AMELIA’S Tips for Italy!

LEARN to cross the street in Naples, Italy, so it will never ever get any harder to do. It takes guts to practice the “step out in front of the cars and they will stop for you” system. Our guide in Rome said it was best to “never make eye contact with the drivers” as they would know they could bluff you into stopping. Best ideas -- find an Italian to cross with because they know how to do it … or step in front of scooters. They can dodge you better.

DO -- Take a paid tour of Sistine Chapel & Vatican and of Michelangelo’s David in Florence. In fact, don’t go to Italy if you can’t see David in Florence. It’s that great. And to both of these the lines are hours long so the early paid tour is by far the best way to do it. Lines are unreal also at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence but you can call on a Skype phone and make reservations there (and only pay for it if you get there!).

-- Go to Venice NOW before all the locals leave. Insist on staying on the island. DO NOT settle for staying in Mestre and touring into the city. The evening walks through alleys and winding streets is the best of Italy. DO ride the “vaparetto” (water bus) with the locals … a 24 hours pass will get you everywhere, including nearby islands.

-- Wander up a side street and stop in a local deli. Buy cheese and meat for a picnic. A fun pantomime with non-English speaking, friendly Italians will give you a 5E lunch and a 25E memory plus a photo.

-- Try public transportation – buses in Rome (buy tickets at Tobacco Stores and search for a bus stop. Get the bus going the wrong way and go the whole loop … you’ll see something new at any rate.)

-- Stop at the Autogrill – an upscale truck stop. Good food … especially the risotto!!!

DO NOT -- Buy all those other tours. You can easily do the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, etc. on your own in Rome. You can do Venice, Pompeii, and the Uffizi in Florence with a little courage.

-- Get upset when Italians ignore your line or don’t get to you when you think they should. There is a word for people like that and it is “Italian”. It’s their country; don’t expect them to be “Americans.”

-- Buy into the idea that everyone is a “pickpocket”. Be reasonably cautious – “day wallet” with only basic moneys and ID, big money in money belt or in your right shoe (my favorite place / pry up the inner sole and stick in a couple of big bills). Watch out for one anther.

-- Wait. Tourism is down by 40% or more in Italy which means smaller crowds.

IPOD – Great for travel. Download an audio book or two for the plane, and Italian lessons to make you think you will be able to speak Italian, and travel guides. We had 2 or more pod casts on every town and wonderful guided tours of Uffizi and of Venice by Rick Steves. Free downloads and lots of information.

Insights – Naples is the dirtiest city I’ve ever been in (and that includes all of Central America.) The museum is filled with great things but poorly captioned. Probably a better stay would have been Sorrento and train back up to Pompeii on the “Circumvesuviana” train.

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