Just go for it - they likely won't hit you (playing Frogger in Rome)
Jan 8th, 2005, 05:29 AM
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Just go for it - they likely won't hit you (playing Frogger in Rome)
Hi all,
Happy New Year! It's been a very busy few months. After I got back from London and Rome, I had a two week breather (in which I never really slowed down) before heading off to Vegas. and then of course Xmas and New Years. Have not had time to do squat with my photos and forget about a trip report. (not to mention I still have to complete my Brittany/Normandy report from before, as well).
At any rate, I finally got some of my photos arranged. I still have not taken my film B&W in for processing! Now I just have to find the rolls.
Had a fabulous trip - Rome is simply breathtaking. I don't even feel I touched the tip of the iceberg - maybe just a few loose ice shavings is all.
A few tips, and some day I will write a trip report:
Crossing the street - you must show no fear and just go. Don't look left, right, up, down, sideways, anywhere but eyes straight and just go. Odds are they will be able to dodge you. If you are a little squeamish of doing this, wait for some nuns to come along and cross with them. Then again, I did hear a lot of ambulances near the Piazza Venezia. My first time crossing the Piazza I didn't do just that, and saw a moped bearing down on me at speed. for a split second I froze like a deer in the headlamps (which way to run? back? forward?) and he also stopped too, quite close, and waved me on in a frustrated manner. I do believe this is where the phrase "he who hesitates is lost" must have originated. So take heed - just go.
The Hotel Parlamento was great. It was reco'd to me by Kismetchimera here, who hails from Rome originally. Thank you Kismet! The staff was so friendly (and cute! the one manager looked just like an old boyfriend of mine) and the room was very nice - it even had a door onto the terrace. (Rooms 104 and 106 have doors onto the rooftop terrace in case you decide to stay there.) The bathroom had outlets for American and European electricity which I thought was a very nice touch. It was only 98E a night, too.
I did entirely too much shopping. I was so proud that I managed to pack everything into one bag (one very heavy bag) but I had little room to spare (I also have a large leather bag I bought in Florence a few years ago, but that is my carryon bag with anything I don't want to lose, in it).
However, I simply had to buy a new suitcase while I was there to put the spoils of shopping in. A 30" pull-along. How embarrassing to have a larger case for purchases than the original one with the week's outfits. One of my buys was a tailored Italian suit so I was really happy with that.
Guide - definitely look up Giancarlo Alu. What a charmer! He is such a sweetie pie! He even said my next trip he'd give me the keys to his vacation home if I wanted. (I can't remember exactly where it is - Bookie?) He is very knowledgeable and will take good care of you.
Do NOT miss the Scavi tour. How absolutely fascinating. They would build these little homes for the dead, and go visit them in their homes on occasion - even bringing food and wine! You will also see the little box where St. Peter's bones are buried.
I also recommend the Papal Audience if you are there on Wednesday. How thrilling to see him! When I got home I bought his biography (I nearly bought it in Rome, but it weighs at least 5 pounds if not more - urgh). I got my Gramma a beautiful rosary and wore it to the Mass.
Before, or even after, your trip - one book you must read is A Traveler in Rome by HV Morton. The man is a genius.
and here are the photos...
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/112209/index.html
enjoy!
Happy New Year! It's been a very busy few months. After I got back from London and Rome, I had a two week breather (in which I never really slowed down) before heading off to Vegas. and then of course Xmas and New Years. Have not had time to do squat with my photos and forget about a trip report. (not to mention I still have to complete my Brittany/Normandy report from before, as well).
At any rate, I finally got some of my photos arranged. I still have not taken my film B&W in for processing! Now I just have to find the rolls.
Had a fabulous trip - Rome is simply breathtaking. I don't even feel I touched the tip of the iceberg - maybe just a few loose ice shavings is all.
