2 Search Results for "repubblica"

• Italy for Free!!!

  • From: lmcconnell
  • Description:

     

     

    Buon Giorno!

     

    Have you ever had the perfect dream vacation; but, it was just that, a dream?  You tell yourself “How could I ever afford a vacation like that? Only the rich and famous could do that kind of trip.”  Well, I’m here to tell you that dreams do come true.  All it took was creativity and a willingness to think outside of the box.

     

    A few months back my husband and I found out that if you wanted to use your reward miles to fly with American Airlines after October 2008 they were going to require almost double the amount of air miles needed for international flights.  So after much work with the American Airline booking agents and with ourselves convincing each other that a trip to Italy was possible and well worth the effort; we were able to book (2) Business/First class round trip tickets from Orlando Florida to Rome Italy for nothing. (Except of course the many hours we spent with the booking agents and a small booking fee).  Now we were on our way. 

     

    But of course the next step was “where do we stay”?  We love Hilton Hotels and have accumulated many points with them by using our American Express Hilton HHonors Card so once again after much research we decided to stay at a Hilton in Rome Italy called Rome Cavalieri for all (9) nights.  We discovered that Hilton HHonors was offering a rewards program that stretched our points further to make this stay possible.  So fellow travelers or dreamers, we were able to book a (9) night stay at a Hilton Hotel in Rome for free. But wait, it gets better.  You see, the Hilton Hotel that we chose was now a Waldorf-Astoria.

     

    In my dreams, I never envisioned flying to Rome Italy in First Class or staying (9) nights in a King Deluxe Suite overlooking Rome in a Waldorf-Astoria all for free.

     

    One of the things my husband and I like to do is utilize the concierges when we travel (Tipping them well, of course!).  They are a wealth of information and will help you with restaurant choices, tours, and travel arrangements.  I was in contact with the concierge at the Rome Cavalieri asking about tours and trains prior to our arrival.  When we arrived at our luxurious hotel, we met with their wonderful concierges and they booked us immediately with the tours we wanted to take to the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, the Coliseum and more.  Fontana Di Trevi and the Pantheon are two sites you’ll want to see with great shopping all around.

     

    A wonderful way to see Italy is via their train system.  Their trains are very affordable and run to most of the major cities approximately every ½ hour.  We decided to take a (2) hour train ride to Florence.  The country side is gorgeous with their little villages scattered through out.  Florence was our favorite city.  It is so charming.  Ponte Vecchio was like nothing I’ve ever seen. We enjoyed walking up and down the cobblestone streets looking in all the little shops and cafes; grabbing a coffee and a plate of different pastries in one, then, a few streets over sitting down for a plate of pasta and a bottle of Chianti all the while enjoying looking at the buildings and people.  The Duomo is a magnificent site to see right in the middle of the city. 

     

    All the detail work that you see on the buildings in Italy is amazing!  How did they do that hundreds and thousands of years ago?  And the ceilings wow, most of us don’t even have paintings in our homes or businesses, yet in Italy, especially in the churches or Basilica’s, the ceilings are unbelievable. 

     

    When we took a bus tour down through Naples onto Pompeii, I was amazed at the paintings on the walls of the houses that survived.  If you ever get the chance to go to Italy, you must take a tour of ancient Pompeii.  It is so fascinating to see what a thriving metropolis it was. 

     

    Taking a train trip to Pisa was another great idea because we were able to see Italy’s beautiful rocky coast.  Once again the train ride was a little over (2) hours which goes by fast as you are trying to take in all of the scenery. 

     

    We did not care to spend much time in Pisa.  So after we took lots of pictures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, we jumped back on a train to Florence where we found a great outside restaurant at the Piazza Della Repubblica that’s been there for over two hundred years.  We spent the afternoon sipping Latte’s and chatting with the locals until we were hungry enough to enjoy a plate of Ravioli and a bottle of Chianti all the while taking in the culture. 

     

    As you can tell, we ate our way through Italy.  So needless to say, when we heard that Bologna is known for their Tortellini, well, you know by now what we did!  Yes, the next day we took a train to Bologna.  Once again we enjoyed seeing the vineyards, farms, mountains, and countryside.  Bologna reminded us of Florence.  It too is very picturesque.  We found the most charming little market street that evening.   After eating tortellini, drinking Vini Rossi (the waiter’s recommendation of course!) and taking lots more pictures, we jumped back on the train and headed back to Rome. 

