Here is the start of trip report to Italy from plmn..."My Travels with Mom & Dad"
Nov 6th, 2004, 05:29 PM
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PLM must play herself!
Just back from two days in Athens, and after I said hello to the fam, headed right to the computer for the installments I missed! (Ira, I drove right through Watkinsville on my way to Athens. It's a lovely town but I didn't see a gelato sign--good thing, or I would have been late for my meeting.)
Eagerly awaiting Venice. ..
Just back from two days in Athens, and after I said hello to the fam, headed right to the computer for the installments I missed! (Ira, I drove right through Watkinsville on my way to Athens. It's a lovely town but I didn't see a gelato sign--good thing, or I would have been late for my meeting.)
Eagerly awaiting Venice. ..
Nov 6th, 2004, 06:10 PM
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I had a little difficulty with the cell phone on the train. At least once I lost the connection going through a tunnel. At times there was too much ambient noise. The insurance company was very helpful to me. Since I didn't have all the information available I gave the rep my father's office number and the name of his assistant. I asked the rep if he could co-ordinate all the appropriate actions with her and he said yes. American Express I tried to deal with on my own. I was instructed by the TIC to try to get a written statement from the conductor regarding my interactions with her. This was partly due to the delay in our ability to file a police report until we arrived in Venice. I had to track her down. She was kind enough to pause in her ticket taking to sit down and write a statement, in Italian of course.
When it became apparent that there wasn't much more we could do until Venice we settled in for the remainder of the ride. In the interim the train made a couple of stops. At one of them I considered getting off to have a smoke. Ahh, NO. Not knowing how long the stop would be for, (turns out not long)I decided against that brilliant idea. Sure, get left behind, that would work. At one of these stops the business man left the train, I'm sure with great glee. (I wasn't around when he left, but mother said he was very nice and wished them luck.) Dad and mom were thirsty so I went to find the bar car.
There was a dining car on the train that I passed through to get to the snack and drink car. I don't know when they started serving but it was empty when I went through. It looked like all the tables had been used. I bet it would have been fun to try. Slightly fancy set up with linen table cloths and stuff.
There was a line at the bar. You can have wine, beer, soft drinks, coffee and sandwhiches, that type of stuff. Mom and dad had asked me for fruit juice and soda. I paid for them and carried them back through the cars. Here is where my dad's love affair of Italian orange soda begins. I had a taste myself and it was the best orange soda I have ever had. Mom really enjoyed her pear juice, which she had never tried before. That was lovely as well. As to the orange soda, it seems that in Italy the real fruit flavor in soda is at a much higher percentage than in the US.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful until we got to Venice. Having read tons of info here on Fodors, I knew that the first Venice stop was not the right stop. My mother insisted that since she had been to Venice before,(like 20 yrs ago) she knew better than I when to get off the train. She started gathering her stuff together and if I had not bothered to ask other passengers if Fodors was correct or my mother was correct we probably would still be looking for our B&B to this day. The distance between the two stops is short and before we knew it we had ARRIVED!!
We managed to get ourselves and our luggage off the train and proceeded to look for the police station that we had been told is located just beside the tracks...
When it became apparent that there wasn't much more we could do until Venice we settled in for the remainder of the ride. In the interim the train made a couple of stops. At one of them I considered getting off to have a smoke. Ahh, NO. Not knowing how long the stop would be for, (turns out not long)I decided against that brilliant idea. Sure, get left behind, that would work. At one of these stops the business man left the train, I'm sure with great glee. (I wasn't around when he left, but mother said he was very nice and wished them luck.) Dad and mom were thirsty so I went to find the bar car.
There was a dining car on the train that I passed through to get to the snack and drink car. I don't know when they started serving but it was empty when I went through. It looked like all the tables had been used. I bet it would have been fun to try. Slightly fancy set up with linen table cloths and stuff.
