As a Catholic, I am also appalled that Missypie would make a comment like that. And she has children? I pity them.

I am emailing the editors at Fodor's to have her banned.

Christine Schiffini Gonos

Mostly posting to see if I have been banned, but I appologize to anyone I have offended. I assumed that was the population to whom the calendars were being marketed.

"What a cute monkey!"

"Excuse me--that's not a monkey, that's my baby!"

"Oh, I'm sorry; I didn't mean to be rude. Your baby just looks like a monkey!"

Some apologies, while appreciated, don't have quite the intended effect.

I have been disheartened of late in that what could be such great threads on Fodor's seem to turn into insults, lectures, arguments etc.

Am I the only one that is NOT enjoying this? Just wondering.

Well, you're right, LI. I probably should have ignored it. I don't, however, think anyone is a bad person or parent for making witless remarks. If that were true I would be in jail.

No, no KSWL..I wasn't zeroing in on anyone in particular. I thought it was my imagination that so many threads turn so unpleasant as of late. Then from emails and telephone conversations others I know have commented on it to so I assume it is just not me.

I respect everyones right to their thinking (well almost,lol) but so much bickering does get tiresome.

It reminds me of when sibilings are bored and consequently start arguing and egging each other on rather than finding something constructive to do.

Anyway, just my two cents worth. And yes I know, lol, if I don't like it I don't have to read it. Best regards, have a great 4th of July with your family!!

That is what I am truly sorry about - that a good thread that folks were even bookmarking turned ugly. Sorry, jrmama496, for my part in it.

Oh, come on! My post was a joke. I would never e-mail the editors of Fodor's to have someone banned. Do you think with a boss like Thingorjus I could be such a b*tch??

Wait a minute. Don't answer that.

PS John and Keith are in Israel until July 11.

Wonder what they are shopping for in the Holy Land.

Another small artisanal studio/gift shop that I love in Venice (I was looking for the card, and now found it)

STUDIO D'ARTE VIO,
Rio Tera de la Maddelena
Cannaregio (this small calle is off the Strada Nuova coming from the train station, right by the Venice Casino in San Marcuola

This is a little family run business, they have original prints, but they specialize in doing terra cotta tiles that are copies of artwork found in the churches and building architecture of Venice, also graphics, sculptures, paintings-the father used to teach art at the Univ. of Venice, the son is an artist and the mother, who runs the shop, is a lovely person who herself does painting-a great place to drop in and browse-very easy to find. I purchased a lovely terra cotta tile here of the Madonna and child.

Don't sweat it missypie. Some folk are just narrow-minded blankety-blanks....
Your posts are great ...keep it going gal.

In Florence- Leather Gloves= on the Pitti Palace side of the Ponte Vecchio, is a store called MADOVA- gloves of all colors and styles= and the price is GREAT=

Also in Florene- gorgeous 18kt gold jewelry- at a store called Viaggi on the Ponte Vecchio- there are 2 store with this name-go to the larger one on the Academia side of the Ponte Vecchio and ask for ROBERTO =he is the owner and will definitely give you good prices-the items are NOT Like any seen in the US...

I shopped for gloves recently in Florence and did not find particularly good buys at places such as Madova. Basic gloves were at least 60 Euro and for anything interesting prices were closer to 90 Euro..I am talking about leather gloves with cashmere or plain wool linings...synthetic linings would cost less. Whether or not these prices are good depends on where you are coming from, of course, but compared to what we can find in NYC, for eample, the prices were not impressively low.

bookmark

I recommend:

Torre del Greco(near Sorrento):
cameo or coral jewelry from http://www.giovanniapa.it/

Sorrento: limoncello, inlaid wood music boxes from http://www.cuomosluckystore.it/

Capri: limoncello, Carthusia perfume from http://www.carthusia.it/CarthusiaWeb/showpage/2

Florence: leather

Rome: anything from the Vatican gift shop,

Venice: glass items, go to a glass factory

Some fantastic suggestions about what to buy. Now, how about in Milan? Or am I kidding myself if I think I may be able to afford some small gifts there?

I loved Rampini Ceramics (showroom in Florence near the car rental agencies) made in Radda. Beautiful work though not inexpensive. They have a website too.

I traveled to Sorrento, Italy like 10 years ago and I still have a vanilla body cream that I bought in a store near to the one who sells the limoncello. if anyone knows how I can buy more body cream please let me know. The cream is called Latte per il corpo vanilla

Some great suggestions! A few of my favorites...

Florence/Tuscany/Umbria
-leather gloves in fun colors and embossed leather coin purses from the Uffizi
-fun and slightly tacky souvenirs with David or Venus on them - pens, magnets, note books, etc. Great little gifts and I love using my Venus pen!
-nicely designed little objects, like salt and pepper shakers, from a shop that sells lots of Alessi products
-ceramic Pax tiles, pen & ink drawings, and St Francis 'stuff' in Assisi
-Umbrian olive oil - yum!

Rome:
-various small calendars, but jeez, have I ever missed the fun ones you guys have found!
-absinthe (had to do with a wild night out)

Coast:
-limoncello (limoncino in Liguria) but now that I am the killer limoncello maker, I no longer lug it home

Venice
-glass galore, and I always wish I had bought more
-each time, a little print or watercolor of a Venetian scene
-cool pencils and artist's pads from Dorsoduro shops
-cardboard Peggy Guggenheim goofy sunglasses from the museum shop

Everywhere:
-drug store and organic-type stores for lotion, toothpaste and cute toothbrushes, geranium bug spray and other day-to-day items that are so much more interesting when they are made in Italy!

Glass jewellery - stunning colours, beautifully made, one of a kind.

A cashmere scarf from Florence.

I bought the most fabulous linen sheets in Rome, only 30E, haven't found anything close to these at home.