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This would make a pretty funny movie!
I can't believe D waded into the water w/o realizing she still had her shoes on (and pants not rolled up). She must have taken a boatload of Dramamine. Barb - you've missed your calling as a chick-lit novelist! |
I've always wanted to take that bus ride down the coast.
This story definitely has "best seller" written all over it. Doesn't someone out there have some contacts in movieland? |
<i>"Do you laugh or cry?"</i>
Frankly, I'm ready for a diet. The eating never ends. Yet, in the film version, I see lots and lots of food and the characters eating or chewing on something constantly. And when they're not eating and chewing, they're talking about the next meal or last night's meal. Some of the funniest scenes and dialogue must take place at the lunch/dinner tables with plenty of close-ups of women talking and cackling with their olive-oily-mouths full. One of the characters needs to arrive thin and gain weight rapidly as the days in Italy wear on, like Warner Purcell (Jim Broadbent) did in "Bullets Over Broadway." In fact, now I'm seeing Diane Weist as Barb. |
Oh Barb, all kidding aside, you have to write a book! I think of the various novels I have purchased that were alright but..then along comes your trip report! I know I speak for many of us when I say I am going to hate it when your trip comes to an end. BTW, I would have been a raving maniac by this time, LOL. CinCin!
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This is for those of you who wanted some additional info on Ambien. Ambien is included in a powerful class of drugs known as sedative/hypnotics. Ambien works by affecting chemicals in your brain that may have become imbalanced and caused insomnia. It induces sleep and relaxation.
Ambien is intended for short-term use, usually 7-10 days. Longer term use should be monitored by your physician. Ambien is habit forming and you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking Ambien after you have taken in for 2 weeks or more. If you are taking Ambien for a period of 2 weeks or longer, be sure to consult your physician before stopping the drug. Some people experience carry-over symptons including memory loss. Carry-over symptoms are more likely to occur if you don't sleep for a full 6-8 hours. DO NOT DRINK while taking Ambien. Alcohol enhances the effect of the drug. Do no take other sedatives, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, prescription pain meds, and check with your do doctor for possible interactins with herbal remedies. Ambien is contraindicated if you have kidney disease, liver disease; asthma, bronchitis or other respiratory diseases; depression or have suicidal thoughts. Symptoms of an adverse reaction or over dose are confusion, dizziness, difficult ot slow breathing, and of course, unconsciousness. Ambien can safely be used under the care of a physician. I take Ambien when I travel because it helps my body to adjust to the different time zones. I try not to take it for more than a couple of days, because I too wake up feeling kind of groggy the next day, even if I've gotten a full night's sleep. There's a new sleep aid out, Lunesta. It is supposed to be as effective as Ambien, less likely to cause carry-over effects, and considerably less habit forming. There still is no perfect cure for chronic insomnia if that's your problem. Try relaxation exercises, guided imagery, yoga - sometimes it take a combination of things to get that insomnia monkey off your back. Also, sleep apnea can be a cause of chronic insomnia - you might want to see a neurologist and be tested. And, no, I am not a neurologist, but I am a health care professional, Physician's Assistant. Ear plugs can really help too, especially if you sleep with a snorer or are highly sensitive to noise. Good luck! Hope this helps! |
This continues to be great.
I understand the age problem, but I really hate leaving Maggie Smith out of the cast for the movie. Can she be the narrator, telling the story decades later? Please? Thanks so much Barb! |
Well, at this point I really must jump in. Rarely does a trip report go on this way, and it would be even more rare for me to follow it to its conclusion. But follow it I must -- I've become addicted as much as the rest of you.
The first person who popped into my mind to play Barb was a Judy Dench-type. But I also think Diane Weist or Diane Lane would be great playing the role. This would make a delightful movie. Great scenery, great food, "interesting" characters. Barb, more, please. I for one do not want to see this story end although you were probably happy to see it so. And yes, I have my TCFH story too. After five years we still are not speaking. My TCFH tearfully said, and I quote, "I want to do more in Paris than walk, look at things, and eat." And, that was just the beginning -- things went downhill from there. |
Barb, hip, hip hooorayyyyyy!!!!
