To each her own, Dina. I prefer lightweight pants in really hot weather. I can't stand my legs sticking together! My favorites are linen and poly, absorbent but not wrinkly, with an elastic waist. Love 'em!

Ellen, yes, I tend to like a breeze down there when it's hot, but in Egypt, I did not want any bare leg showing, so gauze pants under a gauze tunic or dress was very comfortable. I guess the important feature is a loose waist and loosely woven material to allow some ventilation.

My trusty old, well worn raincoat! It goes with me everywhere we travel, and since we travel in spring has been a Godsend many times. It is long, khaki colored and the stereotype raincoat/trenchcoat type. <BR><BR>j

Aside from weddings, I've never worn a dress or skirt in my 18 trips to Ireland and the UK.

Besides my black blazer, the thing I can't do without is my black pashmina shawl.

My most valued piece of clothing I took to Rome was my thong bikini and walking down the streets in it. The Italian men went crazy. Especially at the Trevi Fountain

Don't flatter yourself so, sexy. Those Italian guys will go crazy over anything with boobs, including my grandma in her black schmatta and shawl.

Suzy, you gave me a good laugh. And yes I am definitely inclined to believe you. The sex drive of the Italian men is quite high. Just between you and me I was kidding about the thong. My fanny would have been covered in black and blue marks.<BR><BR>

When you say "fanny" I'm assuming you mean "bum", but oooh what an image you conjured up there ...

I'm going to be in Italy at the end of March (Rome to the Lake Como area). Will it be quite cool? Any suggestions-since I'm a southern California gal it's sometimes hard to prepare for "cold."Would you suggest a lined raincoat over a wool hip length coat?

Jeanette, we were in Italy at the end of April, and we were freezing!! Wear layers. (I'm from LA, too, and wear gloves in 60 degree weather!) It was in the low 50s then. I wore a sweater with a (California) heavy coat, and a scarf was a godsend.

I found that just plain water in a plastic spritz bottle (available at any drug store) works as well as Fabreze (sp?). Test it at home first to see if it works for you. Using local water lightens the load and you avoid spills.We were in Italy late March/early April 2000 and while it rained I was never freezing (Mid California girl). I was however glad to have my old trusty lightweight raincoat and Iwore most of the time a linen-like blazer with tank top and pants.Most of my wardrobe I didn't even unpack.

Jeanette: Plan to buy that scarf in Como!

Leave the Febreze on the store shelf at home. The stuff is toxic, and anyway you don't want it opening in flight and spilling all over everything. I hang things up to air out whenever possible and I keep 1-2 index cards that I've put lavender on in the pouches of my luggage (not next to clothes if you are using oil of lavendar -- will stain). My grandmother always packed those little packets of soap leaves more for the "sachet" value than to wash her hands, but I can't find them any more.

My most valued is my Sierra Travel Jacket from TIlley Endurables (www.tilley.com). 11 pockets to keep everything in

Sniffy,<BR><BR>Try Evelyn & Crabtree for those soap "leaves". I bought some there awhile ago, but I bet they still carry them.

I forgot to ask - to those who wear elastic waist band slacks/pants:<BR><BR>Is there a special kind you buy? I never buy them, b/c I feel like a blimp in them. All that gathering around the waist - front and back adds more "mass" to what is already there. ;-) I go for the flat front pants, which are more flattering,IMHO - unless maybe if one has a HUGE stomach????

Elsa, I'm pretty small, but also short (and short-waisted) so I also have to avoid pull-on trousers with lots of gathers round the waist. I buy pull-on trousers from Dorothy Perkins (in the UK - don't know if they're in the US) that are flat fronted and have a wide flat elastic waist that won't roll. They're also very inexpensive. These are the ones I get:<BR><BR>http://www.dorothyperkins.co.uk/cgi-bin/product.cgi?prodid=CG713<BR><BR>I'm sure there must be similar styles at other shops.

Thanks a lot, Me, for the suggestion. I will have to look for some wide band pull-ons, but first I have to try to open my mind regarding pull-ons ... and I'm having a VERY difficult time doing that. :-)

Flat-front vs. Pull-on: I too prefer flat-front, because I'm short and don't want extra material around waist & hips. <BR>I find that flat-front, non-elastic waisted pants are comfortable if they have an easy fit LOW-RISE cut (slightly below the waist) which is kind of trendy in the U.S. or in France. They don't bunch up around the waist and constrict, during long hours of sitting on trains/planes. A percentage of stretchable spandex/lycra in the fabric helps too, and keeps the pants from wrinkling.<BR><BR>If I do wear an elastic waist pant, I cut the pants lower and make a new casing slightly below the waist. I'm a professional seamstress, so that's no big deal to me. Otherwise, I'd find the pants waist reaching up to my midriff, or the crotch hanging down to my knees!<BR>