What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
Aug 25th 2004, 5:09 am
#31
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
On 24 Aug 2004 16:03:06 -0700, [email protected] (Paolo Tosolini)
wrote:
>I'm working on a multimedia project that will collect images and tips
>for
>first time tourists going to Italy. As an italian living in US, I
>understand
>that many social and cultural aspects that I give for granted may
>instead be
>interesting to be aware of ahead of a trip to Italy.
1. The number of pickpockets
2. The number of pickpockets
3. The number of pickpockets
4. The number of pickpockets
5. The number of pickpockets
wrote:
>I'm working on a multimedia project that will collect images and tips
>for
>first time tourists going to Italy. As an italian living in US, I
>understand
>that many social and cultural aspects that I give for granted may
>instead be
>interesting to be aware of ahead of a trip to Italy.
1. The number of pickpockets
2. The number of pickpockets
3. The number of pickpockets
4. The number of pickpockets
5. The number of pickpockets
Aug 25th 2004, 5:10 am
#32
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 16:38:39 +0200, Tim Challenger
<[email protected]> wrote:
>> On the other hand, maybe I'm totally off base! Dunno. It certainly
>> provided us with entertainment. We were roraring with laughter every
>> time we saw a toilet shop.
>Which makes me wonder more why you think a shop selling toilets is funny.
Around where I live, you certainly don't see toilet shops in small
towns. Along the highway, and in big cities, you may see bath design
stores, but these are usually big stores selling the whole works,
especially high-tech showers and jacuzzis.
Maybe the OP was in a region famed for its toilet manufacturers. I've
never noticed anything of the sort in my travels around Italy.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
<[email protected]> wrote:
>> On the other hand, maybe I'm totally off base! Dunno. It certainly
>> provided us with entertainment. We were roraring with laughter every
>> time we saw a toilet shop.
>Which makes me wonder more why you think a shop selling toilets is funny.
Around where I live, you certainly don't see toilet shops in small
towns. Along the highway, and in big cities, you may see bath design
stores, but these are usually big stores selling the whole works,
especially high-tech showers and jacuzzis.
Maybe the OP was in a region famed for its toilet manufacturers. I've
never noticed anything of the sort in my travels around Italy.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Aug 25th 2004, 5:10 am
#33
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 17:33:08 +0100, The Reids
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Following up to B Vaughan
>>Of course, she didn't speak Italian, but a smile, a thank
>>you, a little facial expression of regret, might have been much more
>>gracious to the Italian mind.
>I went into a deli to buy some truffle paste and left £100
>poorer. "you only live once, he said, buy the real truffle".
Real truffles are on another plane than truffle paste. However, they
don't keep well and are guaranteed to stink up everything that gets
within 2 feet of them.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Following up to B Vaughan
>>Of course, she didn't speak Italian, but a smile, a thank
>>you, a little facial expression of regret, might have been much more
>>gracious to the Italian mind.
>I went into a deli to buy some truffle paste and left £100
>poorer. "you only live once, he said, buy the real truffle".
Real truffles are on another plane than truffle paste. However, they
don't keep well and are guaranteed to stink up everything that gets
within 2 feet of them.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Aug 25th 2004, 5:12 am
#34
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
> I'm working on a multimedia project that will collect images and tips
> for
> first time tourists going to Italy. As an italian living in US, I
> understand
> that many social and cultural aspects that I give for granted may
> instead be
> interesting to be aware of ahead of a trip to Italy.
>
> I'd appreciate if you could share in this forum (or writing directly
> to me)
> what have been the surprising aspects of Italy that travel guides
> didn't
> quite tell you, or that just weren't documented well enough and you
> wished somehow to have learnt about it before your trip. Thanks in
> advance for your
> feedback.
The things that I noticed are:
There are so many what I call Billboards everywhere along the highways
advertising everything.
There are so many small-ish factories everywhere which are quite ugly.
There are scenic parts of italy but they are isolated
The shop hours were a surprise. Open until noon - closed until 3:30 or
4 then open until until 8 or so. It made four separate rush hours.
The preponderance of Vespas and Apes and the noise from them !
> for
> first time tourists going to Italy. As an italian living in US, I
> understand
> that many social and cultural aspects that I give for granted may
> instead be
> interesting to be aware of ahead of a trip to Italy.
>
> I'd appreciate if you could share in this forum (or writing directly
> to me)
> what have been the surprising aspects of Italy that travel guides
> didn't
> quite tell you, or that just weren't documented well enough and you
> wished somehow to have learnt about it before your trip. Thanks in
> advance for your
> feedback.