A few tips, and some day I will write a trip report:
Crossing the street - you must show no fear and just go. Don't look left, right, up, down, sideways, anywhere but eyes straight and just go. Odds are they will be able to dodge you. If you are a little squeamish of doing this, wait for some nuns to come along and cross with them. Then again, I did hear a lot of ambulances near the Piazza Venezia. My first time crossing the Piazza I didn't do just that, and saw a moped bearing down on me at speed. for a split second I froze like a deer in the headlamps (which way to run? back? forward?) and he also stopped too, quite close, and waved me on in a frustrated manner. I do believe this is where the phrase "he who hesitates is lost" must have originated. So take heed - just go.
The Hotel Parlamento was great. It was reco'd to me by Kismetchimera here, who hails from Rome originally. Thank you Kismet! The staff was so friendly (and cute! the one manager looked just like an old boyfriend of mine) and the room was very nice - it even had a door onto the terrace. (Rooms 104 and 106 have doors onto the rooftop terrace in case you decide to stay there.) The bathroom had outlets for American and European electricity which I thought was a very nice touch. It was only 98E a night, too.
I did entirely too much shopping. I was so proud that I managed to pack everything into one bag (one very heavy bag) but I had little room to spare (I also have a large leather bag I bought in Florence a few years ago, but that is my carryon bag with anything I don't want to lose, in it).
However, I simply had to buy a new suitcase while I was there to put the spoils of shopping in. A 30" pull-along. How embarrassing to have a larger case for purchases than the original one with the week's outfits. One of my buys was a tailored Italian suit so I was really happy with that.
Guide - definitely look up Giancarlo Alu. What a charmer! He is such a sweetie pie! He even said my next trip he'd give me the keys to his vacation home if I wanted. (I can't remember exactly where it is - Bookie?) He is very knowledgeable and will take good care of you.
Do NOT miss the Scavi tour. How absolutely fascinating. They would build these little homes for the dead, and go visit them in their homes on occasion - even bringing food and wine! You will also see the little box where St. Peter's bones are buried.
I also recommend the Papal Audience if you are there on Wednesday. How thrilling to see him! When I got home I bought his biography (I nearly bought it in Rome, but it weighs at least 5 pounds if not more - urgh). I got my Gramma a beautiful rosary and wore it to the Mass.
Before, or even after, your trip - one book you must read is A Traveler in Rome by HV Morton. The man is a genius.
and here are the photos...
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/112209/index.html
enjoy!
Jan 8th, 2005, 08:39 AM
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Welcome back Flygirl, I am happy that you enjoyed your stay at the Parlamento, which is my favourite hotel when I go back to my beloved city.
This time I opted for an apt.a triple room for 5 days with a young teen would be too much and I need my space.
I would love to take the Scavi tour also, but my grandaughter is only 13 and the minimum age to visit Rome's underground is 16.
Love your pictures,
Ciao,
AM
This time I opted for an apt.a triple room for 5 days with a young teen would be too much and I need my space.
I would love to take the Scavi tour also, but my grandaughter is only 13 and the minimum age to visit Rome's underground is 16.
Love your pictures,
Ciao,
AM
Jan 8th, 2005, 09:56 AM
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Hi flygirl
Great pictures! I think we were in Rome around the same time, I was there a week before you. I have the same picture of that wedding dress! It is so beautiful. Glad you had a good time.
Gracie
Great pictures! I think we were in Rome around the same time, I was there a week before you. I have the same picture of that wedding dress! It is so beautiful. Glad you had a good time.
Gracie
Jan 8th, 2005, 12:21 PM
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Guess I'm dumb too Jody--I haven't a club what playing Frogger means!
Flygirl, your pictures are great and brought back lots of good memories. Don't know when we will return to Rome (I love it there too), but will definitely look into the Hotel Parlamento since both you and Kismet speak so highly of it.
Flygirl, your pictures are great and brought back lots of good memories. Don't know when we will return to Rome (I love it there too), but will definitely look into the Hotel Parlamento since both you and Kismet speak so highly of it.
Jan 8th, 2005, 01:31 PM
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Hi Flygirl, Beautiful photos - luminous color in some...very nice!
Glad to know I'm not the only girl who pined for a Roman wedding gown. I too have a photo of a gown I fell in love with in a bridal shop window! Also took lots of pictures of Gati Romana!
