Theresa I Loved it...

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to share all your adventures with us.

We were in Rome around the same time as you, and you brought many happy memories back. We enjoyed the Christmas tree with the messages in Termini station, the 101 bus and so much more.

I hope you write more when you have the time, and thanks again for all the pleasure and useful advice you've given.

Happy travels in 2007!

Theresa, yes! Please do write more for us--even if it is just about your daily life in the restaurant and with your amazing family. I know it is not Europe right now--so, OK, just put it on the US forum. You have made all of us want to keep up with your daily adventures in your own special style of telling it jg

This is the best!! Bookmarking to read later. In fact, I think I will print it all out to read on the plane on my way to Italy in February! God Bless, Theresa.

Hi You Guys!

It's like 1 a.m. here in Detroit. I have been up since 4 am this morning, and I ain't feelin' no pain. No I'm not drinking or anything. But I can't believe I'm not dead to the world.

My Granddaughter is spending the night and I had to stay up until she fell asleep which was about 10 p.m. and then I couldn't sleep after that.

We did not do cookie decorating this year. First time in 15 years. My Husband and I went to Cancun for our 21st wedding anniver. and whenever we go to cancun we visit the childrens home. We take gifts and go by sam's club in the city and get milk, ceral, fruit and whatever else they need. Well this past Aug. we were there and my husband had to work on the stove and oven. He got the oven fixed by the stove was beyond repair and a fire hazard. That bothered us for months. While home here in detroit we surfed the internet until we found what could possibly be the right parts to fix the stove there and had them ups'd to the hotel we were going to stay at. The hotel put the parts together for us which was very nice of them. But when we got to the childrens home (la casita) the parts weren't going to work after all and they had to have a new stove. So a few days later we met the ladies that work at the home at a restaurant supply place in downtown cancun. My Husband and the ladies picked out the stove they wanted and then the ladies from the home proceeded to do a tag team fighting match on the manager there. I mean spanish was flying all over the place. I only understood about 1/3 of the coversation, but I knew they were bardering him about the price. By the time they were through with the manager, My husband was able to buy 2 stoves for the price of one. So what was supposed to be about a 200.00 dollar job fixing the stove turned into another 750.00 dollar stove job. But you know what, it had to be done. They needed a stove and we now go to bed everynight now knowing that over 100 children will have a hot meal everyday now. So no cookie decorating for the local kids (who really have it all anyways)because what extra money we had for cookie night went to set up 2 new stoves and the new parts we sent via ups my husband was able to set up another temp. stove for the girls to learn to cook on and make jelly the home sells to buy those little extra's. When we got home and broke the news to some of the children from the restaurant they were happy that we helped the children's home in Mexico and can they help with something for the home too. It made my heart just melt. Because these kids really mean it in their hearts to help. We are working on getting a freezer delivered to the home asap. So now we got the kids working on helping the kids there. Awesome. But I think were going to let our local kids do easter baskets this year for themselves. I haven't told them yet, I have to start that fund up first

Italy is really calling me back. I did get to go again last year with students to Italy, France and Spain. That was hard work though. But I did fall in love with a town called Montacantini. It was the most beautiful city (well Monaco blew my mind too) I have ever seen. I have to get my husband there. It is so romantic and the food was out of this world. And shopping, forgetaboutit. I broke down and bought an outfit there and can't wait to go back to the same store and shop again.

Hope your all doing good tonight/this morning. And I can't thank you all enough for all the nice things you said about my italy post. I don't think my head will fit through the door of the Restaurant when I work on thursday. No work tomorrow. That's my grandbaby day, and no one ain't stoppin' that from happening. I'd make my customers flip their own eggs. And it wouldn't be the first time they had to do it either.

Nighty Night....
Whole lot of love out of Detroit....
Theresa

Life is good in Theresaland!

Theresa's Montecantini trip report -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34785718

Theresa, I just read your Montecantini report. Thank you, kybourbon, for posting the link.

Please keep us in mind and share your experiences anytime. I'd love to hear more about the children's home. You are now a Fodor's treasure!

And congratulations on that grandbaby!
Linda

Theresa,
As long as there are people like you in this world, there is hope!

Thank you, and, as we say in Alabama, Bless Your Heart!

Byrd

Theresa is the epitome of the really NICE people that inhabit the Midwest. Thanks for checking back in with us Theresa! Your Rome report still ranks as the best trip report ever posted on Fodors!

