The Lazy Woman's Paris/Rome Trip Report: Best of...
May 9th, 2008, 06:43 PM
#41
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Thsnk you for letting me know that my DH and I were not the only people who didn't realize there was an elevator to the top of the Arc:
"Best place to walk up 284 steps to find out that I could have taken a lift instead: The Arc de Triomphe."
I would like to add something I learned in Italy:
Best way to learn that you are invisible: Pull the cord over the bathtub because you can't read Italian and assume it is a clothesline, only to learn that it is an emergency cord. And no one comes.
Bravo for a wonderful report!!
"Best place to walk up 284 steps to find out that I could have taken a lift instead: The Arc de Triomphe."
I would like to add something I learned in Italy:
Best way to learn that you are invisible: Pull the cord over the bathtub because you can't read Italian and assume it is a clothesline, only to learn that it is an emergency cord. And no one comes.
Bravo for a wonderful report!!
May 9th, 2008, 10:17 PM
#43
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OMG Mel...
Best way to be embarrased to death!
Fill the bathtub with bubble bath and hot water. Get undressed, wonder what the cord by the bathtub is for and pull it. Have a maid come rushing into your suite and into your bathroom while you are nude with one foot in the tub. Yep, the emergency cord. That happened to me at the Excelsior Hotel in Florence.
Trust me Mel, that is much worse than being ignored, lol. Guess the maid was use to stupid Americano's though as she smiled, said something along the lines of "no problemo" and backed out of the bathroom.
A mortifiying incident I had put out of my mind until I read your post, lol.
Best way to be embarrased to death!
Fill the bathtub with bubble bath and hot water. Get undressed, wonder what the cord by the bathtub is for and pull it. Have a maid come rushing into your suite and into your bathroom while you are nude with one foot in the tub. Yep, the emergency cord. That happened to me at the Excelsior Hotel in Florence.
Trust me Mel, that is much worse than being ignored, lol. Guess the maid was use to stupid Americano's though as she smiled, said something along the lines of "no problemo" and backed out of the bathroom.
A mortifiying incident I had put out of my mind until I read your post, lol.
May 10th, 2008, 04:26 AM
#44
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"Best way to forget every syllable of basic traveler's French that you studied for months prior to trip: Stop to look at a restaurant menu, and have a waitress say, "Bonjour." Stare at waitress with mouth hanging open, and then run away like a scared little bunny, all the while worrying that you'll never be able to communicate with anyone for the entire length of your trip."
I love when I read something and it makes me LAUGH OUT LOUD. Tears were shed and everything! Love it!
I love when I read something and it makes me LAUGH OUT LOUD. Tears were shed and everything! Love it!
May 10th, 2008, 05:30 AM
#45
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4: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I have to say it is quite funny to re-read it now, but at the time...I was sure that we would never be able to order food, buy something in the store, or find a toilette, because I was terrified to open my mouth and say anything.
OMG, LoveItaly! What a story. Why do they have those emergency pull things in the bathtub? We were in apartments, so I didn't see any of those.
OMG, LoveItaly! What a story. Why do they have those emergency pull things in the bathtub? We were in apartments, so I didn't see any of those.
May 10th, 2008, 06:22 AM
#46
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In 2000 while in Venice, my then 12 yr old son was in the shower while I was getting dressed for the day. I kept hearing what I thought was the buzzer to the front door of the hotel...it rang and rang. Finally there was a knock on our door asking if everything was ok as someone was pulling the emergency cord in the bathroom (over and over).
Also, last year in Rome, my husband got very lucky when he was able to return a compass he bought several days later after it fell apart.
Also, last year in Rome, my husband got very lucky when he was able to return a compass he bought several days later after it fell apart.
May 10th, 2008, 11:34 AM
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OMG, this was amazingly funny! Thank you!
Re: the emergency cords. I couldn't get the hot water to run in the B&B I stayed in in Venice so, frustrated, I pulled the cord, figuring it was like, on-demand hot water. Magically, the hot water started running. The owners didn't, so I guess I escaped OK. They were sort of a certain age, though.
