Hello, all. I just returned this week from a two week trip to Rome - my second trip. I stayed in Rome the whole time with day trips to Pompeii, Florence, and Orvieto. It was spectactular. The weather was generally quite nice but was rainy during the last couple of days. I also started noticing some Christmas decorations during the last part of the trip and a Christmas market (or something of the sort) was set up on Piazza Navona. <BR><BR>I'm so glad I stayed in Rome the whole time. It was very relaxing. I saw a lot of things I didn't see on my first trip, but I didn't feel rushed at all. I definitely want to go back again, although I might make it just a little earlier in November. In general, I thought it was a great time to travel. The only crowds I experienced were at the Sistine Chapel and that's because I went on the last Sunday of the month, when admission is free.<BR><BR>Highlights:<BR>1) Scavi tour under St. Peter's Basilica<BR>2) Archeological tour of the Domus Aurea<BR>3) Just sitting and reading with a cup of coffee and a view of the Pantheon<BR>4) Nutella gelato at Cremeria Monteforte by the Pantheon<BR>5) Best meal - Il Duca hostaria in Trastevere, Viccolo del Cinque<BR>6) All the wonderful people I met (I never quite feel like I was as gracious to them as they were to me)<BR>7) Easy Everything internet service on Piazza Barberini - If you need to use the internet it's just 1 euro for 60 minutes of time and you don't have to use it all at once<BR>8) The duomo in Florence<BR>9) Just walking around Florence - it's so heartachingly beautiful<BR>10) Tour of Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere with Enjoy Rome<BR><BR>I'm sure I'll think of more later. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Oh, I can't forget this:<BR><BR>11) Pappardelle al Cinghiale - I love this dish and had to have it when I was in Florence. I was pleasantly surprised to see it on the menu in Orvieto so I had it again!

Hi Vita:<BR>Glad you liked Rome; its my favorite foreign city. I am planning to be there next June with my family (11 people) and want to take a day trip to Pompei. Did you use a tour or go as an individual? I understand there are local English speaking tour guides at the entrance to the site. Any info you can provide will be appreciated.<BR>Thanks, Chet

Vita, I am also interested in your day trip experiences. I'm considering the exact same day trips you made, but I will have to choose only one of them. How would you compare them?

Hi, Chet. I went to Pompeii on my own. I didn't like the itinerary offered by the bus tours. I took the train from Rome to Naples Centrale Station then the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to the Pompeii Scavi site (going toward Sorrento).<BR><BR>There was an Engligh language tour guide at the entrance and using his services would have been my preference. The problem was that he charged a flat rate no matter how large the group. Because it was the off season, I would have had to wait a while to get a large enough group together to make that affordable. I think it would be a great option for you since you already have 11 people.<BR><BR>I did the audio tour, which I found a little frustrating, but Pompeii was fabulous.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip! I know you will.

Hi, Nikki. We just posted at the same time. Of the three, I would have to say Florence, but I would recommend staying longer than a day if you can. I only did Florence as a day trip because I had been there before and I thought it might be too cold in November to have an extended stay. As it turned out the weather was beautiful that day.<BR><BR>Unfortunately it rained the day I went to Orvieto. I wasn't overly impressed by the duomo in comparison to others I've seen. One of the great sites in Orvieto is supposed to be the underground ruins, which I didn't get to see.<BR><BR>I think it depends on your preferences. The three destinations are very different. Orvieto would probably be nice for a city break, but I would only consider trying it again in the summer or there abouts, when the weather would be more likely to be nice.<BR><BR>If you're interested in history and ruins, go to Pompeii. Of the three day trips, Pompeii is the farthest away from Rome - about two hours to Naples on the highspeed train then about another 30 minutes on the Circumvesuviana train from Naples.<BR><BR>I love Florence as a walking city. I just find it very charming. Of course, it has some great galleries, but my favorite sites are the duomo, Santa Croce, the view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, and the Boboli Gardens. It would take about 90 minutes on the highspeed train. I hope that helps.

Sorry, two more things. Cleaning my apartment today (finally) and was reminded:<BR><BR>12) Streetwise Rome was a great map for navigating Rome. I noticed in the stores that there's an Italy pack for the Streetwise series that includes Rome, Florence, and Venice.<BR><BR>13) I used my Let's Go taly guide from last year and the Time Out Guide for Rome.