There was a line at the bar. You can have wine, beer, soft drinks, coffee and sandwhiches, that type of stuff. Mom and dad had asked me for fruit juice and soda. I paid for them and carried them back through the cars. Here is where my dad's love affair of Italian orange soda begins. I had a taste myself and it was the best orange soda I have ever had. Mom really enjoyed her pear juice, which she had never tried before. That was lovely as well. As to the orange soda, it seems that in Italy the real fruit flavor in soda is at a much higher percentage than in the US.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful until we got to Venice. Having read tons of info here on Fodors, I knew that the first Venice stop was not the right stop. My mother insisted that since she had been to Venice before,(like 20 yrs ago) she knew better than I when to get off the train. She started gathering her stuff together and if I had not bothered to ask other passengers if Fodors was correct or my mother was correct we probably would still be looking for our B&B to this day. The distance between the two stops is short and before we knew it we had ARRIVED!!
We managed to get ourselves and our luggage off the train and proceeded to look for the police station that we had been told is located just beside the tracks...
Nov 7th, 2004, 05:18 AM
#245
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A PBS Mimi-series! Nothing left out!!
I am guilty of darting "I told you so" looks at someone myself..lol.
This is so enjoyable, we need a FodorFund to send the PLMNs on another trip soon
I am guilty of darting "I told you so" looks at someone myself..lol.
This is so enjoyable, we need a FodorFund to send the PLMNs on another trip soon
Nov 7th, 2004, 05:51 AM
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PLMN, Just found and enjoying your trip report. I remember discussion re: umbrella a while ago and
and now it is exciting to read it and look at your pictures!
Re: financing next trip for PLMN - I would be interested in mini-series, however, the plot will thicken if we will throw in some next generation characters like few cranky teenagers in this group! That would be fun!
and now it is exciting to read it and look at your pictures!
Re: financing next trip for PLMN - I would be interested in mini-series, however, the plot will thicken if we will throw in some next generation characters like few cranky teenagers in this group! That would be fun!
Nov 7th, 2004, 06:57 AM
#247
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Noooo...this is why we left my cranky teen at home!
My parents took my daughter to England during the horrible heatwave a couple of years ago. I don't think she will ever get over it. (Nor will my parents.)
NEXT CHAPTER:
Prior to getting off the train I called the B&B. I reached the mother of the owner of the B&B we were going to stay at, the CA'Bernardi. She was very, very pleasant and expressed her condolences about the wallet. She told us to call her as soon as we were finished at the police station and we would discuss getting to the B&B.
(Oh, I forgot...(I love this one..)while I was feverishly working the cell phone on the train, my mother leaned over to me and whispered.."Your dad bought me a cell phone a little while ago and I made him take it back, but you have just convinced me that a cell phone can be very helpful." I was FLOORED! I can not remember one time in my entire life when my mother EVER admitted, at least to me, that someone else knew better or more, than she. She always said it wasn't worth it to her to have to worry about one more gadget and besides you could always use a pay phone. I wonder if she has bought one yet?)
We located the police station at the Venice train station. We had seen a little booth at the end of the tracks but it was not staffed and we were directed to an office besides the tracks. It is next to the public bathrooms which you have to pay to use, at least that is what the sign indicated.
To gain access to the police office you ring a little buzzer on the wall beside the door. Mom pressed the button and we looked like bumbling nimcompoops trying to pull the door open and get inside. Keeping our grips on all the luggage while opening the door and trying to get inside. I heard a shout from behind me and glanced over to see a young woman stretched out on a short wall. "Hey, I'll watch your bags for you" she said. YAH, RIGHT!
Once inside the tiny office, two youthful and good looking police officers listened to our story. Between the little bit of English they knew and the pantomiming (sp?) we did, we filed a police report. They were very nice and even took the time to call the train station in Rome to see if anyone found the wallet. No such luck.
