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Carlo's Travel Tips
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The following are random thoughts and ideas that occured to me during and after our trip!
Well, lets get some of the boring things out of the way first, photograpy for instance. Lucia always says that I'm interested in things with numbers. Hey, I'm an Engineer, what do you expect! Pretty much all of the pictures that you see here were taken by me. I used different film speeds from 200 ASA to 800 ASA. For those of you not interested in numbers (unbelievable as it may be), the higher the number, the better the pictures come out in dark situations. The lighting conditions on the trip were not the best for slow speed films. I would recommend the use of a good 400 speed film, either Fuji or Kodak. With the exception of the Pope pictures, most pictures were taken with a wide-angle zoom lens which allows you to take nice pictures of the gorgeous scenery. I would suggest planning out some of the pictures you wish to take. Unfortunately, I didn't which is why I'm missing some important pictures to complete the story of our trip. For example, I wish I had more "people" pictures including some of our guides. For the next trip, (Yes Lucia, there will be another trip!) I will jot down in advance some ot the types of pictures I want and cross them off as I do. Additionally, it would have helped my memory alot if I wrote down a few notes on the pictures that I have taken (mind like a sieve!) A personal preference, I will bring my tripod on the next trip as there are beautiful night scenes whereever one looks.
When the sign says that there are 320 steps to the top of something, believe it! I have to tell you, that is alot of steps! However, the work involved in walking up them is worth it as is noticed in my pictures from the Vatican.
An ATM card is the way to go. Forget all you know about traveler's checks as the only place you can cash them is banks or money exchanging outlets. ATMs are everywhere and give you the best exchange rates. The only down side is that they do not give you a balance on your account. Another example of where a small notebook would be handy to write down the amount you withdraw. I know, I'd probably do that for the first day or so then forget it, but hey, it's a valid tip anyways!
Don't go into a glass shop with big cuffs on your coat. Remember the slogan, 'if you broke it, you bought it!" Lets just say, after proving that slogan right, Lucia wouldn't let me into another store the rest of the trip.
The shop owners are serious about their siesta break. With the exception of resturants, all of the stores virtually shut down for 3 hours midday. So, plan your buying sprees accordingly!
Don't argue with a waiter when you have a bowl of rice krispies in your hand. Falling krispies do not accentuate your point.
The subways in Rome and the water transports in Venice work on an honor system to some extent. Before you board you must purchase a ticket from either a vending machine or booth. In theory, you are expected to take the ticket and have it date-stamped within the subway car or vessel that you are riding in. Human nature being what it is, a good percentage of people don't bother having the ticket stamped in the hope that they can reuse it some other time. Like all bureaucrats, the Italians sometimes have to check people to see if they have in fact stamped their ticket. What we found out is that they do not buy the argument that you are an American and have either a blank ticket or one that was stamped three days in a row! We also found out that they do not like the word "mafia" even wispered in jest! Remember, when in doubt, punch the ticket, or spend 1,500 lire and buy a new one!
Some of the best memories happen when you least expect them. Make sure you leave some time for unplanned adventures or just sit and enjoy your surroundings. For example, Lucia and I happened to be looking out our hotel window in Assisi when we noticed a candle-light procession around the square in front of the church. Words and my pictures cannot explain the beauty in what we saw and heard. Resturants are another example. Walking outside the Vatican, Lucia, Pietro, Gina, Jean, Carol, and I happened upon a small resturant with arguably the best food of the trip. The same can be said for the resturant in Florence (enduring the walk over the highway I might add), the outside cafe at the Patheon, and the restaurant in the vicinity of the Spanish Steps. For me, taking the time to sit and just look at a beautiful fountain at dusk was relaxing.
Gypsys, Gypsys, Gypsys, watch out for the Gypsys! That's what I had heard from many different people. Be careful, they'll pick your pocket and steal you blind. Well happily, we didn't have that problem at all. Maybe because it was the off season, maybe they took one look at Pietro and Carlo and decided to prey upon less intimadating people, I don't know. But you should still be careful and use common sense. I kept my valuables inside a pouch tucked underneath my shirt. You can see evidence of that on several pictures, thats the lump above my tummy! I kept a small amount of money in my wallet with the thought that if it was stolen, I wouldn't lose too much. Or, you can keep things inside a money belt like Pietro. That makes for interesting conversation when you reach inside your belt to get your credit card at the dinner table! At least that's what I thought Pietro was doing. All kidding aside, be street wise and you shouldn't have a problem.
Quick bits: Count your change when you get it...make copies of your passports and keep them in a secure place...make use of the hotel's room safe....don't believe what they say about international calls, we were only charged 2,500 lire per call using the room phone when we called home....Don't swear in Italian unless you know the full conotation of what you said, it can make for some embarassing moments, right Pietro...
Tipping, I still don't understand what you are expected to do. I do know this, if you carefully read the bill you will notice in most cases that both a service charge and a gratuity fee are added, usually based on a percentage of the total. That means the tip is included. I suspect that some waiters try to take advantage of Americans by asking for an additional tip. This happened to us at a pretty upscale restuarant after our visit to the Patheon in Rome. I didn't pay the tip, however others in our party did. Confused? So am I, but as Lucia says, thats my usual state of existence!
Suitcases, make sure you bring a sturdy one, preferably with wheels. The suitcase should be able to withstand the stress of uncaring baghandlers. Buying one that breaks when you first get off the bus does not make for a stress-free vacation, especially when it gets wet, just ask Pietro!
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