Or Faith,
you could be Bambi's "bridge over troubled waters".

If in doubt about whether a poster's story is a fake or entirely genuine, when it concerns a "sensitive" subject, wouldn't it be safer and nicer to respond (if at all) as if it were genuine and keep any doubts private?

Like Marilyn, I think that thought-provoking trolls can be interesting and not a waste of time. Sometimes they are entertaining, or sometimes the discussions they trigger can be genuinely helpful. In this case, even if Faith's story isn't true--but I believe that it probably is--the issues she raises may help someone else who might have similar questions but be afraid to ask.

I agree with Jenifer. I don't find it so incredible that some people are like "Bambi" and her parents.

This may seem like nitpicking, Faith, but I thought my post was extremely different from StCirq's. But if what you're agreeing with is that both posts pointed out there could be many unforeseen problems and risks in this trip, and that's what you're agreeing with, then I guess I understand your comment.

NYtraveler: I'm not a big user of euphemisms. But I'd still want to point out that the stress of travel and crossing time zones and drastically changing routines can aggravate "life issues," too.

Jocelyn: No, I don't think it's Miles Kingdom. I think it would be hard for him to stay nice that long.

Uh oh, faith

>I am going to request an hotel ..<

AN hotel?

You're sure you are not from Britland?

I noticed that, too, Ira. Typo or Britspeak?

Let's see what Faith says, Marilyn.

It may be a good idea for the cousin to get in touch with her inner homebody and not travel further than the grocery store.

I saw taht, too, but didn't make too much of it. I know Americans who write a lot to British friends on the Internet who now write with British slang and British spellings and expressions (e.g., "chuffed," "favourite," "whilst&quot. Then, too, I have known some people who say "an hotel" in American English. I think if a smart Brit were faking being an American, he'd be careful to avoid obvious Britishisms. But an American who picked up such things from friends or as a temporary fad wouldn't think of hiding those writing mannerisms for fear of not being taken seriously. So, for now, why not just assume it's genuine or, if a troll, that it's one worth becoming seriously engaged with.

You have to admit, this and the other thread has been a lot more entertaining to read than the average "which hotel is nicer" thread.

I have taken, as often as not, to using the phrase "on holiday" rather than vacation even though I'm from the US. The British aren't the only one's that use it. I picked it up by living with an Aussie.

CMT, I do appreciate your response it was helpful to me.

You all must have been fans of Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys or even Scooby Doo with your sleuthing powers. I don't know why I wrote an hotel, it just seemed natural.

Things are changing again while I write, Uncle has good memories of Italy that he knew as a young child and remembers how quaint it was, this is why he wants us to go there if he has to agree to Bambi going anywhere.

He is afraid to fly so he won't go back so he is agreeing to "let" her go, Auntie only wanted to see three places in her life (Grand Canyon, New Orleans, Mt. Rushmore) and saw those and sees no reason to want to travel.

Uncle is talking to his relatives on getting us places to stay besides hotels, so we'll see what happens.

The more I tell you the more you disbelieve me, so I won't even go into the boating accident! Anyway this is a good way for me to arrange my thoughts before I go shopping for new clothes for the trip. So I am going to pop in another chocolate and off to the stores!

Faith's post may be genuine, but am I the only person who notices how many times she says her 40 year old cousin is being 'allowed' and 'let' to do things, or is doing something because "Uncle wants her to go there, if he has to agree to let her go ANYWHERE"?

Again, the post may be genuine. It's very hard to tell. But I, for one, have never heard of a 40 year old grown adult being treated that way - as if she is a 6 year old child who can't be let out alone in the big wide world without a grownup to hold her hand.

Unless she has some permanent brain injury which makes her SAFETY a primary concern (for instance, if she has short term memory problems and gets lost easily, or her vision was permanently affected, or she lost her sense of self-protectiveness and therefore must be supervised), it just comes across as a very strange situation.

I don't know. Very very hard to tell. If it's genuine, then I wish you both the best.

Faith, I'm confused...why did you say in your gondola post (20th) that your plans had changed and that you will now have to travel in March, when you already said on the 18th (Stendhal post) that you were traveling to Italy next month (March)? Could all the fibbing be getting too much?

I hope that all of this is a joke.

Faith, I don't know if you've considered it, but if it's your cousin's first trip abroad, you might want to make as much of the arrangements beforehand to minimize problems and complications. If you look at my post for my recent independent trip abroad with my Mom and sister, you will see that we had some adventures. On the other hand, a friend of mine who went backpacking with a female friend of hers in Italy did not have any "problems." Of course, she made ALL her arrangements, e.g. train tickets, etc. beforehand...

FWIW.

Lil

Maybe the best way to get responses is to ask a question that is amusing considering the response this has gotten in comparison with my more traditional question.

I can just see it now, Fearful Cousin will sneak away from Faith and have some wild adventure with Luigi driving all over the country on his scooter.

Doesn't that sound like a great ending for poor little fearful cousin. -

As a Fodorite newbie on the way to being an oldbie, I spotted these things:

Cousin's name is BAMBI (oh, come on! Helpless little deer/dear!)

Poster's name is FAITH (Fodorites, have faith!)

Cousin has fear of water (came from an accident)

Uncle has fear of flying (came naturally, apparently)

And Marilyn, who started the question about trolls, doesn't believe that this one is a troll.

Somehow Mom, Dad, Uncle, and Aunt can't/wouldn't travel and Faith has to deal with a 40-year old who is going to behave like a 6-year old on an overseas trip. Lots of people are recommending Rome, because it's nowhere near water, except for the Tiber River. Ah, but how are you going to get there? You still have to fly over water.

Faith: If this is genuine, have your doctor prescribe some Valium - no, not for your Cousin, for yourself.

And while you're at it, please pass some around.

We all have dislikes, fears, phobias to one degree or another, but this one sounds almost insurmountable. As one poster has said: WHY so far away? Why not somewhere closer to test the waters?

Hi,I'm back, I bought a couple of great outfits and a new suitcase (22&quot to go with my 24", but I am not sure how that will work, probably wont.

I know what you are saying mvor but I had no idea I was going to be held to my time frame, it made no difference at that point, March or April, I was just asking about the Syndrome and planning on going the last week in March or early April, I didnt have tickets yet.

Cousin does have a slight condition which I wont go into, so it is better if someone is with her or checks up on her. I am being a little sarcastic when I say "let" but guilt and manipulation play into this situation.

Anyway it looks like a relative is going to open her apartment for us in Rome so I wont have to ask about hotels here. Probably will have one in Amalfi area too, so I will start looking at restaurants and day tours. She isn't afraid of everything and sometimes that can be the problem too.

Anyway you know more about my family than you care too I suspect, but thanks for the tips and concern.

Oh, I forgot to mention something funny, Uncle suggested that his personal assistant go with us as a body guard.

OK, Faith, time to move back to the real world.

Does this sound like a not-so-well-written novel, where the characters are introduced one by one and fleshed out?

First there's the water-panicked Cousin named Bambi. I'll give you that, nice selection for a name!

Then there's Faith

Now we have Uncle's bodyguard.

My question is: assuming that Uncle's bodyguard is a man, is HE going to be in the same hotel room as Cousin and Faith? If not, what use would he be, six rooms down the hall, when Bambi gets a water-panic attack when splashing water on her face from the bathroom basin?

I await the next chapter and further characters to be introduced.