The things that I noticed are:
There are so many what I call Billboards everywhere along the highways
advertising everything.
There are so many small-ish factories everywhere which are quite ugly.
There are scenic parts of italy but they are isolated
The shop hours were a surprise. Open until noon - closed until 3:30 or
4 then open until until 8 or so. It made four separate rush hours.
The preponderance of Vespas and Apes and the noise from them !
Aug 25th 2004, 5:21 am
#35
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 12:30:30 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>Some of the young waitresses who served my meals on my recent trip to
>>Budapest were (and probably still are) very pretty, but none of them
>>attempted to kiss me. I suppose that they were afraid that I would
>>resist.
>They probably were afraid of colliding with the pipe.
I'm gallant, I am. I take it out of my mouth for kissing.
--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED
>On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 12:30:30 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>Some of the young waitresses who served my meals on my recent trip to
>>Budapest were (and probably still are) very pretty, but none of them
>>attempted to kiss me. I suppose that they were afraid that I would
>>resist.
>They probably were afraid of colliding with the pipe.
I'm gallant, I am. I take it out of my mouth for kissing.
--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED
Aug 25th 2004, 9:09 am
#36
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
devil extrapolated from data available...
> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:48:26 -0500, Olivers wrote:
>
>> The second caregory involves driving in Rome, Florence, Milan and a
>> few other big cities. Better you should cross the Rhine with an
>> understrength legion and wander off into the dark German forests than
>> to risk a day behind the wheel in Rome.
>
> What's wrong with Rome, Milan etc.? These are modern European
> cities. Driving not all that different from say Paris.
>
> If you want to experience driving in Italy OTOH, go to Naples and
> around. That's where the fun really starts.
>
I first drove in Naples in 1962, a year in which the new crop of cars had
not yet matured in the fields and many old cars wre crushed beneath
substantial debris remaining from the Troubles. Even with Cinqecentos,
three wheelers and Vespas, the Neapolitans drove like their fathers,
Barbary pirates on a binge. Vehicles based in Naples were easily
identified by the horizontal gashes in their lower body work, results of
conjunction while navigating roundabouts and piazzas forced to artifically
serve as roundabouts. The piazzas were easy to pick out...a few frightened
pedestrians clinging to the fountains in the midst.
The only thing which saves Naples today is its relative poverty, the cars
thus older and slower than Milan's. Raising the bar in Naples (and
Palermo) are an extremely high number of streets so narrow that vehicles
must drive on their sides, tires glued to building walls.
TMO
> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:48:26 -0500, Olivers wrote:
>
>> The second caregory involves driving in Rome, Florence, Milan and a
>> few other big cities. Better you should cross the Rhine with an
>> understrength legion and wander off into the dark German forests than
>> to risk a day behind the wheel in Rome.
>
> What's wrong with Rome, Milan etc.? These are modern European
> cities. Driving not all that different from say Paris.
>
> If you want to experience driving in Italy OTOH, go to Naples and
> around. That's where the fun really starts.
>
I first drove in Naples in 1962, a year in which the new crop of cars had
not yet matured in the fields and many old cars wre crushed beneath
substantial debris remaining from the Troubles. Even with Cinqecentos,
three wheelers and Vespas, the Neapolitans drove like their fathers,
Barbary pirates on a binge. Vehicles based in Naples were easily
identified by the horizontal gashes in their lower body work, results of
conjunction while navigating roundabouts and piazzas forced to artifically
serve as roundabouts. The piazzas were easy to pick out...a few frightened
pedestrians clinging to the fountains in the midst.
The only thing which saves Naples today is its relative poverty, the cars
thus older and slower than Milan's. Raising the bar in Naples (and
Palermo) are an extremely high number of streets so narrow that vehicles
must drive on their sides, tires glued to building walls.
TMO
Aug 25th 2004, 1:15 pm
#37
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew
B Vaughan wrote:
>
> Around where I live, you certainly don't see toilet shops in small
> towns. Along the highway, and in big cities, you may see bath design
> stores, but these are usually big stores selling the whole works,
> especially high-tech showers and jacuzzis.
The bus route between the subway and Hadrian's Villa was lined with bath
supply stores and travertine quarries. If someone can figure out the
reason for this particular combination you will have earned my admiration.