<When the usual melodrama over the bill starts, I grab my half bottle of vino, plunk down my money and bid them all a buono notte with a smiley face. I’m even tempted to kiss the cute waiter on the way out, but I restrain myself.> Thankfully no one has arrived yet at the office because I am giving you a standing ovation. Barb is a big girl and the Diva can fend for themselves. You SHOULD have kissed the waiter!!! It absolutely has to happen in the movie. The half drunk bottle of vino adds dramatic effect. Keep it coming Barb! |
I am reading all of this report because of being curious why so many people wrote comments.
Probably I don't have the same view so I won't say much, maybe I'll wait for the movie. But I want to say three things. First, I worry about offering or giving someone drugs when they are drinking. I don' think a friend or anyone should do this. It's wrong. And in the report I saw two places where it happened: "D is pouring her second glass of wine and re-telling me for the third time about the time she travelled to the South of France ( 34 yrs. ago) and how all the men were after her. …. I ask her if she needed any help sleeping and offered her an Ambian, lol. " And at the Hotel Lorelei (I know this place): 'I actually gave her an Ambian and then I tip toed around the room, periodically peeking at her to see if she was asleep." To me, this is not what a real friend does. Second, alot of people are saying that Barb is so patient and kind, and she is saying how she think a long time before writing it, but I think that is not the truth, because I saw another message she wrote before she came to Italy. She said: " Thanks again to all you folks for your help in planning this trip and I promise I will do a trip report when I return - it will probably be a doozy given the dynamics of this group of 6 daring divas and luckily they don't read Fodors, so I can really report all the dirt! So arriverderci, ciao, and wish me luck." To me, this shows she was already planning to say bad things about the women even from the beginning, to "report all the dirt", and she just used them for that. Third, I want to say something of the young man she meets outside the hotel who is a waiter. Isn't she a woman over fifty year old? She says: ".... Now I know, no one is going to mistake me for Italian, as hard as I try, but I do try to blend in as much as I can. I have learned the customs..." If you did not know it before, Barb, Italian women don't easily go around with some younger waiter they never met, it is not a custom here. And you don't "blend in" that way. You become more obvious, of course. I agree the story can be an American movie. Will be very funny, and typical. |
<i>"First, I worry about offering or giving someone drugs when they are drinking. I don' think a friend or anyone should do this. It's wrong. And in the report I saw two places where it happened...To me, this is not what a real friend does."</i>
More possible hogwash and a bit of judging without knowing all the facts. First, nobody's forcing drugs down anybody's throat. If I choose to take some form of sleeping pill from a friend who offers it after I've consumed three glasses of wine, that's MY RESPONSIBILITY. My friend does not have the power or the control to make these decisions for me and, if I choose to take it, my friend is not to blame if I suddenly drop dead. (Of course, I have no control over anger, grief, fear, and guilt once I'm gone.) Second, how can a reader assume what pharmaceutical experience any of these women have had unless the author tells us? And, finally, the author has the right to say whatever she likes. Just because the main character offers the Ambien to her friend doesn't necessarily mean she will administer it or follow through on her offer. The offer could be another way of saying to a friend, "Shut that fuc&ing trap already and go to sleep so I can write in my journal!" In this case, the Ambien offer is the kinder, more genteel choice - a true sign of enduring love and compassion. <i>"Second, alot of people are saying that Barb is so patient and kind, and she is saying how she think a long time before writing it, but I think that is not the truth...To me, this shows she was already planning to say bad things about the women even from the beginning, to "report all the dirt", and she just used them for that."</i> A professional actor would kill to observe such a colorful, "real-life" experience. If Barb conjured up the madcap idea of bringing six biddies together in Italy and saved-up enough money to finance this clever contrivance to serve the writing dream of her life, then I owe Barb more than just a simple congratulations. That Barb must be fuc&ing brilliant! Given how the planning stages progressed and what was revealed, I get the strong sense that Barb was the most "used" individual in this group. Every situation in life offers a give and take. So what if the creative individual takes more simply by observing. In my world we call that talent. <i>"Third, I want to say something of the young man she meets outside the hotel who is a waiter. Isn't she a woman over fifty year old?"</i> Now I'm ready to punch delldee in the face. For fear of truly dispelling with colorful cuss words, I'll stop here. ps Please refer to my comments above regarding "opinions." |
About the young waiter.... Now, haven't people seen the movie "The Graduate"?
