Here is the start of trip report to Italy from plmn..."My Travels with Mom & Dad"
Oct 24th, 2004, 08:38 AM
#81
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To increase our reading enjoyment, please provide some of the brutal insults and clever putdowns/comebacks they use when they "get into it". I'm sure all of us can relate to this frequent activity of long married people.
Oct 24th, 2004, 08:55 AM
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Degas! Can this be? You? Brutally insulting your DW? I don't believe it for a moment! Next, we will learn that Ira dressed his LW in blue jeans and a black top then sent her to dine with m_kingdom!
I'll admit that my first marriage, which lasted 14 years and was begun in the worst of circumstances at age 18, was one long continuous brutal insult on my part, though I only dimly recall throwing his boots on the barbeque in front of all his motorcycle police officer co-workers.
My second marriage, entered into immediately upon exiting the first, is headed into its 25th year. While I may have been a tad volatile at first (think airborne food), that was only leftover emotion. I can honestly say that neither of us has ever voiced an opinion that we couldn't feel justified in repeating, given similar cause.
PLMN, if your folks have been married (however geographically separate) since the 1970's, they must be doing something right. For instance, look how wonderfully lovable you turned out to be!
I'll admit that my first marriage, which lasted 14 years and was begun in the worst of circumstances at age 18, was one long continuous brutal insult on my part, though I only dimly recall throwing his boots on the barbeque in front of all his motorcycle police officer co-workers.
My second marriage, entered into immediately upon exiting the first, is headed into its 25th year. While I may have been a tad volatile at first (think airborne food), that was only leftover emotion. I can honestly say that neither of us has ever voiced an opinion that we couldn't feel justified in repeating, given similar cause.
PLMN, if your folks have been married (however geographically separate) since the 1970's, they must be doing something right. For instance, look how wonderfully lovable you turned out to be!
Oct 24th, 2004, 02:37 PM
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Actually they have been married since 1958! They only started the living on different coasts business in the 1970s.
I will try to provide the insults and such in further chapters. Turns out though that my mom and I and then my dad and I do exchange a few words eventually.
I am suffering from what everyone tells me is Altitude Sickness. Any one ever experience this delayed reaction after a trip overseas?
Also, I finally got into my checked luggage a little more and found a tag stating that the bag had been searched. The locks had not been broken. So I guess the TSA locks were a good idea after all.
More to come
I will try to provide the insults and such in further chapters. Turns out though that my mom and I and then my dad and I do exchange a few words eventually.
I am suffering from what everyone tells me is Altitude Sickness. Any one ever experience this delayed reaction after a trip overseas?
Also, I finally got into my checked luggage a little more and found a tag stating that the bag had been searched. The locks had not been broken. So I guess the TSA locks were a good idea after all.
More to come
Oct 24th, 2004, 04:43 PM
#86
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I see myself and the Yankee in a few years, with one of our children, in Italy, bickering and blaming the other for this and that..
only people in love behave that way
This is so great to come back to read after a long busy day..
ignore Madame, More!More! More!
says bloodthirsty Scarlett
only people in love behave that way
This is so great to come back to read after a long busy day..
ignore Madame, More!More! More!
says bloodthirsty Scarlett
Oct 25th, 2004, 09:47 AM
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I am enjoying your trip report so much - and at the same time taking notes.
I am planning a 3 week trip to Europe in 2006 with my parents and my (by then) 10 year old daughter. As I read your report, I can easily substitute my parents in the situations you have described so far. Hopefully I will be able to respond as good naturedly as you.
I am planning a 3 week trip to Europe in 2006 with my parents and my (by then) 10 year old daughter. As I read your report, I can easily substitute my parents in the situations you have described so far. Hopefully I will be able to respond as good naturedly as you.
Oct 25th, 2004, 09:52 AM
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I like your report very much PLMN - I can relate.
I don't think it is strange at all for married people to live on different coasts. I think it is fairly common, I know married people who live on different continents, such as Asia and North America.
I don't think it is strange at all for married people to live on different coasts. I think it is fairly common, I know married people who live on different continents, such as Asia and North America.
Oct 25th, 2004, 12:06 PM
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PLMN-
Your trip report is exactly why I keep checking Fodors- even when I'm not going anywhere. I get to live vicariously through your enthusiasm for travel and your humorous approach to the little "challenges" of life.
My DH and I have been putting off taking his parents to France with us for the past few years (afraid they would annoy us so much we would throw them into the Seine), but your report has convinced me to go for it. It will just be an excuse to order more wine to keep our mellow attitude flowing!
I can't wait for the next installment. Love your story about the ring!
Your trip report is exactly why I keep checking Fodors- even when I'm not going anywhere. I get to live vicariously through your enthusiasm for travel and your humorous approach to the little "challenges" of life.
My DH and I have been putting off taking his parents to France with us for the past few years (afraid they would annoy us so much we would throw them into the Seine), but your report has convinced me to go for it. It will just be an excuse to order more wine to keep our mellow attitude flowing!
I can't wait for the next installment. Love your story about the ring!
Oct 25th, 2004, 01:01 PM
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PLMN - I'm so enjoying reading your posts - the Sistine Chapel outing must have worn you out! My mother and I leave soon for a ten-day visit to Rome and it has crossed my mind at least once that I may be biting off more than I can chew! Look forward to reading about the remainder of your trip.
Oct 25th, 2004, 01:14 PM
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<My family MO is to have everyone order a different dish and share. Very natural process for us and if anyone else is into this it would be a good idea to learn how to say in Italian "One order of abc, one order of hij, and one order of xyz and please bring 3 empty plates so we may share." We spent a bit too much time trying to explain this at various restaurants.>
We do this too but just send our plates on a trip around the table. Etiquette, schmetiquette.
