TarheelsinNJ:
Congratulations! As Ms_Go will tell you...the couple who travels together gets lost together (or something like that).

We'll be in Capri, Positano & Naples in June...with daytrips to Ravello, Amalfi, Paestum, Sorrento and Pompeii. And it's all booked. Not bad, huh?

Can we stretch this to winter too? :-)
We'll be there 13th-18th January.

To Kismetchimera;

I've not yet made plans for an audience with the Pope; how would one go about doing so.

This would be the ultimate for my mom. She is from Poland and has this "bond thing" with the current Pope.

Thanks for any input.

Youngramma & Kismet......Make sure you take those pictures.....you'll be glad. The women in the story had the same outfits on with hats! What fun!!

To DAJ,
If you want more info. regarding the audience ..write on the search box,Pope audience, post number 9 gave a nice description of how to go by.

I should try it myself..

I grew up in Rome and never felt necessary to do it..Always took the Holy Father for granted,despite that he is also the Bishop of Rome..But you know how it is, I knew that he was always there and if I wanted to see him,I could always go to Saint Peter in Sunday for his Urbi et Orbi to the city and the world.
But now I live in Texas and Rome is so far away..

Count me in! Leaving April 26 for three nights in Rome and a week in Tuscany with nine of my best female friends. First trip with a group. I'm being trusted with a lot of the planning, and could never do it without the help of this board. Looking for the best airfare (of course), so when you find a good fare from SFO to Rome, please post here. It's not crucial that we all fly over together--some will be using FF miles on various airlines, others will buy tickets.

Well, that's it, then!
I'll transfer my semi-planned May gtrip to September or so. There's far too many of you going to be there in May, with your fat American dollars. It'll make everything far too expensive for me and my miserable little Aussie dollar, which, although sneaking up, is still only worth 75% of the US dollar.!
;)

Flying Naples on May 20 and then off to a villa with friends near Sorrento.

Already booked the villa and keeping my fingers crossed about UAL honoring my free reward tix from USAir.

Taormina--May 14-21, then Rome a couple days at the Forum. College son offered to go with me, so couldn't turn it down. Am renting a villa/apt near Mazzaro near the cable car--thinking closer to the beach will be good for son. Any advice or contrary thoughts welcomed. Never been to Sicily before, but just got back from Amalfi--I'm addicted to Italy also! Ciao, tutti.

ah, I'm very jealous of you all I would LOVE to be going to Italy in May. However, we may be going through a real life-change about that time (think retirement) and I'm not sure we'll be ready to just go....so I'm not making plans for anything just yet. sigh. Of course, Europe has been there for thousands of years, and I guess I can wait a while longer until we're in position to commence traveling again....

We are going June 20th through July 3rd!! Few days in Milan then up to the Lake Como area then down to Tuscany for a week!!

I will leave end of May probably for the month of June 2005. Can hardly wait!!!

My friend and I will be going with my mom (age 79)- she was on a tour to Italy 15 years ago and always dreamed of going back.

Leaving for a gem of hotel near Tourettes sur Loup on 1 may 2005

6 - 12 May: somewhere in Umbria or Tuscany (sill crossing thumbs for timeshare near Assisi - otherwise we shall stay in Assisi in a hotel - or maybe Pienza - I always wanted to go back there)

13 - 16 May: Rome

Cannot wait!!

Lekker,
is great that your Mom is able to go back once again in Italy.She is going to have a marvelous time.

Lots of great trips! I am planning for a birthday trip in late May (21st) - June, ~ 3 weeks. So far the plan in the works is 1 week Tuscany or Umbria, Rome/Amalfi coast/Pompeii and a Venetian finish. Trying to plan with a little group of friends is hard but starting to come together.

artlover: how are you flying from Italy-Spain? I am thinking of adding a week in Madrid if it works out.

Betsy: I am trying to organize for a group too -- have had to change from our original agriturismo plan because we changed the numbers...where are you staying with your gal pals in Tuscany?