I noticed the stores when I spotted a sign reading "Ceramice"
(spelling???) Since I collect ceramic teapots, my first thought was
something along the lines of "Oh dear, I'm with a group. How am I going
to pull off a visit to the gallery?" Then, I got close enough to see the
contents of the store. Whoops! Not exactly Deruta or the kind of
ceramics I had in mind.
Karen Selwyn
>
> Around where I live, you certainly don't see toilet shops in small
> towns. Along the highway, and in big cities, you may see bath design
> stores, but these are usually big stores selling the whole works,
> especially high-tech showers and jacuzzis.
The bus route between the subway and Hadrian's Villa was lined with bath
supply stores and travertine quarries. If someone can figure out the
reason for this particular combination you will have earned my admiration.
I noticed the stores when I spotted a sign reading "Ceramice"
(spelling???) Since I collect ceramic teapots, my first thought was
something along the lines of "Oh dear, I'm with a group. How am I going
to pull off a visit to the gallery?" Then, I got close enough to see the
contents of the store. Whoops! Not exactly Deruta or the kind of
ceramics I had in mind.
Karen Selwyn
Aug 25th 2004, 2:56 pm
#38
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
In article <[email protected]>, Olivers
<[email protected]> wrote:
> devil extrapolated from data available...
>
> > On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:48:26 -0500, Olivers wrote:
> >
> >> The second caregory involves driving in Rome, Florence, Milan and a
> >> few other big cities. Better you should cross the Rhine with an
> >> understrength legion and wander off into the dark German forests than
> >> to risk a day behind the wheel in Rome.
> >
> > What's wrong with Rome, Milan etc.? These are modern European
> > cities. Driving not all that different from say Paris.
> >
> > If you want to experience driving in Italy OTOH, go to Naples and
> > around. That's where the fun really starts.
> >
>
> I first drove in Naples in 1962, a year in which the new crop of cars had
> not yet matured in the fields and many old cars wre crushed beneath
> substantial debris remaining from the Troubles. Even with Cinqecentos,
> three wheelers and Vespas, the Neapolitans drove like their fathers,
> Barbary pirates on a binge. Vehicles based in Naples were easily
> identified by the horizontal gashes in their lower body work, results of
> conjunction while navigating roundabouts and piazzas forced to artifically
> serve as roundabouts. The piazzas were easy to pick out...a few frightened
> pedestrians clinging to the fountains in the midst.
>
> The only thing which saves Naples today is its relative poverty, the cars
> thus older and slower than Milan's. Raising the bar in Naples (and
> Palermo) are an extremely high number of streets so narrow that vehicles
> must drive on their sides, tires glued to building walls.
Which may be why there are so many Vespa's in Naples, it is the Vespa's
that make it so challenging, IMHO.
I've said here how much I use to enjoy my Friday afternoon drives from
Milan to St Moritz or another closer ski resort... it was a race and
every driver knew it. You haven't been tailgated till you drive the
left lane on Hwy A4.
jay
Wed Aug 25, 2004
mailto:[email protected]
>
> TMO
<[email protected]> wrote:
> devil extrapolated from data available...
>
> > On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:48:26 -0500, Olivers wrote:
> >
> >> The second caregory involves driving in Rome, Florence, Milan and a
> >> few other big cities. Better you should cross the Rhine with an
> >> understrength legion and wander off into the dark German forests than
> >> to risk a day behind the wheel in Rome.
> >
> > What's wrong with Rome, Milan etc.? These are modern European
> > cities. Driving not all that different from say Paris.
> >
> > If you want to experience driving in Italy OTOH, go to Naples and
> > around. That's where the fun really starts.
> >
>
> I first drove in Naples in 1962, a year in which the new crop of cars had
> not yet matured in the fields and many old cars wre crushed beneath
> substantial debris remaining from the Troubles. Even with Cinqecentos,
> three wheelers and Vespas, the Neapolitans drove like their fathers,
> Barbary pirates on a binge. Vehicles based in Naples were easily
> identified by the horizontal gashes in their lower body work, results of
> conjunction while navigating roundabouts and piazzas forced to artifically
> serve as roundabouts. The piazzas were easy to pick out...a few frightened
> pedestrians clinging to the fountains in the midst.
>
> The only thing which saves Naples today is its relative poverty, the cars
> thus older and slower than Milan's. Raising the bar in Naples (and
> Palermo) are an extremely high number of streets so narrow that vehicles
> must drive on their sides, tires glued to building walls.