Re: the emergency cords. I couldn't get the hot water to run in the B&B I stayed in in Venice so, frustrated, I pulled the cord, figuring it was like, on-demand hot water. Magically, the hot water started running. The owners didn't, so I guess I escaped OK. They were sort of a certain age, though.
May 10th, 2008, 03:27 PM
#51
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Sheesh, I just got over my fears of French waiters, sudden Alitalia dissolution, and sneaky little 8-year-old Trevi Fountain prowling pickpockets, only to have it replaced by a new fear of the mysterious emergency bathtub cord.
May 10th, 2008, 04:01 PM
#52
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Shelly, just do NOT touch any hanging cord in an Italian hotel bathroom! Trust me, DON'T.
But your delightful thread and the other fun posts from other Fodorites reminded me of another funny story (well I thought it was funny).
When I was little I heard the Italian Language as much as I did the English language so I understood both languages. Sadly as I grew older I "forgot" the Italian language.
Anyway, we were in a a hotel in Milan. My husband had just finished taking his shower and I was sitting by the window in our room reading the International Herald Tribune newspaper. There was a knock on the door and somehow out of my mouth popped "avanti". As soon as I said "avanti" I thought.."why did I say that and what does it mean?". The door opened and a sweet middle aged housekeeper came in and said "buongiorno" to me with a smile and opened up the door to the bathroom. My husband let out a yelp (he was drying off from his shower) and the poor housekeeper backed out, looked at me and indicated she would be back in one hour.
Uhm, "avanti" means "forward" and also "come in". I guess that was a word I had tucked in the back of my brain for a looooong time, lol. More then once an Italian word or expression would pop out of my mouth without any effort on my part.
Anyway dear ones..my husband was not amused, impressed with my Italian language skills or happy with me for several hours, lol.
But your delightful thread and the other fun posts from other Fodorites reminded me of another funny story (well I thought it was funny).
When I was little I heard the Italian Language as much as I did the English language so I understood both languages. Sadly as I grew older I "forgot" the Italian language.
Anyway, we were in a a hotel in Milan. My husband had just finished taking his shower and I was sitting by the window in our room reading the International Herald Tribune newspaper. There was a knock on the door and somehow out of my mouth popped "avanti". As soon as I said "avanti" I thought.."why did I say that and what does it mean?". The door opened and a sweet middle aged housekeeper came in and said "buongiorno" to me with a smile and opened up the door to the bathroom. My husband let out a yelp (he was drying off from his shower) and the poor housekeeper backed out, looked at me and indicated she would be back in one hour.
Uhm, "avanti" means "forward" and also "come in". I guess that was a word I had tucked in the back of my brain for a looooong time, lol. More then once an Italian word or expression would pop out of my mouth without any effort on my part.
Anyway dear ones..my husband was not amused, impressed with my Italian language skills or happy with me for several hours, lol.
May 10th, 2008, 05:38 PM
#54
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<i>Best place to finally figure out how to master the "squat toilet," only to discover afterwards that there actually was a toilet seat, only the last person left it up..</i>
LOL
This is SO great, keep writing, please !!
You must have forgotten some stuff...more, please!!
This is the best
LOL
This is SO great, keep writing, please !!
You must have forgotten some stuff...more, please!!
This is the best
May 11th, 2008, 05:33 AM
#57
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Well, I'm glad y'all are enjoying my stories, as my husband, kids, and close friends have already started rolling their eyes every time I say, "In Paris, we..."
I'll wrack my brains and see if I can remember more.
...to be continued...
I'll wrack my brains and see if I can remember more.
...to be continued...
May 11th, 2008, 07:17 AM
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Does three weeks post-emergency appendectomy count for elevator use?
Just kidding,. I never would have been able to translate that into French at the ticket booth. Maybe my mom could have pointed to her abdomen, made a scrunched-up face, and groaned?
Just kidding,. I never would have been able to translate that into French at the ticket booth. Maybe my mom could have pointed to her abdomen, made a scrunched-up face, and groaned?
