Three Sort of Silly Questions !?!
 

I plead ignorance, but if I take battery operated flashlights, etc. to Europe are the batteries the same voltage and sizes as USA?

Can I take frozen blue ice in my carryon on a plane to keep my inflight lunch cold?

If I want to use brighter light bulbs in an apartment in Italy, can I bring my own 100 watt bulbs? Will they fit in the sockets? Or will they blow a fuse in an older home?

Batteries are the same size and voltage in Europe.

I dont know about the blue ice but would imagine its OK

Dont bring bulbs from home. Most will work, but, depending on the type some of the threading may be different (flame type bulbs come to mind).

Also, your apt. may not be wired to take a higher watt bulb - here I am assuming you mean the hard wired fixtures. I would ask your landlord, and then take the bulb from the fixture to the grocery/hardware store in Italy for a higher wattage.

Good to know about the batteries and the blue ice (I thought it might be very dense in the xray machines).

Re the light bulbs, whenever I am in Europe I marvel about the European eyesight which must be 20/20 fore the lightbulbs even for bedside reading are so dim. One time I tried to buy higher wattage bulbs and couldnt even find a place where they were sold.

US lightbulbs are manufactured for 110 volts. Europe operates on 220 volts. Your light bulbs will be a lot brighter but only for the couple of seconds it takes for them to burn out. Don't bother.

If you need the light for reading, why not take a small book light? I have one that is very bright and solves all problems.

Not only might the voltage cause US bulbs to burn out, but many lampshades are only manufactured to stand 60W or even 40W bulbs. By putting in a higher watt bulb, you actually risk melting the shade or even starting a fire!
If you really want brighter bulbs, check the shade and buy the higher voltage from a store in Italy.

Well! Burning down my rental apt. will certainly eat into my refundable security deposit, lol.

Thanks, I had no idea about the bulbs, good thing I asked. I will buy a brighter bulb if I need it and think that the shade can stand it.

Where else could I ask a question like this and get such good answers so fast, this is why I love Fodors Travel Talk.