Which may be why there are so many Vespa's in Naples, it is the Vespa's
that make it so challenging, IMHO.
I've said here how much I use to enjoy my Friday afternoon drives from
Milan to St Moritz or another closer ski resort... it was a race and
every driver knew it. You haven't been tailgated till you drive the
left lane on Hwy A4.
jay
Wed Aug 25, 2004
mailto:[email protected]
>
> TMO
Aug 25th 2004, 9:22 pm
#39
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
"The Reids" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Following up to devil
> > than to
> >> risk a day behind the wheel in Rome.
> >
> >What's wrong with Rome, Milan etc.? These are modern European cities.
> >Driving not all that different from say Paris.
> I think even northern Italian drivers are a bit more lively than
> Paris.
> >If you want to experience driving in Italy OTOH, go to Naples and around.
> >That's where the fun really starts.
> I'm looking forward to it!
Having driven most of Europe, the 'worst' drivers in this respect have been,
surprisingly, in Den Haag!
Surreyman
news:[email protected]...
> Following up to devil
> > than to
> >> risk a day behind the wheel in Rome.
> >
> >What's wrong with Rome, Milan etc.? These are modern European cities.
> >Driving not all that different from say Paris.
> I think even northern Italian drivers are a bit more lively than
> Paris.
> >If you want to experience driving in Italy OTOH, go to Naples and around.
> >That's where the fun really starts.
> I'm looking forward to it!
Having driven most of Europe, the 'worst' drivers in this respect have been,
surprisingly, in Den Haag!
Surreyman
Aug 25th 2004, 9:47 pm
#40
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
B Vaughan <[email protected]> wrote:
> 4. If you need aspirin or something similar, you will only find it in
> a pharmacy, and it won't be displayed on a shelf. You have to ask for
> it. It might help to write the generic name of what you want on a
> piece of paper, e.g., "ibuprofen" rather than "Advil". Don't faint
> when you see the price.
How much is it? You can get 16 tablets for 25p in the bargain shops
here.
David
--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
> 4. If you need aspirin or something similar, you will only find it in
> a pharmacy, and it won't be displayed on a shelf. You have to ask for
> it. It might help to write the generic name of what you want on a
> piece of paper, e.g., "ibuprofen" rather than "Advil". Don't faint
> when you see the price.
How much is it? You can get 16 tablets for 25p in the bargain shops
here.
David
--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
Aug 25th 2004, 9:50 pm
#41
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:15:19 -0400, Karen Selwyn
<[email protected]> wrote:
>B Vaughan wrote:
>>
>> Around where I live, you certainly don't see toilet shops in small
>> towns. Along the highway, and in big cities, you may see bath design
>> stores, but these are usually big stores selling the whole works,
>> especially high-tech showers and jacuzzis.
>The bus route between the subway and Hadrian's Villa was lined with bath
>supply stores and travertine quarries. If someone can figure out the
>reason for this particular combination you will have earned my admiration.
Probably because bathroom floors, walls and countertops are often all
made of travertine, and the other stuff is sold just for the value
added to the inventory.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
<[email protected]> wrote:
>B Vaughan wrote:
>>
>> Around where I live, you certainly don't see toilet shops in small
>> towns. Along the highway, and in big cities, you may see bath design
>> stores, but these are usually big stores selling the whole works,
>> especially high-tech showers and jacuzzis.
>The bus route between the subway and Hadrian's Villa was lined with bath
>supply stores and travertine quarries. If someone can figure out the
>reason for this particular combination you will have earned my admiration.
Probably because bathroom floors, walls and countertops are often all
made of travertine, and the other stuff is sold just for the value
added to the inventory.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Aug 26th 2004, 12:28 am
#42
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew
B Vaughan wrote:
>
> Probably because bathroom floors, walls and countertops are often all
> made of travertine, and the other stuff is sold just for the value
> added to the inventory.
I'm sure you're right. OTOH, I hope they're using a good sealant for
heavy-use installations made of travertine. I sure would hate to be
responsible for cleaning travertine floors and countertops unless the
pits and crevices are well sealed.
Karen Selwyn
>
> Probably because bathroom floors, walls and countertops are often all
> made of travertine, and the other stuff is sold just for the value
> added to the inventory.
I'm sure you're right. OTOH, I hope they're using a good sealant for
heavy-use installations made of travertine. I sure would hate to be
responsible for cleaning travertine floors and countertops unless the
pits and crevices are well sealed.