Love your report. Going on a trip abroad with my parents next year and wondering if I've lost my mind.
We do this too but just send our plates on a trip around the table. Etiquette, schmetiquette.
Love your report. Going on a trip abroad with my parents next year and wondering if I've lost my mind.
Oct 25th, 2004, 01:43 PM
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Well it finally hit me. Total exhaustion. I think I will be calling out from work tomorrow (Tues.)
Perhaps I will be able to post a couple of more days of reports between tonight and tomorrow.
Thanks for the continued support.
By the way, if anyone knows the answer to my question in another thread I would appreciate it.
Author: PLMN
Date: 10/22/2004, 09:22 pm
Message: I just returned from Italy on Monday. When we arrived in Italy on Oct 4 we were to have the services of limoservicerome.com which was highly touted on this site.
It did not work out very well at all but it may not have been entirely the fault of the company. Supposedly there was something wrong with the highway. However, all the other companies SEEMED to have no problem picking up their passengers.
I wonder if I should say something to the company or do you think it is too late or inapropriate? (sp?)
Perhaps I will be able to post a couple of more days of reports between tonight and tomorrow.
Thanks for the continued support.
By the way, if anyone knows the answer to my question in another thread I would appreciate it.
Author: PLMN
Date: 10/22/2004, 09:22 pm
Message: I just returned from Italy on Monday. When we arrived in Italy on Oct 4 we were to have the services of limoservicerome.com which was highly touted on this site.
It did not work out very well at all but it may not have been entirely the fault of the company. Supposedly there was something wrong with the highway. However, all the other companies SEEMED to have no problem picking up their passengers.
I wonder if I should say something to the company or do you think it is too late or inapropriate? (sp?)
Oct 26th, 2004, 09:25 AM
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After the Sistine Chapel, event sequences become a little fuzzy. I knew I wanted to write trip report upon my return and that I would need to make notes as events happened or at least soon after. ADVICE: If you plan on writing a report, make notes when you have the thought "I need to make a note of this/that." Believing you will remember everything later is a cruel joke. The remainder of Rome goes something like this: (Of course posting in different installments-)
I made reservations at the Ristorante Sant' Eustachio. Not to be confused with the Cafe Sant' Eustachio. I believe they are across from each other. I found the restaurant by doing an internet search on the computer in the lobby of the Cesari. The reviews were good,(I think it is considered to have some of the best fried artichoke around)and was within walking distance(Mom and I LOVE artichoke, I had never had it fried however.)
After reservations for the evening meal were made, mother and I set out to find the Basilica S. Clemente and the Colosseum. We had researched the Basilica the night before. We had maps, highlighter pens, sticky notes, guidebooks, magnifying glass. It looked like we were preparing for a trip to the ends of the earth. There was no way we would get lost going or coming back.
We purchased our bus tickets from our little tobacco shop and made our way to our regular bus stop. I guess we looked like we knew what we were doing because people started to ask us questions about buses and tickets. One couple didn't even know they needed tickets to get on. After I enlightened them as to the ways of the Roman public transit system my mother and I saw our bus approaching and made our way to where we thought it would finally stop. We were a little off and had to scurry to get on the bus.
As usual mom was worried about getting off at the right stop but I figured you couldn't miss the colosseum and the Basilica was within walking distance.
When I got my first glimpse of the colosseum I was awestruck. The sheer size and ancient aura of that structure is almost enough to make a trip to Rome worthwhile. (Although, the inside didn't grab me as much.) Mother and I had decided to visit the Basilica first and set off to locate it. Shouldn't have been a problem, we had the maps and the "See Dick, See Jane" DK Eyewitness books not to mention this is a FAMOUS location for heaven sake.
As we started looking for someone to help us five gladiators appeared....
more to come..
I made reservations at the Ristorante Sant' Eustachio. Not to be confused with the Cafe Sant' Eustachio. I believe they are across from each other. I found the restaurant by doing an internet search on the computer in the lobby of the Cesari. The reviews were good,(I think it is considered to have some of the best fried artichoke around)and was within walking distance(Mom and I LOVE artichoke, I had never had it fried however.)
After reservations for the evening meal were made, mother and I set out to find the Basilica S. Clemente and the Colosseum. We had researched the Basilica the night before. We had maps, highlighter pens, sticky notes, guidebooks, magnifying glass. It looked like we were preparing for a trip to the ends of the earth. There was no way we would get lost going or coming back.
We purchased our bus tickets from our little tobacco shop and made our way to our regular bus stop. I guess we looked like we knew what we were doing because people started to ask us questions about buses and tickets. One couple didn't even know they needed tickets to get on. After I enlightened them as to the ways of the Roman public transit system my mother and I saw our bus approaching and made our way to where we thought it would finally stop. We were a little off and had to scurry to get on the bus.
As usual mom was worried about getting off at the right stop but I figured you couldn't miss the colosseum and the Basilica was within walking distance.
When I got my first glimpse of the colosseum I was awestruck. The sheer size and ancient aura of that structure is almost enough to make a trip to Rome worthwhile. (Although, the inside didn't grab me as much.) Mother and I had decided to visit the Basilica first and set off to locate it. Shouldn't have been a problem, we had the maps and the "See Dick, See Jane" DK Eyewitness books not to mention this is a FAMOUS location for heaven sake.
As we started looking for someone to help us five gladiators appeared....
more to come..
