FainaAgain

WLIWL, sure I feel sorry! I also felt sorry for my fellow traveler in Switzerland who DEMANDED ice in glass by bangin' a knife on it. Who ate at McD and was mad the price was so high.

I feel sorry for everybody who can't appreciate how lucky they are to be able to travel to great places, eat great food, who can't relax and enjoy the moment.

Oh, maybe not sorry. Maybe it's pity. Poor souls.

christigpa

OMG! Barb, I must read more! I admire your patience (at least up to this point) and am amazed you didn't throttle D in the middle of the night.
I (35y/F) went to Rome with my mother (56) last Fall. We are extremely close and every once in a while she drives me crazy - I was worried the 24/7 close quarters (and snoring)would drive me nuts, however I was pleasantly surprised. The 10 days was the best bonding experience we've had and it really enriched our mother/daughter relationship.
Last March I traveled to San Diego with an old college friend, we had fun and were usually on the same page. Since I had given her FF miles and paid (with points) for the first two of four nights at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, she was to pick up the tab for the remaining nights. Upon checkout she was surprised that the room service bfasts (hers) and room taxes were so high. We had talked about the costs of everything pre-trip, and then split meals, excursions and car rental 50/50 once in Cali. I can't help but think the reason she is avoiding my calls (since March!) is b/c of the "surprise" of the c/o bill. Hopefully I'm just paranoid.
How have other Fodorites handled the back-end of trips with friends?
Barb, get some rest so you can continue sharing your travels the board...they are much enjoyed.
Cheers,
Christine in Philly

cherylforeurope

I'm sure there are two sides but anyone who doesn't want to stop at Piazza Navona
for a drink............I'm with Barb!

chepar

Barb-

I think you had the patience of a saint. My biggest peeve was when my travel companion from hell (TCFH) would complain about going somewhere or doing something - and when I suggested that we part so she could do what she liked, she chose to stick around anyway - and then sulked the entire time.

Luckily, my TCFH was only one in a group of 4 of us. I at least had my other 2 travel companions to vent to, or to play interference between me and TCFH.

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like you were able to do that.

phieaglefan

To wliwl

No, I do not feel sorry for them. As I recall reading, Barb made it very clear that they were responsible for their own research. It sounds like they did none, and then just expected Barb to cater to their every whim.

The Divas sound quite a bit like a group I once traveled with. No pity from me!

Keep up the good writing Barb, it's truly enjoyable!
H

Barb

wliwl: Gee I could probably hook you up with the Divas - sounds like maybe you guys might really hit it off. Just kidding.

BTW the name of the speakers is Sony SRS-T33. Now it's not great sound quality, but for a hotel room, or a small apt. I thought it was perfect for me.

StCirq

Of course there are two sides to every story! In this case, there are six. But I'd bet none of 'em are anywhere NEAR as entertaining as this one!

ivson

Barb,could you tell us where do you live? I mean small town, city, what part of US (if so)? I m just wondering because of the "intersection"problem.Of course I got totally hooked on your story. AND I completely relate, I too can not STAND people who just-have-to- eatrightnow or they are gooing to DIIIEEEE!!!

JJ5

I sympathize.

You who have found great travel troups of 4 or 5 are VERY blessed. I've got lots of good friends, and they are married/pairs and don't travel well. And I'm always looking for some that do.

My friends always turn out almost the same as Barbs, have to have American times/habits for everything. WHY travel that way???

Barb, I'd travel with you easily. And LoveItaly, I would with you as well.

Savor the moment and enjoy the differences! Barb, you were a saint to even try with that many.

aussiedreamer

I am now 'officaly' late for my planned shopping trip to purchase my walking shoes for our planned trip in 8 weeks.

But I couldn't stop reading. I tend to be the planner (anyone who has seen any of my posts would know this )

We went to New Zealand last year with 2 other families. One of the DH's had worked in the travel industry for about 5minutes 100 years ago and was promptly given the title of 'Ski Nazi'! I realized very early on, let it go. It was a great trip. We just let him organize what ever he wanted and learned to ignore the disappointment in his face, if we said that sounds great, but we think we will do 'this' today.

