(actually I do know when I'll be back, I just like that song. )

Hi everyone!

Well, it's almost here...finally. On Sunday I'm off to Italy for the very first time.

Thank you to everyone who helped me put this trip together for my folks and I. I just got off the phone, first with dad who asked me the same questions for the millionth time and then with my mom who is now only freaking out about taking the wrong AirTrain at JFK and getting stuck at some subway terminal. (There is a great web site with map that I sent her the link for and of course her computer crashed while trying to open the link as it always crashed when only I send her links. I hate that stupid old computer of hers rrrggh.)

I'm pretty much all packed, there are a few last minute items to contend with. I must not forget my personal travel book that I have compiled. (Loose leaf binder with sections on every aspect of the trip.) I still need to put together lists of numbers and important info for hubby and daughter who are being left behind.

I picked up sudafed to hopefully prevent my wanting to jump out an airplane window if my ears act up as badly as they have before.

After my short day at work tomorrow I will try to get my nails done.

Once I arrive in Rome I will wait for my parents outside the FCO customs hall doors along with the Limoservicerome.com driver. (First I will have visited an ATM to get a little Euro moolah.)

Then we will all drive in the minivan for 52 Euros, (thanks for the suggestion ira) for our 3 night stay at the Albergo Cesari.

On one of our days we have reservations to the Borghesi Gallery for which we will arrive 1/2 early to pay for the reserved tickets.

At some point we will buy our tickets for the 1st class ES* Italy train to Venice for our 2 night stay in the B&B CA'Bernardini.

We will visit the architecture exhibit at the Venice Biennale that we did not need to make advance reservations for.

We also plan to visit the Murano Glass factory.

When we are finished in Venice we will pick-up our automatic pre-paid via AutoEurope rental car for our drive to the villa in Cortona. We plan on stopping in Bologna to dine.

One week in Cortona, yeah. Side trips will include the train to Florence.

I hope there will be a few vinyard trips and visits to medieval towns.

After the week in Cortona we will have an extra day/night to meander back towards Rome to come back to the US.

Drop off car at FCO and take respective flights home, San Fran, NY and FL.

Have I forgotten anything?

PLMN, I don't know if you've forgotten anything and I hope you haven't. Wishing you the best trip ever.

I so cannot wait to read your trip report. Please promise you'll post one.

PLMN, I'm so happy for you, have a wonderful time, and wish you good weather.

You just forgot to take me with you
Have a wonderful time! I look forward to hearing all about everything when you get home.
Scarlett

PLMN, although I am rather new to this board I have read your postings and know you have worked so hard to make this trip wonderful. I wish you a fantastic time. I remember my first trip to Italy. I still think of it as the very best. Enjoy every moment, every sight, every bite of food, sip of wine or espresso. Savor everything. I will look forward to reading your reports when you are back and settled in. And remember, when something goes "not exactly to plan" that is what you will giggle about and remember later. To you and your parents, a beautiful trip.

LoveItaly, you said it so well for what Plmn should remember.
Bon voyage, our fodors friend

Have a wonderful time and remember to strut about in your rain coat!!

You must take notes so we can all hear the fun things that will happen to you and your parents, tell them another complete stranger wishes them well!

We just got back from over a week at the Albergo Cesari. It has nice large rooms and two sets of windows to cut down outside noise. The breakfast room is cute but is too small for the number of guests. And it's difficult to figure out when most people will be dining. The servers work very hard and are sweet even if you order espresso instead of the regular coffee. The nice fruit on the top shelf rarely seems ripe. I finally ended up taking pieces to our room for a few days and then bringing it down for breakfast when it got ripe. There is free internet in the lobby, a real plus. Bernardo [cute] and the other men at the desk are good about answering questions. They also got us a wonderful woman taxi driver for the trip to the airport. She didn't drive too fast and was in the lobby to get us ahead of time. In the Parco Borghesi there are criminals passing themselves off as police. The ploy was to ask you to take a photo and then the "policeman" comes up and wants to see everyone's passport "looking for drugs". It's in Rick Steves book but we hadn't read it. They didn't get anything from us but it was close! Anyway, hope that you have a wonderful trip.

Have a great time and try to stay sane. It has been great weather here for the last week and looks like that should continue. Don't worry about missing something or getting lost, you never know what you may find around the next corner.

Oh babe, I DON'T hate to go!! Couldn't resist.

I know you will have a wonderful trip. Look forward to a trip report.

gg

Thank you, thank you, ya'll. ><

Scarlett, did you get home already? I was afraid you might be near that erupting volcano, or did you go to a different state?

daph, great info to have about the Cesari. Especially about the internet. How do they work that for us?

PLMN: We just got back from Rome. You will love it. Just one little tip, the "Customs Hallway" should not be confused with the "Passport Control Hallway". When you exit the aircraft, you are filtered down some hallways and then through several booths where police check your passports. Immediately past those booths we found several limo drivers with signs waiting. We mistakenly thought this was where we were to wait for our driver. It WAS NOT CUSTOMS. You pick up your luggage at this point, and then go out a door that looks like and exit. There were no "customs" booths to pass through, but I think customs people watch this hallway and pullyou aside if they are interested in you. Anyway, it is past this SECOND hallway where you will find ALL the limo drivers!

Have a great trip. We absolutely loved Italy!

dwz, THANK YOU THAK YOU for the info! My folks would have been very worried. I will pass this info on immediately. Grazie! (I need to practice my Italiano sp?)

PLMN -
Concerning the airport shuttle at JFK - there are plenty of NY/NJ Port Authority staff at the shuttle stations to help confused travelers. Also - there are audio announcements at each station about the approaching train and it's destination.

Thank you mark. Great to know if your a "normal" person. But this involves my mother, a brilliant architect who can't keep face cream directions straight

I asked her about her anxiety because she has traveled quite extensively. She informed me that she has always gotten nervous before traveling. Just another bit of new knowledge I expect I will learn about my parents on this trip.

Now RELAX! It's all done! Don't sweat! Don't worry about the small stuff anymore -- you can be sure there's going to be stuff that goes wrong, just leave yourself time for fixing. Example: we went one stop too far on the circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Naples to catch an ES out of Naples to Venice. We dragged our luggage across the platform to the train going the other direction to go back one stop. Fortunately, I factored in enough time to make stupid mistakes.
Keep that in mind, so you won't be "blowin' in the wind".

You should call yourself ppm, not plmn!

Hi Surfergirl.

Thanks for the good wishes.

PS. Why ppm?

Ohhh, I get it now.

Hi PLMN,

Break a leg.

>At some point we will buy our tickets for the 1st class ES* Italy train to Venice ...<

You might want to ask your hotel if they can do it for you. They can do it over the Internet.

okey dokey ira