Their theory is that when the gypsy woman saw my dad waving his wallet around in the cab she alerted her cohorts that she had a live one. Then sometime between our getting out of the cab and us boarding the train the wallet was lifted.
(It wasn't until a few days later that my father connected the following incident to the missing wallet: While we were waiting for the train a young woman bumped into my father very hard and then ran off. He says she almost pushed him over. He says it happened so fast that he didn't even get a good look at her, only the back of her as she ran off. For some unknown reason he never connected the two incidents until we got to Cortona.)
The police wanted my dad to write a statement and to list what was in the missing wallet. Dad wrote the statement but was too upset to write the list so he had me take over. I tried to remain calm and not snipe at my folks but dad was really frustrating me and my mother was, well...being mom. I explained to the policeman that dad wasn't exactly sure about everything that was in the wallet and they assured us that was not a problem. This is normal for the victim of a pickpocket. They also told us that it was a VERY common crime in Italy and not to feel foolish. (I guess we didn't tell them about how we BEGGED my father to be more careful
)
As a matter of fact, while we were in the station a nicely dressed Italian gentleman came in holding a stack of documents. He handed them to the policeman, they spoke for a few moments, and then the man left. The policeman explained to us that most gypsy thieves steal the wallets, TAKE THE CASH, and dump the rest..credit cards and all. It seems they don't want to be bothered with anything but the cash. This is why they called the train station in Rome, there really was a chance that the wallet would be found. But it was very soon after the crime and this is why they were so particular about obtaining ALL of our contact information, in case anything were to be found.
When we finished our business with the coppers we gathered our belongings and filed out the door. I hung back for a you know what.
BE BACK LATER....
My parents took my daughter to England during the horrible heatwave a couple of years ago. I don't think she will ever get over it. (Nor will my parents.)
NEXT CHAPTER:
Prior to getting off the train I called the B&B. I reached the mother of the owner of the B&B we were going to stay at, the CA'Bernardi. She was very, very pleasant and expressed her condolences about the wallet. She told us to call her as soon as we were finished at the police station and we would discuss getting to the B&B.
(Oh, I forgot...(I love this one..)while I was feverishly working the cell phone on the train, my mother leaned over to me and whispered.."Your dad bought me a cell phone a little while ago and I made him take it back, but you have just convinced me that a cell phone can be very helpful." I was FLOORED! I can not remember one time in my entire life when my mother EVER admitted, at least to me, that someone else knew better or more, than she. She always said it wasn't worth it to her to have to worry about one more gadget and besides you could always use a pay phone. I wonder if she has bought one yet?)
We located the police station at the Venice train station. We had seen a little booth at the end of the tracks but it was not staffed and we were directed to an office besides the tracks. It is next to the public bathrooms which you have to pay to use, at least that is what the sign indicated.
To gain access to the police office you ring a little buzzer on the wall beside the door. Mom pressed the button and we looked like bumbling nimcompoops trying to pull the door open and get inside. Keeping our grips on all the luggage while opening the door and trying to get inside. I heard a shout from behind me and glanced over to see a young woman stretched out on a short wall. "Hey, I'll watch your bags for you" she said. YAH, RIGHT!
Once inside the tiny office, two youthful and good looking police officers listened to our story. Between the little bit of English they knew and the pantomiming (sp?) we did, we filed a police report. They were very nice and even took the time to call the train station in Rome to see if anyone found the wallet. No such luck.
Their theory is that when the gypsy woman saw my dad waving his wallet around in the cab she alerted her cohorts that she had a live one. Then sometime between our getting out of the cab and us boarding the train the wallet was lifted.
(It wasn't until a few days later that my father connected the following incident to the missing wallet: While we were waiting for the train a young woman bumped into my father very hard and then ran off. He says she almost pushed him over. He says it happened so fast that he didn't even get a good look at her, only the back of her as she ran off. For some unknown reason he never connected the two incidents until we got to Cortona.)