And to stop the restaurant dramas 'every' night, my DH and the other DH, just paid as ski nazi only ever had a large note, and he would give us what he wanted at some stage.

Sometimes he did, most times he didn't. Gave us all something to gripe about over post dinner drinks (minus the ski nazi)

Can't wait to read more.

Barb

Today the Divas are going to St. Peter’s and the Vatican, J,D and M are doing the Scavi Tour too. D got up in a real huff at 8:00 a.m.!! I can’t believe she made it up that early. Well, apparently they had arranged to all meet next door at 8:30 and now she’s late – she’s swearing and saying she can’t believe how unfair they are for making such early morning arrangements when they know how hard it is for her to get up and going that early. I just smile from bed. I hear her banging on their door. I hear more swearing. I look out the window and D is walking down the street alone. Oh no, I’m hoping and praying they have not left her and she will be hanging with me today. This is our last day in Rome and I have been looking forward to spending it doing some things I wanted to do. She doesn’t come back so I breath a sigh of relief.

I had a great morning, took a bath, pretty much got packed so I didn’t’ have to worry about it that night. I walked to the Campo to have a cappuccino and croissant. It’s sunny, and warm. In the matter of a few minutes, it’s clouding over, sprinkling, then blowing, then really raining. I go back to the apt. to change into something warmer and grab my umbrella. I am off to the find the Malta keyhole. 15 minutes into my walk, the sun comes out, I’m sweating! For the rest of the day, I’m carrying around a coat, scarf and umbrella. But I don’t care, I’m on my own and I am happy.

I am so overjoyed that I found the Keyhole. I am the only one there. It’s almost an eerie moment for me. It is so amazing and I am SO glad the Divas are not here because I know exactly what they would say. What, we walked all the way up that god awful hill, I’m sweating, my feet hurt and I’m exhausted – all for this little keyhole! Just down the road is a beautiful little park with orange trees and the most amazing vista of Rome over the rooftops and St. Peter’s in the distance. It’s peaceful and quiet and I sit for a few minutes soaking it all up and putting it in reserves as I know I will need it later. Walked back down the hill, just taking my time. I walk through the Ghetto and debate about eating lunch here. I keep on walking and settle on a Ristoranti Da Pancrazio on Piazza Del Biscoine 92/94. It was a little pricey, but I don’t care. I order my favorite dish of Bucatini alla Amerticiana and antipasto della casa with bread and ½ ltr. of vino bianca 32E. I so enjoyed this meal. Dining alone allows you the luxury of taking your time, listening and observing people around you. There was a family lunch at the table next to me. Mother, grandmother, sons, daughters, two little boys and possibly great grandpa. They were animated, joyous and apparently very hungry! It’s great to watch them having such a good time. It’s been a good day.

I walk back to the apt. and call and confirm the limo for Naples. I was really hoping our last evening in Rome would be ok. The plan was for all of us to go to Orso 80. I had been talking about this place to them for months.

ira

>...thanks Ira!

You are welcome, Barb.

LoveItaly

Oh Barb, I think you handled this trip so well, I don't think I would have done nearly as well as you did...well at least to this point of your trip.

I would have been out of the apartment and into a hotel, a small single room, LOL. You seem to have the patience of an angel.

JJ5, I reread your comment to me three times. I am overwhelmed by your comment dear one! You and I in Italy, can you see how much fun we would have ordering food, LOL! I imagine that your Italian language is much better than mine however. You would probably be hitting me over the head

Barb, I still am chuckling over your adventures with The Divas but I know it was not fun. I am only chuckling because of your great sense of humor and writing style. I really do feel bad that this trip seems to be such a disaster. Now more details please!

PS This would make an absolutely fantastic movie!!

amarena

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Barb, for such an entertaining report!

You have given me a lot to think about with an upcoming trip I am planning for my mom & my sisters this March -- they are also Italian virgins. I hope it goes better than yours... I can't imagine that it could be worse.

