info on having cichetti (bar snacks) in Venice, and a reference to a New York Times article, are in this thread

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34500851

If you want to see Pompeii from Rome, and want to avoid the trains, look at the bus tour offered at enjoyrome.com

How to get from the Venice airport to the hotel.

The easiest is a water taxi, about 90E. You take the free shutlle to the docks.

The Aliliguna water shuttle, 10E
See http://www.alilaguna.it/

Land bus to Piazza Roma and the Vaporetto to San Marco. About 6E.

Topping for a new round of Italy travelers.

For some fabulous photos of Tuscany go to terreditoscana.com Best I have seen, other than mine of course.

thread on favorite picnic spots in Rome

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34501112

unusual things to see in Venice

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34501886

a thread on limoncello

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34462827

To the top for Gayle !

a trip report on Positano and Amalfi

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34496753

what to expect as a response for a request for tickets for the Scavi tour
in Rome

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34497085

NEWSFLASH !

A new tunnel is being built between Lugano and Menaggio to improve that route.

This is a great thread that I wish was available when I planned my first trip to Italy. Has anyone ever done such a thread on Paris? If not would anyone be willing to start one as that is the trip for next year. Still trying to find the time to get the trip report done on our Italy trip. Unfortunately we were hit with the death of two separate family members within a three week period after returning in mid-April and I am just now getting around to developing photos and reviewing my journal. Take Care Jackie

The best meal we have had in Tuscany was at Buca di San Antonio in Lucca.
Be sure to call ahead.

Hi jdraper
>...Has anyone ever done such a thread on Paris? <

I did start "helpful information: France", but so many of the long-term posters pooh-poohed the idea that I gave it up.

Perhaps my Paris trip report will be of use to you.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34497442

Many often recommend the Slow Travel site for Italy information. Here is a link to an article there by Alice Twain, the most comprehensive description of the Italian train system I've ever read. It's a lengthy report, with many sections, including images and translations of actual tickets.

Everything you need to know about trains in Italy:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/

Grazie Ellen, You beat me to it.
For search purposes, let me emphasize it has everything about ITALY TRAINS.

Here is a link to a good article about Orvieto.
http://www.twenj.net/orvieto.htm

Ira: Thank you for steering me toward your Paris trip report. It was a great report and there was so much helpful information I printed it in it's entirety for the Paris file. I still think it would be a great idea to do a helpful hints France thread as this one on Italy is filled with a lot of information in short snippets that are great for a novice planning a first trip. Oh well, great minds may think alike but it would appear that nobody else is of like mind. Take Care Jackie

You are welcome, jd