Karen Selwyn
Aug 26th 2004, 2:39 am
#43
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 09:22:41 GMT, "a.spencer3"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Having driven most of Europe, the 'worst' drivers in this respect have been,
>surprisingly, in Den Haag!
Cyclists and moped riders?
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Having driven most of Europe, the 'worst' drivers in this respect have been,
>surprisingly, in Den Haag!
Cyclists and moped riders?
Aug 26th 2004, 2:43 am
#44
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 11:50:46 +0200, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:15:19 -0400, Karen Selwyn
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>B Vaughan wrote:
>>>
>>> Around where I live, you certainly don't see toilet shops in small
>>> towns. Along the highway, and in big cities, you may see bath design
>>> stores, but these are usually big stores selling the whole works,
>>> especially high-tech showers and jacuzzis.
>>The bus route between the subway and Hadrian's Villa was lined with bath
>>supply stores and travertine quarries.
Via Tiburtino?
> If someone can figure out the
>>reason for this particular combination you will have earned my admiration.
>Probably because bathroom floors, walls and countertops are often all
>made of travertine, and the other stuff is sold just for the value
>added to the inventory.
I must admit that although I have driven past the quarry, I had never
noticed bath design stores.
Most taking that route remember the stink of the sulphur baths in
Bagni di Tivoli. I know somebody who moved out of a hotel in B di T
in the middle of the night because the stink woke him up.
>On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:15:19 -0400, Karen Selwyn
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>B Vaughan wrote:
>>>
>>> Around where I live, you certainly don't see toilet shops in small
>>> towns. Along the highway, and in big cities, you may see bath design
>>> stores, but these are usually big stores selling the whole works,
>>> especially high-tech showers and jacuzzis.
>>The bus route between the subway and Hadrian's Villa was lined with bath
>>supply stores and travertine quarries.
Via Tiburtino?
> If someone can figure out the
>>reason for this particular combination you will have earned my admiration.
>Probably because bathroom floors, walls and countertops are often all
>made of travertine, and the other stuff is sold just for the value
>added to the inventory.
I must admit that although I have driven past the quarry, I had never
noticed bath design stores.
Most taking that route remember the stink of the sulphur baths in
Bagni di Tivoli. I know somebody who moved out of a hotel in B di T
in the middle of the night because the stink woke him up.
Aug 26th 2004, 3:37 am
#45
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What are your top 5 surprising things that you wished you knew before going to Italy?
"a.spencer3" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "The Reids" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Following up to devil
> >
> > > than to
> > >> risk a day behind the wheel in Rome.
> > >
> > >What's wrong with Rome, Milan etc.? These are modern European cities.
> > >Driving not all that different from say Paris.
> >
> > I think even northern Italian drivers are a bit more lively than
> > Paris.
> >
> > >If you want to experience driving in Italy OTOH, go to Naples and around.
> > >That's where the fun really starts.
> >
> > I'm looking forward to it!
>
> Having driven most of Europe, the 'worst' drivers in this respect have been,
> surprisingly, in Den Haag!
Without a skeric of doubt in my mind, the worst drivers IN THE WORLD
are the Albanians. With very few having more than a couple of years
experience, appalling roads, an absence of traffic police,
high-powered cars stolen from the west, and licences that are probably
forged, it's chilling! Forget the 'creative' drivers of Italy and
Portugal, the Albanians win hands down.
Anyone else care to comment on their Albanian road experiences?
---
DFM
> "The Reids" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Following up to devil
> >
> > > than to
> > >> risk a day behind the wheel in Rome.
> > >
> > >What's wrong with Rome, Milan etc.? These are modern European cities.
> > >Driving not all that different from say Paris.
> >
> > I think even northern Italian drivers are a bit more lively than
> > Paris.
> >
> > >If you want to experience driving in Italy OTOH, go to Naples and around.
> > >That's where the fun really starts.
> >
> > I'm looking forward to it!
>
> Having driven most of Europe, the 'worst' drivers in this respect have been,
> surprisingly, in Den Haag!
Without a skeric of doubt in my mind, the worst drivers IN THE WORLD
are the Albanians. With very few having more than a couple of years
experience, appalling roads, an absence of traffic police,
high-powered cars stolen from the west, and licences that are probably
forged, it's chilling! Forget the 'creative' drivers of Italy and
Portugal, the Albanians win hands down.
Anyone else care to comment on their Albanian road experiences?
---
DFM
