

You are a saint.

>Am I right in thinking that the area between Sorrento and Pompeii and that area is just regular land and is not the Amalfi Drive? <

We were driven from Naples to Positano via Sorrento. My lady wife was white-knuckled the whole way.

> I will cut way down on day trips and just really concentrate on Rome. I was thinking of a van service to Sorrento, not driving. On second thought I don't think I want to navigate trains either so I will check into all of this more.<

www.enjoyrome.com runs bus trips to from Rome to Pompeii and back.

Since Mom and Dad are footing the bill, why not look into tours from Rome to Florence and Pisa.

I would risk taking the train (2 hrs or so) and go to Florence instead of Sorrento.

See my trip report

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

A short train ride to Orvieto for a day shouldn't be too fearful.

You can also take a daytrip to Ostia Antica.

Hi again,

I occurs to me that what your cousin and her parents really want is a dependable man to escort you on this trip.

I hereby volunteer to help you out. I ask only that you pay my expenses.

I'll ask my wife if it's OK.

ira :D

OK Ira, you're on! I have witnesses that you voluntered on your own free will!

My poor cousin, I know it sounds humerous, but after her lake accident she did develop a nervous condition (she was in a coma, etc.) but she is very beautiful and happy. I think of her when I see the movie Light In The Piazza.

She has a coffee table book of old movie press photos with pictures of The Amalfi Coast so she wants to go there, who am I to argue?
She is ok with the ocean, just not being on it, so the islands are out.

I think we will have fun?!?? Say yes!

Geez, just leave her home.

She won't have much fun and you'll get sick of babying her.

Or tell her to get over herself.

Faith, you will most definitely have fun!!!

Your change of plans sounds like a good compromise and since March is just around the corner, you don?t have much time to plan.

Rome is a wonderful city and you could easily use five days there. This Web Site has very good and helpful information on Rome: http://www.twenj.com/romevisit.htm

You might also consider taking a tour or two in Rome. We used Scala Reale and love their tours and guides: http://www.scalareale.org/pages/

This Web site has lots of helpful, general information on Italy, but it also has guided tours which may be of interest to you and your cousin: http://www.initaly.com/toc.htm

Good luck planning and have fun.

Yes, Faith, with that positive attitude you will absolutely have fun! Bambi is truly blessed to have you in her life.

If you're not just pulling our legs, and your cousin really DID have an accident on a lake and spend some time afterward in a coma, then you would have received a lot fewer sarcastic and flip replies to your questions, if you had stated as much in your original post. As it is now, (again, if you're not just pulling our legs) your own posts come across as slightly sarcastic and flip, toward your cousin.

Good luck to both of you on your trip, whatever you decide.

Hi faith,

>She has a coffee table book of old movie press photos with pictures of The Amalfi Coast so she wants to go there, who am I to argue?<

We stayed at the Hotel Le Sirene in Praiano (www.lesirene.com) in room 12. It has a rivate balcony overlooking the Mediterranean, but set back about 100 yards from the water.

Praiano is a quiet town with regular bus service to Positano (orange bus), Sorrento and Amalfi (SITA bus).

You both might like it. See

Ira?s Trip Report

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

Faith - in both your posts you imply that this is not YOUR first trip to Europe. Where have YOU been? I ask that because you say things like not wanting to navigate trains. That is the most sensible way to get around Italy. How have you gotten around in your previous travels to Europe? If you are willing to do that then you could do a very nice two week trip that would include Rome, Florence and some smaller Tuscan or Umbrian towns. None of these places have much in the way of water (those people were just making fun of you regarding the Tiber River and such, if she literally can't cross a small river on a bridge then she really does have serious psychological problems and no suggestions from this forum will be very useful).

Why don't you look into splitting your time evenly between Rome and Florence and do day trips from both. If you were willing to rent a car then you add some nights in one or two of the smaller towns as well. This itineray does not include any water, scarry heights, active volcanos or anything else that could be considered scary.

"or anything else that could be considered scary." -- except Italian drivers!

Italy is an immensely dangerous country! Where the waters fail to engulf one, the mountains (what with their hairpin turns and all) will surely maim if not kill. You must also consider the Red Guard and the infectious nature of the Papi's disease. Then again, you could take her to see St. Catherine's head in Siena and see if she develops a fear of tending to the sick. The hill towns all succumbed to the plague and no doubt it is dormant but one never nows when the fates will conspire to awaken it anew.
It is simply dreadful your cousin fell into the lake and developed a como. No doubt, with the view of vesuvius, she's develop a tremble.

PS..on the off chance any single piece of this is not one silly joke..my better side says..if their paying for your trip(first class and all) why not go at a better time than March?

Sounds awfully like a Troll to me!!

I recommend las vegas for would be tourist who are reluctant to face the real thing. There in the desert one will find that the canals of the Venice are well regulated, shallow and clean. The gandoliers are also handsome and never in a hurry and better yet speak American. And should one get seasick, there is always the Palace of the Ceasars in dry dock across the avenue.

I don't like to talk too much about coma's, etc. on a public forum, Birham Rocks. I know I was being flip at first, that is how I deal with it, but when people didn't understand the situation I opened up a bit.

I have been to Europe but not to Italy, and didn't take the trains we had cars. I have read so much here about the ins and outs of trains that I don't want to do that on this trip.

I am perfectly willing to take her, it will be nice showing her Europe, we will take things slowly and dodge the vespas!

I am getting dizzy myself thinking about all of this, it has happened so quickly, so I am going to put on some cold eye packs on have some chocolate and relax a bit.

Really, thanks for all of your answers and concerns, I appreciate it! Funny, but you have been with me since my first post about Stendhal's Syndrome (ironically) got deleted yesterday.
Whatta turn of events!

Hi Faith, good luck to you both on your trip - I think you'll have a great time because of your positive attitude, plus you said she was nice! The train from Rome to Florence or Naples are direct, so all you have to do is get on. You could get the van service from Naples to Sorrento, but the train is easy there too - take the Circumvesuviana (same train station in Naples, but one floor down), a commuter train, get off in Pompeii (leave luggage in a luggage locker) tour Pompeii for 3 to 4 hours, get back on train to Sorrento.
Italians in tourist areas speak English, so you should have no trouble. You can see Vesuvius from the train and also from Sorrento across the bay, so that may be enough!

You can travel around by bus or hire a driver to get around from Sorrento to Positano (1/2 hour by bus), scary drive around the cliffs, but spectacular scenery, and the drivers know what they're doing - they're practising for the Mille Miglia! Actually they can't drive too fast. On to Amalfi - 45 minutes, bus up to Ravello. I have a trip report of this area - click on my name.

I also think you should spend 3 days in Florence and do a day trip to Sienna from there.

Good luck! Book the train tickets before you go for peace of mind, but if you travel first class, you can buy the tickets at the Rome station and there is plenty of seating. See trenitalia.com for timetables - plenty of trains to Florence and Naples.

faith, here's your post: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34476536

Click on your name and all the posts you've contributed to will appear on the left side of the screen.

If this is a troll, consider me duped, although I don't think it is.