Hi Vita,<BR>You also went to Rome last year, no? I seemed to remember you did.<BR><BR>I'm going back next month, was there last January. This time I'm also going to Florence, where I lived for a year when in school.<BR><BR>This harried time of year, I almost don't have enough time to be excited, so I want to thank you so much for sharing some of the wonderful details of your trip, and reminding me that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't merely the train headed in my direction.<BR><BR>Grazie,<BR>BC

Thanks for your reply, Vita. I have been to Florence before, also as only a day trip, and I am leaning toward that for this trip (which will be with my college aged daughter on her spring break), mostly because it is not as far as Pompeii. On the other hand, I have always wanted to see Pompeii since becoming fascinated by reading its story as a child. <BR><BR>There are plenty of ruins in Rome, I hear. Did your trip to Pompeii seem different enough to justify the very long trip to get there?

You're welcome, BC. Yes, I did go last year. Have a great trip!<BR><BR>Nikki, Yes, I did find it worth the trip. The ruins in Rome are amazing but Pompeii was different. The whole city is in ruins and essentially frozen in time. It's amazing how much archeologists were able to discern about the lives of the people who lived there. Also, I kind of like riding the train so the longer ride didn't really bother me.

Thanks, Vita. I'm not sure whether we'll make it to Pompeii or Florence, but I guess my daughter will have some input. I see that Enjoy Rome runs a bus to Pompeii for 52 euro. How does that compare to the cost of the train? In what way was the audio tour frustrating? <BR><BR>Can you tell us more about the archeological tour of the Domus Aurea? Did you do this independently or with a tour company? Cost?<BR><BR>Any other restaurants you liked a lot? <BR><BR>

If you take the high-spead train to Naples, I think it's about 30 euros each way. There is probably a discount for roundtrip. I actually took the diretto train (about 3 hours), which cost 10 euros each way. The cost of the Circumvesuviana was maybe 1 or 2 euros each way. The nice thing about going yourself is that you have the option of making other stops and spending as much time as you'd like in Pompeii. The Circumvesuviana also has a stop at the Herculaneum (Ercolono). I believe there's a museum there and there's also a bus that takes you to Mt. Vesuvius. I didn't do this but I was considering it. I was also considering spending some time in Naples, but that didn't happen either.<BR><BR>Regarding the audiotour, I didn't feel it did an adequate enough job of orienting you. There were times when I couldn't find what I was supposed to be looking at. Maybe it was just me. I don't tend to like audiotours in general, but at that point it was my only option.<BR><BR>I paid for the tour of the Domus Aurea at the ticket office. Apparently you can only enter the Domus Aurea at scheduled times and you have to stay in the group. This is the case regardless of whether you are on a tour. I think I got there at 10:30 and there happened to be an archeological tour in English starting at 11:00. I'm glad I did the tour.<BR><BR>I would generally recommend the Campo dei Fiori and Trastevere areas for dining. There are also some nice spots around (but not in) Piazza Navona.<BR><BR>Around Campo dei Fiori, there was a pizzeria on Via Giubbonari that I really liked. It didn't have a name. It was just labeled pizzeria/spaghetteria. Also, Hostaria Romanesca was pretty good. There was another hostaria on Via Chiavari that I liked, good food and nice frescoes. I don't remember the name. I thought it was L'Insalatta Rica, but that turned out to be the place next door.

14) Forgot to mention the Bernini sculptures at the Galleria Borghese, another place where you need reservations.

Hi Vita:<BR><BR>Thanks for your prompt response. Your post seems to have stirred up a lot of interest. With our group of 11, it may be more cost and time effective to take a tour to Pompei. I will checkout the Enjoy Rome website.<BR><BR>Ciao, Chet

Thank you, Vita, what a lot of great ideas! I am getting more and more intrigued by the thought of the day trip to Pompeii. Didn't realize that I could combine it with Herculaneum by taking the train, that might be the thing to do, but would surely make for a long day. <BR><BR>Does the Streetwise Rome map have bus lines marked on it? I'm a little confused by the transportation within Rome after studying the maps in my various guide books.

I should clarify that I think it's the 'Ercolano Scavi' stop on the Circumvesuviana that you want to take to see the Herculaneum. It's on the same line as the 'Pompeii Scavi' stop.<BR><BR>Streetwise Rome doesn't have bus lines but my Time Out Guide had some info. The only bus I ever used was the 64 bus between Termini and the Campo dei Fiori area, and I only knew about it because someone volunteered the information.<BR><BR>I imagine there are probably bus schedules that you can get at the train station.

15) The cat sanctuary in the Area Sacra at Largo Argentina.