Thanks annabelle

Hi. I am going to Sicily: Jan 24-Feb 17. I'm in the process of figuring out how many days to spend in particular regions. I am especially keen on farm holidays which include dinners (organic products from the farms and large areas for evening pre-dinner on the farm roamings) and having a car to visit ruins and caves and gorgeous scenic places. I'm a cinemaniac (my alias!) and I want to visit the kinds of places where deSica, Rossellini, Visconti and more recently Tornatore have filmed their movies. I want to wander the interior, up and down the mountains, more than I want to visit cities or the coast. Has anyone spent a lot of time wandering the interior? Also--not liking cities so much anymore, after decades of travel and visiting most of the major cities of western and eastern Europe--is 2-1/2 days in Palermo enough to take in the feel of it? Mostly I just like to wander in cities without a map and without any particular goal of a restaurant to find, etc. Whatever I find is what happens. I trust serendipity. Thanks.

Hi Annabelle. We're staying at Villa nell'Oliveto just north of Pienza through the agency called InTuscany. Check it out at www.intuscany.net. Rebecca and her crew have been wonderful to deal with. I found this property through www.slowtrav.com; the reviews there are great. We've paid half the rental as a deposit (this is typical), and then the dollar began its long slide, so the other half will be more than we had planned. Our next tasks are trying to snag a good airfare (from SF) and to figure out the logistics of day trips from the villa.

I might like to, but I don't usually plan that far ahead. Possibilities for a next trip are: Italy by myself, most likley either somewhere in Sicily, or some place in central Italy (in Umbria, or in Le Marche if I can figure out how to do it without renting a car), France by myself (probably Paris and then Montpellier using that as a base for day trips), France with a friend (trying again for the trip we were going to take this year but had to cancel), or Morocco with a tour.

Thanks Betsy
I will check it out tonight. The original place I wanted was a farmhouse/apts near Asissi -- owned by Rebecca, who is also connected with slowtravel. I wonder if it is the same woman? Anyway, thanks for the tip.
Annabelle

Annabelle, Rebecca is the owner of InTuscany. I don't believe the company has properties in Umbria, but I could be wrong. Also, I don't think she's connected with SlowTrav; rather, her very satisfied customers are vocal on the site (if you can be "vocal" on a website). There are several reviews of Nell' Oliveto at SlowTrav. Report back when you decide where to stay!

May 1-16, to the Big Three (plus Bellagio)...my family's first trip to Italy! Can hardly wait...

You are right, Betsy, I checked out the site and it is another American Rebecca. The villa looked fabulous -- unfortunatley according to the calendar, the dates I am interested in are filled. I am checing out another "slowtravel" mention: Le Case Gialle, a farmhouse in Umbria. I will let you all know what I find out. Looks nice from the website...
Annabelle

We are going to Sicily for 17 days
March 18-21 in Palermo
March 22-25 to Filicudi
March 26-28 to Lipari
March 29-April 4 in Licata (Would be interested in hearing more about that area from those with experience).
April 4-10 Malta
April 10-16 Paris
I'm getting really excited. Have never been to Sicily or Malta before. Planning is a big part of the fun for me and reading this forum. Thanks to everyone for the interesting info.

I'll be in Rome from May 28th til the 31st, then on the 31st, I'll go to Bevano until June 7th. On June 7th, I'll be traveling back to Rome, where I'll stay until June 15th, then home!

BC

I will be in Rome for 5 days , from May 29th till June 3rd.
I rented a very nice apt. in Via delle Carrozze, Piazza di Spagna.
After Rome my schedule is:
Pescara 5 days
Venice 3
Nice 4
Provence 8
Paris 2.
This is the first time that I dont spend at least 5 days in Paris.
But my daughter wants to spend some time at the French Riviera.

I'm so excited for my upcoming trip April 28 - May 26 to Italy.

Nice, France 3-days
Venice - 3 days
Rome - 3 days
Sorrento/Capri/Amalfi/ 3-days
Orvieto - 1-day
Pienza - 3 days
Castellina in Chianti - 3-days
Florence - 2 days
Cinque Terre - Vernazza 3-days
Milan and overnight to Amsterdam for a 2-day cool down time before we leave for Minneapolis MN.