Theresa: it has taken me hours to read your report, along with the comments made by the Fodorites. It has been worth every second. You are hilarious and your trip would make for a great movie! What I most appreciate is your down to earth, genuine, real life, account of the events, people, and places you describe. It is so refreshing to hear from REAL people who tell it like it is. Without hidden agendas nor vanity. Thanks for the many hours it must have taken you to write up your report. I have laughed like you can't imagine, and even contacted some freinds to read your report. I will be in Italy in September and will think of you and your adventure as I walk the streets of Rome and Venice. Greetings to you and yours from sunny Orlando, Florida. I used to live in Toledo many years ago, so we were once almost neighbors. As they say in Rome...Ciao and buona fortuna!

Theresa, I think you need to go back to Italy just so you can write another trip report. You are adorable, and your personality shines through. I laughed so hard at some of the things you did and said, and I felt like I was right there with you.

One can write a trip report that is grammatically correct through and through and never put forth the sense of self in their writing like you are able to achieve. Nice job, girl.

RRT25 and AntinNY

You are tooooo kind. I am really shocked that the report of our trip would be accepted with all these great, heart warming, heading blowing up can't fit thru the door compliments. I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!

Sept. in Rome should be great weather wise if you ask Me. We were there in November (thanksgiving time) and it was like 50* everyday. Except Venice and Pompeii. I froze my ass off, both cheeks. But Pompeii was worth every drip of snot. I will go back there and see it again very soon. I'd love to dress the part. How cool to walk through Pompeii dressed in the clothes of that time period. I'd do it in a heart beat, got any suggestions where I could get a awesome costume there in Rome? I will also take a picnic lunch and hang out on the grassy knolls with a view that is out of a book/movie. I will go to the front entrance this time too. I want to start like normal people (though I don't know any) from the beginning and I will hire a guide. Who will love my outfit. And I'll share my Lunch with them too.

May I just take a shot at recommending the Empire Palace Hotel to anyone staying in Rome. It is a wonderful hotel with an outstanding staff. Who serves one heck of a breakfast. It is in a great location and I'll be way jealous of anyone going there soon.

One of my customers is going on a cruise in July. The port is outside of Rome and They wanted some info from me about staying in Rome a few days before the cruise leaves. Well after bombarding her wtih so much info online, travel packages I took the liberty of ordering for them and all my maps and travel stuff I brought back with me (which as been used by 2 other people already) and after all that, they are thinking of doing Rome, Venice and Tuscany. Though I have nothing against cruises, and the one they have reserved looks awesome,I think they just may be changing their minds and doing a land tour.

You all have a wonderful night.

Theresa, you deserve all of the compliments, and not just for your trip report but for being a genuine human being whose enjoyment for life is contagious. As the old yearbooks used to say: "Stay just as sweet as you are." jg

Hi Theresa,
You won't believe this, but I just read an email from a friend of mine in Wales and she said I had to read your Rome review. I had no idea I would be reading all evening... but it was worth every minute. I loved your review... loved your spunk and courage and sense of humor... wow! I could empathize with your troubles with Air France at CDG. Last year I flew through CDG on my way to Rome and of course they assured me the luggage would be on the plane when I switched (I left lots of time to avoid your problems with missed connections!), but of course when we got to Rome the luggage wasn't there. We were going on a cruise in three days and the woman at the hotel said Alitalia will tell you it will arrive in a day, but it will take three days, and sure enough she was exactly right. I did buy some necessities and they did eventually reimburse me for those, but what a headache!

I travel to Detoit for business from time to time... usually go to Battle Creek. I'll try to get in touch and stop by your restaurant some time. After reading all that I feel as if I know you and would love to actually see you some day.

Thanks again for such a great read!

Best regards,
Linda

Thanks Theresa
I just found your thread, too

jg and linda You guys cracked me up. The yearbook thing was awesome, because so cliche' but so true. "stay Sweet" I loved it.
Linda a friend from wales emailed you about this? Too wild. But Rome really rocked and it's so stuck in my head, I have re-read my journals and added some idea's for the next trip. I found some stuff in the journals I forgot happenend and I had to call my husband and mess with this head about it. We giggled, some things that happen in Rome, should stay in Rome.

Linda please swing by the Old House anytime. Battle Creek is a haul from here. I wish I could say it would be worth the drive without sounding big headed. Give me a heads up when your in Michigan.
Good Night Safe travels and no lost luggage. And may the person sitting next to you on the plane know all about irish spring.

Theresa, happy that my "high-school yearbook" quote made you happy. Here is the classic one I forgot: "U R 2 sweet 2 B forgot 10." Brings back memories, doesn't it? Let us hear from you again soon. It's been 2 long. jg

Getting ready to book a trip to Italy and I can't wait to re-write another chapter on this. Pompeii is in the works too.

bk

bookmarking to read later, thanks