The police wanted my dad to write a statement and to list what was in the missing wallet. Dad wrote the statement but was too upset to write the list so he had me take over. I tried to remain calm and not snipe at my folks but dad was really frustrating me and my mother was, well...being mom. I explained to the policeman that dad wasn't exactly sure about everything that was in the wallet and they assured us that was not a problem. This is normal for the victim of a pickpocket. They also told us that it was a VERY common crime in Italy and not to feel foolish. (I guess we didn't tell them about how we BEGGED my father to be more careful
)As a matter of fact, while we were in the station a nicely dressed Italian gentleman came in holding a stack of documents. He handed them to the policeman, they spoke for a few moments, and then the man left. The policeman explained to us that most gypsy thieves steal the wallets, TAKE THE CASH, and dump the rest..credit cards and all. It seems they don't want to be bothered with anything but the cash. This is why they called the train station in Rome, there really was a chance that the wallet would be found. But it was very soon after the crime and this is why they were so particular about obtaining ALL of our contact information, in case anything were to be found.
When we finished our business with the coppers we gathered our belongings and filed out the door. I hung back for a you know what.
BE BACK LATER....
Nov 7th, 2004, 09:00 AM
#248
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Hi kswl
>I drove right through Watkinsville on my way to Athens. It's a lovely town but I didn't see a gelato sign- <
Il Gelato is in the shopping center just South of the High school on 441, just to the right of the Publix as you face it.
We went up there yesterday. Had Frutti de Bosci, Vaniglia, Limone and Strachetti.
>I drove right through Watkinsville on my way to Athens. It's a lovely town but I didn't see a gelato sign- <
Il Gelato is in the shopping center just South of the High school on 441, just to the right of the Publix as you face it.
We went up there yesterday. Had Frutti de Bosci, Vaniglia, Limone and Strachetti.
Nov 7th, 2004, 09:06 AM
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Hi PLMN,
Just great.
FYI, I make a list of CC numbers, passport numbers, driver's license numbers, etc. along with phone numbers to call if they are lost.
My Lady Wife has one copy and I have the other.
Just great.
FYI, I make a list of CC numbers, passport numbers, driver's license numbers, etc. along with phone numbers to call if they are lost.
My Lady Wife has one copy and I have the other.
Nov 7th, 2004, 09:21 AM
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ira, I KNOW!! I passed all the great tips for this trip onto my parents before departure. I distinctly remember telling my father and his assistant to make a copy of all the cards, front and back. I mentioned it more than once.
Dad didn't take my advice and bring a copy with him. And if he had it probably would have been in his wallet. (I DON'T advocate leaving copies of passports and financials in the suitcase as I have seen suggested by others.
See, I listened
Dad didn't take my advice and bring a copy with him. And if he had it probably would have been in his wallet. (I DON'T advocate leaving copies of passports and financials in the suitcase as I have seen suggested by others.
See, I listened
Nov 7th, 2004, 09:47 AM
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Hi again PLMN, I love your report, full of such rich insights and descriptions.
I'm the one who had my xeroxed personal information stolen from my checked suitcase.
Waiting for the next installment...
I'm the one who had my xeroxed personal information stolen from my checked suitcase.
Waiting for the next installment...
Nov 7th, 2004, 10:59 AM
#253
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Nov 7th, 2004, 11:33 AM
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plmn, I just tried this link
http://www.worldisround.com/edit/86193/index.html
and have page not found
http://www.worldisround.com/edit/86193/index.html
and have page not found
Nov 7th, 2004, 11:51 AM
#255
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I noticed that if I cut and paste the http part it doesn't work right. Try this:
www.worldisround.com/articles/86193/index.html
www.worldisround.com/articles/86193/index.html
Nov 7th, 2004, 06:19 PM
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I just had a peek at your photos and it was so much fun to put some faces to the names. Thanks for putting so much time and care into your report.I could never remember so much detail,but that's what makes it so interesting!
