Graduation trip decided...ITALY!!!!
 

I posted a question several months ago about taking my two sons on a graduation trip. The dilemma was that I wasn't sure the oldest really wanted to go. The other son graduates the following year and really did want to go, and with his brother. Well, they both want to take the trip, it's booked and we are going to ITALY! I have been there before and have taken the boys to London for a week. I am a little familiar with Rome and the boys will find this a new experience.<BR><BR>So, the question is, now that everyone in on the same page...What should I do with them? These are two athletic boys who live for football, wrestling, and baseball! (In fact, can I brag for one moment...both sons are ranked in the state in wrestling! I'm delighted for them as they do work so hard.) <BR>In fact, it is the link to Greco Roman wrestling that made the boys choose Italy.<BR>So, please help me make this a trip to remember?<BR><BR>The obvious:<BR>St Peter's, Sistine Chapel, Vatican museums<BR>Borghese Museum<BR>Trevi fountain<BR>The Pantheon<BR>Colliseum and The Forum<BR>Chains of St Peter<BR><BR>We will be in Rome for 4-5 days.<BR>Then, it's off to Venice. I am looking at a youth hostel there for the boys to spend an evening or two in that environment. One goal of this trip is to enable the boys to travel on their own. My intuition tells me that a hostel in Venice would be a safe introduction for them? <BR><BR>After Venice...I love Florence, but wonder if the boys would enjoy Sienna more. I have never been there. Comments on this?<BR><BR>Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. I look forward to hearing what you think two, midwestern boys age, 17 & 18, would like to do in Italy!<BR>Take care,<BR>Mom <BR><BR>

Hi<BR>If you're going in the summer, I wouldn't wait very long to book hotels and hostels--they book up months in advance for the busy summer. I admire you for wanting them to learn to travel a bit on their own.<BR>For Rome, definitely contact<BR>Scala Reale or some other walking tour organization. I did S.R.' 4-hour walking tour of the Forum and Colosseum recently and it was fantastic. Not a boring moment, very active, very informative. The info on the Colosseum especially, including the accuracy of the recent "Gladiator" film was fascinating. My guide was Gregory.<BR><BR>Florence is art and art history heaven.<BR>No reason why you couldn't see Florence and Siena and even a little Tuscany<BR>via daytrips by car, or by bus independently, or by bus tour. Even if they're not art buffs, seeing Michelangelo's "David" in Florence would impress them I'm sure.<BR><BR>I have files on the cities you mention; if you'd like to see them, email me.

<BR>"what you think two, midwestern boys age, 17 & 18, would like to do in Italy!"<BR><BR>Let them walk (alone) along Via Veneto and look at the 17 & 18 year old Italian girls.

I pretty much agree with Dick. Let them run free in Rome for the rest of the time, they will find a way to occupy themselves. <BR><BR>And yes, Italy is pretty safe. German school classes often make their graduation trips there and they act as irresponsible as you can expect from a bunch of teenagers which go out on their own in the evening. Beside the occasional pickpocketing, I have never heard about any serious trouble. Little can happen as long as your boys don't behave spectacularily stupid.<BR><BR>One additional point might be that the legal age in Italy is 16 or 18. I'm not sure which, but a 17 and a 18-year old will be served alcohol and it wouldn't be unusual if they took advantage of it. Now I don't know whether your sons have any experience with drinking but I remember that I totally misjudged the effect of alcohol the first time I got drunk. It might be a good idea to warn you sons away from the liquor and cocktails since they intoxicate teenagers within a very short time while beer and wine has the advantage that one can stop drinking when feeling dizzy.