Planning on taking the Cisalpino train to Basel and Deluxe double to Amsterdam.

Any comments welcome, but I know this isn't my board.

Arrividerci
Peg

I will be in Italy with my two children (14 y/o daughter and 8 y/o son) from May 29 through June 12. We are staying 6 nights in Rome, then 7 nights on Sicily (Giardini-Naxos) and a final night again in Rome before we depart. This is our first trip and we are all very excited...even my son, who can't wait to see all the broken buildings! *smile*

BluEyez
I will be in Rome May 29th till June 3rd with my daughter and Brooke my 13 years old grandaughter..Perhaps we could have a cappuccino together and the girls can meet each other..

kismetchimera:
A cappuccino sounds great! This being our first trip to Italy, I'm sure it will be a refreshing break to spend some time with fellow Americans while there! We are also renting an apartment...near the Trevi fountain. I read some of your previous posts and it sounds like you are an old pro at foreign travel...I'm jealous! If you would like to correspond via e-mail you are welcome to contact me at [email protected]. --- Sandi

Sandy,
my e-mail address is:
[email protected]
I will be happy to have a cappuccino with my fellow American, although that I am European but I consider the USA my home now.
I plan to take a day trip to Florence .There is a train(ES) that leave Rome at 8:30AM and arrive in Florence at 10:06.
I could take an earlier ES, but I am not a morning person.
Also I am thinking about going to Assisi for a day trip also, there is a train that leave Rome at 8:14AM.
My apt. is around Piazza di Spagna.
Until then,
Ciao,
AnnaMaria

Will be in Rome the first week of May! : )

I am going to Rome March 13-16. We are staying at Hotel Teatropace, its FAB. We are stationed in Sicily for three years so if anyone wants to look us up for a wee tour or recommendations of Sicily let us know. [email protected] :)

My wife and I will be in Rome for five days starting May 19. We will then fly to Barcelona for two nights, board the cruise ship and start our two week cruise stopping at the French Riviera, Florence, Naples, Amalfi coast, Mykonos, Istanbul, Ephesus, and Athens. We will end the trip in Venice for a four day stay there. In total 25 days of pure bliss!!! We can't wait!!

Arrive Palermo 4/27; circling the island counter clockwise ending in Cefalu 5/9-10. See you there.

We are! May 14/20 - Florence/Tuscany
May 21/22 - Sorrento
May 23/24 - Rome
May 25 - Home

How did I ever miss this post the first time around!
We will be on the Amalfi Coast for 5 days starting May 23 and then spend the last 6 days in Rome.
As a matter of fact, we are hoping to find another couple that would like to share a trip from Rome to Tivoli with us on 31 May. We have a great guide/driver booked but hoping to share the cost. If you are interested, drop me an email.
Carol
[email protected]

We will, DH, DS and son's SO: May 16th-31st, Rome, Sorrento, Florence, Bellagio, and Venice. A lot in 2 weeks -- I envy those of you with a month or two there. However, with the shrunken dollar (remember the days of 1000 lire to the dollar?), that's about all we can swing.

Still, what a great thing to be able to go at all!

Cassandra..
I remember these days quite well, actually I feel very nostalgic thinking about it..:)but life goes ..
I will eat more Panini in Italy and more baguettes in Paris..
However, I dont MIND at all, food is not that important to me when I am abroad, discovering new places and enjoy Europe to the maximum is what count, food is a minor thing in my life..

oops forgot to add"ON"

Kismet,
Could you please e-mail me? I'll be in Rome from 5/28 through 5/31 prior to leaving for Bevano, and if possible, I'd love to meet you.

Ciao,
BC

BC,
just sent you an e-mail..I would love also to meet you. My apt. is very close to your hotel.I will arrive the 29th and leave Rome June 3rd.
Ciao and take care,
AnnaMaria