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Belinda<BR><BR>Your preparation was just IMMENSE!!<BR><BR>And I love the layout of advise. I don't agree with all of it, but, hey, life would be boring if we were all the same, no?

Thank you so much for all the info. I'm to Italy for three weeks leaving Sept. 16. First time and I can put to use much of what I have read here. Thanks again Belinda.

Sheila - I'd love to hear what bits you didn't agree with as I'm always up for learning something new. This was obviously my first trip (first of many I hope) and it was definitely a learning experience. Thanks - belinda

Belinda<BR><BR>email me if you like. It's no big deal. I'm sure if I put it on here I'll be accused of attacking you, which I do not in any way intend. It was a great contribution

topping for train advice

belinda don't worry, Sheila always likes to have a go at newbies on this site but she's ok. A mother-hen type, aren't you Sheila. Just watch the claws and beak <BR><BR>I liked your comments although I'd gladly wring the neck of whoever it was that said Europeans didn't wear jeans or that they all dress in black or whatever. Absolutely misleading. Please tell all your fellow countrymen/women that it's not so.

This post is the perfect example of why I surf this talk site daily,I've learned more about traveling here than from all the books I've bought in my lifetime. Let's keep up the good work!

Mr/Ms xx, don't be such a pompous ass. All of us, even you, were first timers at one time. This lady has spent a lot of her time to post this information and it is of value to people planning their first trip. For those of us that have been many, many times, we can choose to ignore it, or better, we can read and supply our additional ideas/thoughts. I am quite happy that Belinda chose to post this and I am quite happy to share my experiences with beginners. So, why don't you just go away and we will all be better off.

Belinda--<BR><BR>Absolutely one of the best things I've read on this site--wonderful report. Now for all the travellers reading this posting--you can pack absolutely any kind of knife, including a swiss army knife, in your checked luggage: all the new restrictions only apply to carryon luggage. I ought to know, last trip to Paris, I stocked up on huge and potentially deadly kitchen knives and packed them in my checked luggage with no problem.

Is it too late to post an actual and in fact trip report?

Of course not, Belinda...post away!!!

Interesting input on the trains. I am going to Italy for the first time, leaving Sept. 13, and the train part is making me a little nervous. I will need to take a train from FCO airport to Termini, and at Termini find the IC train to Grosseto (I have already reserved my train tix). Is the train from the airport to Termini easy to find? I've already assumed I'll be overwhelmed at the train station, but I'm ready ;-)! Will I have an easier time finding the train to Grosseto if I know where the end stop is? Thanks for your input (in advance).

In case anyone’s interested, I bought an excellent travel jacket from www.sierra.com for about half the price of my old one from L. L. Bean. <BR><BR>I can empathize with the notation that people in train stations are often helpful whether or not they have a clue as to what they’re telling you. Last April I was traveling in Europe with an English friend. On the English leg of the trip we were taking a train from Cheltenham Spa to Great Yarmouth which is quite a journey. We were to change in London at Paddington Station, which is a place where I’ve always had trouble, take the Tube to Liverpool Street Station then catch the train to Yarmouth. The last place I assumed I’d have a language problem was in London.<BR><BR>Paddington was, as usual, full of construction and the resulting chaos. We corralled an amazingly tall fellow in a London Underground garb. His English skills were next to zero; his accent was so heavy neither of us could understand more than a few words. Eventually he wrote down instructions which were totally wrong! I’ve used the Tube for years and heretofore had considered myself a smug little expert. We went up and down stairs, lugging our bags, one of which was very large (brand new) and on wheels. Until a wheel broke off! The few escalators were mostly out of service. When we finally reached our platform I was looking for something in my pocket and I noticed the mangled bag was starting to fall, aimed right at my friends knees. I could visualize the bag knocking him into the path of the oncoming train and I made a desperate grab and managed to somehow bend the nail on my forefinger backwards, breaking it in two about halfway down!<BR><BR>As soon as we got settled and the train took off I looked up at the Tube map on the wall only to discover we were heading in the opposite direction! We disembarked at the first stop, crossed over, sweating, cursing, and starting to panic because we now had less than an hour to get to our connection. I stopped another Tube employee and this guy was French with an accent that was impenetrable! Although we were back at our original starting place he tried his best to convince us we were in the wrong station!<BR><BR>In the end we muddled through, arriving at Liverpool Street Station about 10 minutes before our next departure, sweaty and irritated, only to learn that the train was delayed by half an hour!<BR><BR>What to do? Only one thing…into the Hamilton Hall pub for two pints of surprising cold, outrageously calming pints. A great attitude adjustment after our trials…<BR>

Belinda,<BR>I believe that you and I were separated at birth. I plan trips to the "nth" degree like you do. I have post-it notes stuck all over my books like you do. I overdo the same things you overdo. I also had the idea to bring little gifts like keychains, etc., on my trip in November. I can get them at the same place you did, because I, too, am in Houston. The moleskin is on my ever-expanding list of things to bring (as opposed to the list of things to do, which is also different from the list of things to do/buy BEFORE the trip, etc.... I'm big on lists. I bet you are, too.) I am intending to put together the same type of "memory book," too. Whether I actually get to it or not is another question!<BR>Anyway, I have enjoyed your posts, and I'm looking forward to reading the complete trip report. <BR>Your sister (in love for travel, anyway!) Linda

ttt

Linda - Funny how when I read about you making lists and things you sound like a nut, but my lists and things are perfectly reasonable. Seriously, here's my philosophy, plan to the nth degree and then be infinitely flexible. You can ruin a trip trying to follow a schedule, itinerary, etc. You can also ruin a trip by not planning. I haven't even posted my trip report and I'm planning my next trip (a week in Paris next May).

STREETS: Most european streets are of cobble stone. The first time I brought a suitcase and had the tremors when I dragged it on the pavements from the Metro to my hotel. The next time I brought a bag pack which was much better.