Elaine, I am really torn about FLorence. It is my favorite spot in the world. It would be geat for them to see David, Santa Croce, the Medici Chapel, The Uffizi, but, I am not sure that I am overdoing it on the museums. As much as I love museums, I don't see these two boys spending everyday in them. Thanks for the thought!<BR><BR>Okay....strolling along Via Veneto watching the girls! I am sure that is exactly what they are interested in! I am going to make up some travel cards (like business cards) with their email addresses on it. Aren't those Italian fathers famous for their over protective nature? I hope so! <BR>The boys are pretty level headed and, unfortunately, have had a bit of experience with alcohol (just ask me about the 2 weeks they had to sit out of their sports!), so I am hopeful they will exercise better judgement in Italy.<BR><BR>Any ideas on hostels in Venice?<BR>Any clubs that cater to a young crowd like this in Roma?<BR>Other ideas?<BR><BR>Many thanks!<BR>Mom<BR>

There's always the Internatinal Youth Hostel. You can book online for Venice at http://www.yhabooking.com/ibnpub/english/index.asp <BR><BR>I'm not sure whether this youth hostel has a curfew at midnight. If I see it correctly, it's outside of Venice and there are few things more annoying than finding out that one doesn't get into the own room anymore since one is a little bit late. It's some time since I slept last in an official Youth Hostel and they sometimes have rather odd ideas resulting from the history of the organization, but they try to get more modern. No idea whether the Italian branch can be as nerving as the German one.<BR><BR>Alternatively there must be many backpacker hostels which are privately run. A good source for backpackers are the Lonely Planet travel guides. It might be a good idea if they don't share a room with others but get a double on their own (might be difficult in the offical Youth Hostel). Less problems with keeping things safe or having some real idiots as room-mates.

By the way, I think that the Spanish Steps are something of an unofficial meeting place for young tourists in Rome. I guess that your boys won't have any problems to meet other young people which know clubs or other places for the evening entertainment.

Elaine, I am really torn about FLorence. It is my favorite spot in the world. It would be geat for them to see David, Santa Croce, the Medici Chapel, The Uffizi, but, I am not sure that I am overdoing it on the museums. As much as I love museums, I don't see these two boys spending everyday in them. Thanks for the thought!<BR><BR>Okay....strolling along Via Veneto watching the girls! I am sure that is exactly what they are interested in! I am going to make up some travel cards (like business cards) with their email addresses on it. Aren't those Italian fathers famous for their over protective nature? I hope so! <BR>The boys are pretty level headed and, unfortunately, have had a bit of experience with alcohol (just ask me about the 2 weeks they had to sit out of their sports!), so I am hopeful they will exercise better judgement in Italy.<BR><BR>Any ideas on hostels in Venice?<BR>Any clubs that cater to a young crowd like this in Roma?<BR>Other ideas?<BR><BR>Many thanks!<BR>Mom<BR>

Re Florence versus Siena, even if they are not as interested in museums as you are, you shouldn't pass up the chance to allow them to experience the art in Florence. You can visit one museum a day, and have the rest of the day free for other activities. Try walking up to the fort (can't remember the name) up above the town. I think I've seen one-day biking tours of the areas around Florence; your sons may enjoy that. The Bargello in Florence is a museum of sculpture - have your sons tell you if the models would have made good wrestlers! Introduce them to the adult experience of sitting at a cafe with a glass of wine and soaking up the Italian lifestyle.<BR><BR>I love Siena, but mostly for people-watching, and I don't remember seeing huge crowds of young people there like I remember in Florence around the Duomo. I remember strolling through the piaza on a warm summer night, watching teenagers who were watching (American?) street musicians play American songs. Your sons will love that atmosphere.

I'm betting your boys will be briefly interested in the places like Florence and Siena and even Venice; all heavily tourist oriented. But where they will really have a great time is Rome and Milan. That's where the young people (Italians) zip around on there Vespas in abundance. Maybe a trip to Pompeii for history and then a couple days in Sorrento.

Hi, Mom. I loved Florence as well and I think it would be pretty easy to incorporate some exposure to art without saturating them with it. If they have any interest in science, the Museum of Science might be interesting. It might be worthwhile to peruse the Let's Go guide for Italy. It's written by Harvard students and is directed to a younger age group. It also includes a lot of information about nightlife as well as hostel info. This might help guide your decision making. Good luck.