I see a Mrs. Robinson in the making. :-) |
"If you did not know it before, Barb, Italian women don't easily go around with some younger waiter they never met, it is not a custom here. And you don't "blend in" that way. You become more obvious, of course."
"I agree the story can be an American movie. Will be very funny, and typical." Miaow! |
delldee22 - you are being a bit tough on Barb, but it is obviously because you don't quite have a grasp of American idioms. To tell all the dirt does not mean that Barb is planning to tell bad things about the Divas, just that she plans to tell all. She obviously knew it would be amusing at best to travel with them, but just as obviously, didn't expect what she ended up with!
I'm also going to forgive Barb for offering Ambien after the Diva has had 3 glasses of wine. The one time I took Ambien was after 2 glasses of wine on a flight to Vietnam. I didn't know that you shouldn't do that (go ahead and flame me for being uninformed or just plain dumb - I deserve it) - an airsick bag never go such a good workout! NYtravelsnob - I'm not faulting Barb, but not many people can make a good decision after 3 glasses of wine. That's why they should not be allowed to drive. And Barb - don't worry about the nasty posts here - you are doing a great job with this and many, many of us are truly enjoying and learning from your wonderful prose. If you look at any of the long threads on Fodor's, you will see that there are always some negative responses. I think the # of negative posts here is much lower than most! Can't wait for the rest! |
Delldee22, I wouldn't worry that your opinion appears to contradict the majority. Not only is a diversity of opinion good for the board, but besides, of the 50,000 plus who have registered here, most don't post. So who knows what the 'majority' really think.
Remember, too, that on the Internet all of us are only who we say we are. For all we know, Barb and all of her Divas are writing this account together, and having a good laugh at our expense. Which probably hurts none of us very seriously, except for the point about the Ambien, which I agree Barb did not handle well [yet]. Now go easy about women over 50 years old. You'll be one yourself one day, and not only that, but remember: the great Italian actress Sophia Loren is closer to SEVENTY than 50, and still considered a knockout by men of many ages. |
I think Sophia Lauren is actually 71!
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It's too early, I thought the above post said she was 60....
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AP, my edit crossed with your post. Indeed, the great Sophia was born on September 20, 1934, which makes her 71. I saw her in a French film a couple of years ago - a murder mystery/comedy, and darn it, I can't remember the title, but she was, and looked, absolutely fabulous.
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Barb, thanks so much for the candid enthralling trip report. It's always appreciated when people who love travelling take the time to share their experiences, good and bad, with the rest of us, and you do it in a way that makes for superb reading. Please don't let a few dissenters put you off finishing this excellent report!
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Cara Sue xx
"Now go easy about women over 50 years old. You'll be one yourself one day, and not only that, but remember: the great Italian actress Sophia Loren is closer to 60 than 50, and still considered a knockout by men of many ages." I am more than 60. I know women of my age can be very nice looking. And Sophia Loren will be beautiful forever. I am only saying that Italian women that I know don't go around with young waiters that they just met, and if they ever do, they will be much more discreet than this! it is not a custom here. To the one who said you will punch me in the face, I think you are showing more about yourself than about me or what I said. Are you so violent with all who disagree with you? This is a sign of a small mind. Well I am not afraid of you. It is still 200% wrong to offer drugs to someone who drank. If you punch me, I will only rise and say it again, because it is true. |
Oh AP, it IS too early. I am confusing Sophia with Catherine Deneuve in "8 Femmes" - Ms. Deneuve is, of course, a mere spring chicken of 62.....
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