paris1953

Dentisto, regarding Capri....we were there so long ago, on our honeymoon in 1976. It was enchanting. But in my opinion, the experience and atmosphere at Positano was equally sublime. HOWEVER, if you go to Capri & have the chance to visit the Blue Grotto, that was quite amazing. There are ferries all day long that take you from Positano to Capri, so really you could decide to do that at the last minute I think.

Regarding Paris...it's hard for me to say. My favorite thing to do in Paris is to just walk...get lost in the streets and alleyways. Talk to the shopkeepers. If you have the basic niceties of bonjour and merci, they are very accommodating. One of my favorite planned things was a market tour, then lunch cooking class with Cooking With Class. (cooknwithclass.com) But with so little time in Paris and this being your first time, you should do the touristy things for sure. Rest assured you will want to return!! For a nice afternoon, I would suggest taking your favorite books, a bottle of wine or water, pick up some cheese & bread, and go to the Champs de Mars and just watch people.

Another suggestion...after dinner. go to the Trocadero and have dessert at a cafe and watch the lights blink on the Eiffel Tower. WORTH EVERY PENNY!! I've recommended restaurants in Paris before on this site and so have many other folks...I'm sure you've researched those. Also, since it's your first time I would definitely suggest a Seine cruise...daytime gives you a great perspective of the city and night time is just magical. There are no wrong ways to do Paris!

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip! And thanks for suggesting we are younger! Not much!

kybourbon

dentisto - I depart the day you do and have a layover in Detroit. Are you flying in to FCO? Taxis (official Rome taxi) are a set fee of 45€ from FCO to Rome for 4 people including luggage. Limo service (such as Romeshuttlelimousine.com )from FCO can be booked for similar price. From Naples to the coast, they are also set fees. Click on visualizza le tariffe pdf. Page 2 is English.
http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/.../IDPagina/1193

dentisto

kybouban, Thanks for the info. We fly Detroit to London and have 24 hour layover, then London to Paris the next day. We decided on Amalfi and Florence for the Italian part of our trip so we'll miss Rome. Have a great time.

dentisto

paris....thanks. Your Paris suggestions are great and right up our alley. I plan on the Champs de Mars suggestion (with wine)as well as the Trocadero and others.

LBev769375

Happy 35th and for a great happy trip report.

annhig

hi paris,

just found your trip report - and read it one go. I had to laugh at some of your comments - the "helpful" person who wanted €2 for assisting you to buy a train ticket for example! we met one of those too, but had the good fortune to "persuade" her to go away.

i am sorry that you missed the via coronari - we stayed in a near-by apartment and walked its length several times, though the most we bought was an ice-cream I think! I personally fell in live with the most wonderful table in one of the antique shops, but I suspect it would have taken the entirety of my travel budget for ever! but there were other near-by streets with interesting and less expensive shops which we enjoyed too. i love the mix you find - just round the corner from us was a marble workshop next to a cafe, next to a shoe-shop, next to...

perhaps you will get to go back for your 40th anniversary?

paris1953

Thanks, Annhig. I could tell that I would have been smitten by those shops! Maybe the 36th anniversary trip?

Thank you LBev. The only sad part of this trip is that it's all done.

annhig

paris - happy future travels!

snfrance

Hi, Not sure if you are still checking this, but I am in need of help/advice getting high speed train tickets prior to my family's arrival to Italy in about a month. Can't believe I found your posts--we are doing the exact same itinerary! Without the high speed trains, I can see some problems with how I have everything scheduled. Any directions are appreciated!

ellenem

snfrance,

We can't give you directions because we don't know your problem.

You will get more responses if you start your own new topic tagged for Italy with a descriptive title ("Need train help for Rome, Florence, Whatever") and describing exactly your situation. "We need to travel between x, y, and z. We hoped to do a, b, and c, but now I've found trouble because . . ."