One upside to your painful travels with the Divas is that you managed to gather enough material to write one of the funniest trip reports ever!! "how mucho is the tie-o?" and "KIA"... LOL!

lyb

Barb,

I hold you personally responsible for barely getting any work done today!

BabsB

My computer crashes and look what I almost miss. I am now double thinking my next trip with a girl friend I have never travelled with. I feel forewarned! Can't wait for the next installment.

Barb

I really hope I'm not scaring you all off from traveling with other people. I know lots of people who have no problems at all. SeaUrchin and Seashell are a good example. They are wonderful friends and travel so well together. We had such fun in March. But it is a real risky business, even with the best laid plans and lots of reassurances.

FainaAgain

Don't worry, Barb, it's just a warning to discuss all aspects of travel before travel without any hope they will listen

TexasAggie

I am planning a family trip for myself, my parents, my husband, my sister, and my father-in-law in 2007... your report hasn't scared me off but it has made me think of some things I am going to insist be discussed. THANK YOU!

Barb

Well what a night it was! We were all supposed to meet by the big fountain in P. Navona at 7:00. D has come back in a really bad mood. J is rolling her eyes. Apparently they didn’t like the Scavi Tour. It was too hot, too confined and J almost fainted, and KIA kept saying what a waste of precious time. I bite my tongue. They picked up a guide for the Vatican, who was not very good and they were bored to tears, but J at least got to see the Sistine Chapel. They had a really good lunch apparently right across from the Vatican. D said this real nice man was standing in the door asking people to come on in. They had pizza that didn’t have that thin crust like everywhere else and it was only 5 E. I don’t say a word. D has a few glasses of vino while she’s getting ready for dinner and now she’s telling me all about KIA and how she can’t wait to get away from her. Eiffel Tower, Scared to Death and KIA are sitting waiting for D, J and me by the fountain. They say they are tired and can’t walk one more step. I say, you mean you aren’t going to Orso 80 and they emphatically say no. At this point, I could care less. They limp off and we carry on.

We had a fabulous meal, as always, just the antipasti, JUST, I counted 14 bowls of delectable delicious food. D is starting to get very loud and argumentative. J is hardly saying a word. D is going on and on about how North Americans just have no idea how to live, Europeans have the right idea – she’s going home and quitting her job and do whatever she needs to do to move to Rome. J asks, gee how are you going to do that? I’m keeping my mouth shut. She says she will get a job as a waitress in a cute place. J reminds her that she is 50+ and doesn’t speak Italian – I want to say and you have a bad attitude, but I don’t. Then she notices a young couple in the corner holding hands. She says, not in a whisper, believe me. I bet he thinks he’s going to get lucky tonight, but if she knows what’s good for her, she will wait until he is just begging – I’m thinking OMG I don’t believe this! THEN she zones in on a table of four older men in dark suits and she actually points at them and says “And don’t try to tell me they aren’t mafia. They might think they are hiding it, but I know one when I see one”. I am absolutely mortified and a little worried she might be right. The waiter comes over and collects some of our plates and gives me this “look”, like shut her up please. J tells her to lower her voice, she says something like, oh don’t’ be such a prude and waives her arm and knocks over her glass of red wine. I just want to get out of there. J and I quickly get the bill and pay it and tell her she can pay us later.

On the way back to the apt, I’m speechless. I’m thinking nobody is ever going to believe this. It’s a nightmare. D spots a gelato place and goes in to get some. J and I look at each other. I say, I cannot believe this. J tells me that she thinks D has some mental problems. I say, gee thanks for telling me. I tell J that she might need to room with her in Sorrento for a few days just to give me a break and J says she will think about it. I’m wondering how I am going to survive the next 8 days with her. Sea Urchin called me at 11:45 and I can’t talk to her about what’s going on because D is sitting there and won’t go to bed. I’m looking at D and even though she has caused such a scene tonight I think she’s a sad person who lives in the past and really has no future. But I’m afraid if she repeats what she did tonight, I will not be able to hold back and it could ruin the whole trip. She says she will pack in the morning - I know we will not have much time and encourage her to do it now. Well, she does - until 2:00 am.