Your photos are reminding me how many more things are in Rome that I need to see and do. Must go back, soon!
Thanks!! Trish
Glad to know I'm not the only girl who pined for a Roman wedding gown. I too have a photo of a gown I fell in love with in a bridal shop window! Also took lots of pictures of Gati Romana!
Your photos are reminding me how many more things are in Rome that I need to see and do. Must go back, soon!
Thanks!! Trish
Jan 8th, 2005, 01:35 PM
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<b>DO NOT</b> rely on drivers being able to see and avoid you. Don't start across the street unless and until you have made eye contact with the driver(s) coming towards you.
flygirl, you're living on borrowed time.
flygirl, you're living on borrowed time.
Jan 8th, 2005, 02:20 PM
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for those that don't know, frogger is a video game that requires getting a frog from one side of the street to the other while avoiding oncoming cars. great analogy of crossing the street in rome.
i've gone both ways when crossing the street in roma...fearless and fearfull. but i agree they'll stop...they know they have to. if you stand on the sidewalk and wait you'll be there till the next time italy becomes an empire again.
i've gone both ways when crossing the street in roma...fearless and fearfull. but i agree they'll stop...they know they have to. if you stand on the sidewalk and wait you'll be there till the next time italy becomes an empire again.
Jan 8th, 2005, 02:41 PM
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I was also puzzled about the expression playing Frogger in Rome, never heard it before
..But like I always said: Is never too late to learn, and indeed I learned a new way to express my feelings when I cross Piazza Venezia..
..But like I always said: Is never too late to learn, and indeed I learned a new way to express my feelings when I cross Piazza Venezia..
Jan 9th, 2005, 04:10 AM
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hey everyone, thanks! Glad you liked my photos. I sure do take enough of them. I have yet to put up the London ones. I'll get there. if you are inclined, I've put up a few photos from other trips on that site so if you click on "flygirl" it will take you to the index. I even won photo of the week with one of them! I am still convinced it is a marketing ploy though b/c the owner emailed me twice to say I was selected and won't you please consider upgrading to a premium member status? ar ar ar
I should point out my title/topic on crossing the street was written at least partly in cheek - it's still no substitute for keeping your wits about you. (e.g. "they likely won't hit you..." and "odds are they will be able to dodge you.." was written with some irony)
However, after spending time waiting at the curb I noticed that what I described was pretty much what I saw from the natives (and presumably in late November not only will you find perhaps mostly natives, I doubt many folks unaccustomed to such habits would be so bold and fearless from the get-go. I sure wasn't - dodgem is another analogy.) as they say, When in Rome... I saw a man step right in front of a bus as if it didn't even exist.
maybe the single funniest thing, in the same vein, was the madness around Via del Corso. I know that at some point in the evening they close it off to traffic, but, well before that cutoff, when I still saw buses and taxis plying the road, the people were walking right down the middle of the street as if it were a street fair. I half expected to see cotton candy & peanut vendors and dunk-em games with big stuffed animals, around the corner.
some more tips... one note about cameras:
I have a Canon Powershot S400. I love it. 4 mp, and small enough to fit into my small traveling purse along with my mobile and wallet. I have had it a little over a year (when my last digicam met an untimely fate in the surf in Peru, snif snif) and I think it takes pretty good pictures. It would take even better pictures, I think, had I not dropped it from a 5+ feet height onto tile when it was still fairly new, but apart from some general crankiness at times it does a bang-up job. (I do think I am going to replace it with the next generation soon though as well as get a digital SLR). For example, I always keep it on the middle setting, not the "finest" in order to cram as many photos as I can onto a card. Despite that, I've enlarged one of my Paris ones to 20x30 and it looked pretty darn good. 4 mp is a lot, even if you chop some of it off with a lower setting.
