romer

My wife and I have been back from our Rome trip for a little over three weeks now and we both seem to have picked up something from our trip that nearly destroyed our lives. We are sure we picked it up on a day trip to Ostia Antica. I think the condition is called discoitis. You know you have it if you keep hearing high pitched singing about jive talking, heaven and staying alive over and over in your head. When we first arrived at Ostia we went to the snack bar for a cup of coffee, returned for a great lunch and again returned for a cool drink before we left for the day. We both made a joke over the fact that all they played over the loudspeaker was BEE GEE disco music. Someone must have picked up The Bee Gee's "worst" hits and put it on endless replay on the disk player. Little did we know that we would spend the next three weeks hearing those horrid tunes over and over again. It was so depressing! Luckily last week I asked a musician friend of mine about the problem and he had the cure. He recommended listening to 2 hours of AC/DC in order to kill the infection and then three hours of The Beatles in order to restore my musial tastes. I am happy to report that all is now well. So beware, if you spend much time at the snack bar, be sure to listen to some AC/DC (my friend did say that Metallica could be used as a substitute).

The

Oh, here we go again....another out-and-out loser in the "I think I'm funny" contest.

xxx

C'mon, lighten up, it was quite funny.

x

No, it wasn't.

panucci

It was pretty funny! How was Ostia Antica? We plan to go in August.

poopsie

I vote that it was funny and how about a trip report?

Capo

I vote funny. I especially loved the part about listening to 2 hours of AC/DC in order to kill the infection. <BR><BR>One of my least favorite things about countries like Italy & France is the apparent preference for disco/dance music over rock 'n' roll. When we asked our 20-ish waiter in Rome if he knew of any club where we could hear some live rock 'n' roll music, he said no. <BR><BR>On the other hand, although it wasn't live, the Margaret Duchamp bar/pub on the Campo Santa Margherita in Venice played some great recorded music. Luciano, the owner, puts these tapes/CDs together, playing everything from Ray Charles doing "Shake a Tailfeather" to Dusty Springfield doing "Son of a Preacher Man." The man's got good taste, and spending a few hours there may help innnoculate one against discoitis. <BR>

Youre

Capo, is there anything you don't have an opinion on? Give it a rest!

Capo

Nope. And my opinion on your post: "give it a rest" is sooooo cliched. An F for creativity.

Dayle

One of my favorite memories of a visit to Arles: sitting down for a salad & pizza at a little cafe next to the arena. The cooks & waiters inside were playing Beatles songs full blast. We didn't speak French, they didn't speak English, but we all smiled, then started singing the lyrics together.<BR><BR>Some things get better with time!

Dr. Betty

Where exactly is Ostia Antica? Is this another name for Ear Antics or Frozen Ear (Otis Antartica) or some rare form of Otitis (imflammation of the ear caused by hearing too much jive). I find it very discoitious not to give more information as to where we might locate this place in order to set up a proper double blind research model. Please provide the coordinates.<BR>God Bless,<BR>Dr. Betty

MissedYou

Welcome back, Dr. Betty!!! We need your balance!

romer

I think it's funny.<BR>Anyway, other than the Bee Gee music, Ostia Antica is a great take. It's easy to get to and was one of the highlights of our trip.<BR>If you have the time or need a break from the heat of Rome take a day off from the city sites and head out.

Jivin'

I'll take the Bee Gees anyday over AC/DC, whoever they are. I always thought AC/DC referred to the different types of electrical current. I guess it's a generational thing. <BR><BR>And for your listening enjoyment:<BR><BR>It's just your jive talkin' <BR>you're telling me lies, yeah <BR>Jive talkin' <BR>you wear a disguise <BR>Jive talkin' <BR>so misunderstood, yeah <BR>Jive talkin' <BR>You really no good <BR><BR><BR><BR>Ah, what memories.<BR><BR><BR>

x

I vote NOT funny. Where are the really funny threads, like "how much should I tip the pilot". THAT was funny.

sandi

Around the corner from Locando Leon Bianco in Venice, was a cafe where we got our morning jolt and they played loud rock-n-roll. It was great. In Venice where you feel like you're in a dream then you hear something that reminds you of home.

zootsi

I find it amusing that many public places in Europe seem to play tackiest of American music. I remember stopping in a roadside rest stop in France a few years ago to hear Michael Jackson blaring from the PA system. This past trip to Italy my wife and I searched in vain on the car radio for some interesting jazz, blues, or even Italian traditional music, with no luck - every station played the same bland, tacky pop music. I find this surprising since so many American musicians claim to be more respected in Europe. The neatest musical encounter I had was eating in a tiny roadside cafe in rural France, and hearing a Wolfman Jack radio show,complete with tunes by Chuck Berry, Dion and the Belmonts, etc.

Older

Ah, the Wolfman. We miss him!

lizbeth

In Barcelona, my favorite place to have lunch about 15 years ago was a first-class restaurant housed in a funky hotel in the city's old Bari Xines (Chinatown) quarter. Can't remember the restaurant name, but it was in the Hotel Espana. Besides the beautiful murals and tilework to gaze at on the wall, it was cool to rock out to the Robert Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughan tapes being played whilst being served by tuxedoed waiters!

Stilwett

Rock and roll is SO passe`, but lots of people love to dance to “disco”. As a working musician I’m here to tell you that the Bee Gee’s are primo talented musicians who can actually do more than play 3 power chords over and over. Besides they easily have the best 3 part harmony since the Beatles. And barry Gibb writes real songs perfomred by Streisand, Warkick, and umpteen others. Don’t remember hearing any really talented vocalists doing new versions of Back In Black or Highway To Hell lately.<BR><BR>However, it’s all old-crap so why are you complaining, Boomers? I suggest you dust off your sharkskin, collarless jackets, your “Disco Sucks” tee shirts, your fringed leather vests and head off to the Catskills and leave the real world to your successors. People under 35!<BR>