     

    We loved Rome and we were really glad we took in Italy the way we did with making Rome our home base and taking day trips via their bus or train system.  We didn’t have to constantly keep up with luggage.  At the end of our wonderful adventure filled days it was nice to go back “home” and not have to keep packing and unpacking and wondering if you forgot anything along the way. 

     

    For us, one day in each of those cities was enough.  The rest of our time was spent in the city of Rome where there is so much to see and experience and with so many wonderful places to eat!  My camera was clicking non-stop.  We came back with hundred’s of pictures.  There are so many beautiful fountains and museums.  We really enjoyed the tours.  You would miss so much if all you did was see the sites and not learn the history as well. The tours are well worth it.  The city tour bus is inexpensive and a great way to see and hear about a lot of the city.

     

    We were amazed at how so much traffic could flow so quickly and smoothly on their little narrow cobblestone streets.  What amazing drivers! The Italian people are also wonderful hosts.  They all make you feel so welcome and want to share their Italy with you.

     

    We loved everything about our Italy experience!  We didn’t want to leave and we definitely want to go back to Italia!

     

     Oh, by the way, you know all those tours and train trips we took?  Well, that didn’t end up costing us anything either because we paid for them with our Chase Visa Cash Back Reward Checks that we had saved up. 

     

    So, I am here to tell you from experience that yes, dreams do come true and it is possible in today’s failing economy to travel to a wonderful destination of your choice and it not cost you a dime or in our case a Euro!  Tourism is still affordable; there are deals out there and ways to travel.  You just have to do your research and make it happen.  When I was back in Florida, I sat in my Mom’s office to share my Italy experiences with her.  She looked at me and said, “Sometimes I think that the only way I will get to travel is through your eyes.”  As tears welled up in my eyes I was determined to let people know that affordable travel is possible!  Ciao!

     

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 129
  • Not yet rated

• Rediscovering Rome

  • From: antfern
  • Description:

    Rome, September 12-18, 2008

    After four earlier trips to Rome, we decided to use the opportunity of a Mediterranean cruise that departed and returned from and to Civitavecchia, to stay in Rome after the cruise for about six days.  For the purpose of this journal, we will arrange our experiences around five topics: Churches, Plazas, Fountains, Ruins, Outside Rome.  At the end of this writing I will offer you some points about lodging, transportation and security.

    Churches:  Don’t miss St. Peter Basilica in the Vatican City.  As you walk through Bernini’s colonnade you will be leaving Italy and entering in another country: The Vatican.  Normally everyone enters the great basilica and takes a couple of pictures in the Plaza.  However, I would recommend two other things to do here: 1. Climb the 320 steps to the top of the cupola for the best views of the Gardens of the Vatican and the whole city of Rome.  Once you reach the top you are in the highest point of the city. 2. You may visit the Scavii (Excavations under the main altar of St. Peter).  This will require that you made a reservation; it can be done by e-mail.  St. Peter’s Basilica web site offers information about these two areas as well as other points of interest in St. Peter: http://saintpeterbasilica.org

    The list of churches in Rome could be like a telephone directory of a small city.  It is impossible to mention all of them here.  Keep in mind that there is a dress code requirement for entering them and you must preclude from taking pictures while a religious ceremony is taking place.  Also they are quite dark and provide you a cool refuge from the Roman heat as well as a place to sit down and relax for a while.  Catholics have a saying that whenever you enter a church for the first time and you do a prayer you can ask for a favor….Your wish list in Rome could be quite lengthy. 

    Plazas: Rome give the impression of grow and live around plazas.  As you walk around you will not be able to avoid them: regular shaped or without any designs, small or big, old or new, crowded or strangely deserted.  The list here, like the churches, is large.  Almost every church has a plaza in front, or around it somewhere.  I would mention only about a dozen of them: Piazza de Spagna, San Pietro, Venezia, Navona, del Popolo, della Boca della Verita, del Quirinale, della Repubblica, di Santa Maria in Trastevere, del Campidoglio, dell’Esquilino, and Campo de Fiore.

    In the plazas you could find a place to eat or drink a cappuccino.  I would recommend to look for a gelateria (ice cream shop) mainly in Piazza Navona.  Also most of the plazas aside from one or more churches you will find also one or more fountains.  To sit around a fountain is one of the Romans preferred outings in the middle of the afternoon or early evenings.  Don’t forget the saying: “If in Rome do like the Romans”   

    Fountains: The fountains of Rome have been the subject of classical musical pieces or well known-movies.  Many of the fountains you will find in Rome were like public works constructed by the Popes for the benefit of the various sectors of the city. Likewise the list of plazas, I will offer only the names of few fountains that should be in any visitors' lists:  Starting, probably with the most worldwide famous fountain: The Fontana de Trevi.  This fountain together with the Triton Fountain in Barberini Square are the subject of two of the symphonic poems of Respighi, Fontane di Rome.