I just remembered a few places we ate that I would recommend:
"Room", a restaurant fairly near the American Embassy - but don't ask for the address or directions, Giancarlo was driving and I tend to just gape out the window with no concept of directions when someone else is driving. I believe "Room" was how the Brits back in the day used to pronounce Rome, and indeed this place kinda reminded me of something hip and trendy you would find in London (but Italian food of course). There was wrought copper everywhere and it had a rather industrial feel to the decor (mostly b/c of all that metal). It did have warm touches, so it wasn't like stepping into Belgo in Covent Garden or anything. (and we had both prosecco and limoncello. and a good Tuscan red)
I asked a salesclerk to reco a restaurant and he directed us to Il Galeone in Trastevere. Here is a site with information:
http://romeit.ags.myareaguide.com/?d...82&SSC=352
and I had my DK Top 10 Rome (as well as Time Out which I didn't carry around with me) and found PizzaRe which was FABULOUS. It is on Via di Ripetta 14, which was maybe a 20 minute walk from the hotel.
more updates later - enjoy my photos!
I should point out my title/topic on crossing the street was written at least partly in cheek - it's still no substitute for keeping your wits about you. (e.g. "they likely won't hit you..." and "odds are they will be able to dodge you.." was written with some irony)
However, after spending time waiting at the curb I noticed that what I described was pretty much what I saw from the natives (and presumably in late November not only will you find perhaps mostly natives, I doubt many folks unaccustomed to such habits would be so bold and fearless from the get-go. I sure wasn't - dodgem is another analogy.) as they say, When in Rome... I saw a man step right in front of a bus as if it didn't even exist.
maybe the single funniest thing, in the same vein, was the madness around Via del Corso. I know that at some point in the evening they close it off to traffic, but, well before that cutoff, when I still saw buses and taxis plying the road, the people were walking right down the middle of the street as if it were a street fair. I half expected to see cotton candy & peanut vendors and dunk-em games with big stuffed animals, around the corner.
some more tips... one note about cameras:
I have a Canon Powershot S400. I love it. 4 mp, and small enough to fit into my small traveling purse along with my mobile and wallet. I have had it a little over a year (when my last digicam met an untimely fate in the surf in Peru, snif snif) and I think it takes pretty good pictures. It would take even better pictures, I think, had I not dropped it from a 5+ feet height onto tile when it was still fairly new, but apart from some general crankiness at times it does a bang-up job. (I do think I am going to replace it with the next generation soon though as well as get a digital SLR). For example, I always keep it on the middle setting, not the "finest" in order to cram as many photos as I can onto a card. Despite that, I've enlarged one of my Paris ones to 20x30 and it looked pretty darn good. 4 mp is a lot, even if you chop some of it off with a lower setting.
I just remembered a few places we ate that I would recommend:
"Room", a restaurant fairly near the American Embassy - but don't ask for the address or directions, Giancarlo was driving and I tend to just gape out the window with no concept of directions when someone else is driving. I believe "Room" was how the Brits back in the day used to pronounce Rome, and indeed this place kinda reminded me of something hip and trendy you would find in London (but Italian food of course). There was wrought copper everywhere and it had a rather industrial feel to the decor (mostly b/c of all that metal). It did have warm touches, so it wasn't like stepping into Belgo in Covent Garden or anything. (and we had both prosecco and limoncello. and a good Tuscan red)
I asked a salesclerk to reco a restaurant and he directed us to Il Galeone in Trastevere. Here is a site with information:
http://romeit.ags.myareaguide.com/?d...82&SSC=352
and I had my DK Top 10 Rome (as well as Time Out which I didn't carry around with me) and found PizzaRe which was FABULOUS. It is on Via di Ripetta 14, which was maybe a 20 minute walk from the hotel.
more updates later - enjoy my photos!
Jan 9th, 2005, 03:01 PM
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Hey there friend! thanks for the web site. I need to add more of my photos but just don't seem to have the time. Any price listed for that beautiful wedding dress?
When/where is your next trip?
I hope you enjoyed today's fodorite get together! See you soon - let's talk London!
Monica
When/where is your next trip?
I hope you enjoyed today's fodorite get together! See you soon - let's talk London!
Monica