    We should mention also the three fountains in Piazza Navona: Four Rivers, the Moor and Neptune. There are beautiful and worth mentioning fountains in Piazza del Popolo and Nicosia.  There are numerous fountains in many of the plazas that are worth the visit and to enjoy their cool environment.

    One of my favorites is the small fountain at Santa Maria Cosmedin in the Forum Boarium, see picture of the fountain as well as the Temple of Hercules in the back.

    Ruins and Monuments:  Aside from churches, plazas and fountains the other ever present element of Rome are its ruins and classical monuments.  From the countless Egyptian obelysks to the classic roman buildings and monuments, your selection is overwhelming. They are everywhere!  The most famous probably is the Colisseum, followed by the Roman Forum.  I would recommend that you buy a combined ticket of admission covering these two points of interest plus the Palatine.  The Palatine is a place that most turists pass or simple ignore. 

    I strongly recommend that your itinerary includes these three attractions.  This time we tried to visit the Domus Aurea, the old ruins of Nero's palace next to the Colisseum, but unfortunately it was was closed that day.  Also among the recommended ruins you should visit are the Forum Imperiali and the Forum Boarium.  There is a beautiful old Roman monument well preserved in a modern museum: Ara Pacis Augustana.  Is an altar built by the Senate and People of Rome (SPQR) to conmemorate the peaceful era of Emperor Cesar Augusto.

    Outside Rome: Rome is a place that must be visited by everyone… but also visitors of Rome should adventure outside the City and go to places such as Tivoli, Amalfi Coast, or even Florence and Assissi.  

    The pictured attached is from Positano, the jewel of the Costiera Amalfitana.  To drive the Amalfi Coast that runs south of Sorrento, until the area around Salerno, will take a full day.  But it may be shortened by returning a short while after visiting Amalfi turning toward Naples through the interior highway and thus avoiding the slow traffic of the coastal winding road.

    ---

     Practical Guidelines: 

     Let me end with some general guidelines: During this last trip we avoided the museums due to the long lines and by the fact that we have visited the major ones during earlier visits.  However, the Vatican Museums should be a priority for everyone visiting Rome.  

    Lodging: In our first visit to Rome in 1975, we stayed at D’Inghilterra, great location but we couldn’t afford it now.  We have stayed in far out places and in the middle of the city.  During our last trip we stayed at the Alimandi Tunisi about two blocks from the Vatican Museums.  This was a great experience and we highly recommend it.  However, the most important thing we would recommend about a hotel or pension in Rome is to find one that is close to a Metro station, this will provide you with the necessary mobility in this magnificent city. 

    Transportation: As we were planning to stay for six days we purchased at the Metro station a Carta Integrata Settimanale for Euro 16.  This allowed us free access to the Metro and all city trams and buses for our complete stay.  One of our best purchases ever!  We recommend that you obtain this pass as well as a Roma Metro-Bus map for Euro 6, in any newsstand as a companion guide to the pass.  That’s all you need to move around besides your own two feet wearing the most comfortable shoes you may have.  Try to stay away from flip flops or high heels.  The streets and pavement in Rome are quite uneven without considering the ancient cobbled streets and water running from a myriad of fountains around the city.

    Security: In Rome, like any other large city, you may run the risk of being pick pocked if the basic security steps are not observed.  Never carry valuables in your back pockets, carry your bags closely held next to your body, leave what you don’t need in a safe deposit in your hotel, carry copies of your passport, never put a bag in the floor or in an empty chair while you dine (regardless of the type of restaurant).  Avoid strangers that approach you with a map or a book or any article trying to show or ask you something.  Stay always alert.  We never have had a problem in Rome regarding our security!

    Accept the fact that you are going to be surrounded by hundred of thousand people living and visiting Rome at the same time that you are there.  If you don’t like people in your pictures of buildings, plazas, parks, etc. you need patience and creativeness.

    Enjoy the food and don't be afraid to drink water from any of the running fountains in Rome.  The water is fresh and safe, unless there is a post indicating that it is not good for drinking.

    Also, be prepared for the fact that Rome is not a  cheap place to visit.

    ---

    Each of the pictures appearing on this journal is individually explained in detail under the "My Photos" section. As an alternative you may click the photos appearing here for expanded information.

     

     

     

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 881