Travel Tips for Italy

Italy trip Fall 2008 260

Italy trip Fall 2008 260

Here are some travel tips that I always pass on to my clients.

  • Make 2 copies of your passport - take one with you and leave the other copy home with a family member.
  • I suggest everyone get a visa debit card - if you do not have please apply for one as soon as possible. Alert your bank that you will be using your visa debit card in Italy. Otherwise your account may be frozen and you will not be able to access euros.
  • Use the visa debit card to obtain euors while in Italy.
  • When making purchases use your credit card
  • Make two copies (both front and back) of your credit card and visa card. Bring one copy with you and leave the other copy home with a family member.
  • Expect cool mornings and evenings so be prepared to layer your clothing.
  • Always bring an umbrella. I cannot guarantee sunny weather.
  • Wear or bring comfortable shoes since we will be doing a lot of walking.
  • You may wish to buy ear plugs to use during the flight to Italy.
  • You may wish to go to your bank to obtain a few euros before you leave.
  • Travel insurance is highly recommended. Purchase Travel Guard here.
  • Verify your medical insurance coverage before you leave the states.
  • Leave copies of your itinerary and copies of your passport with responsible individuals at home.
  • Access the State Department website for current information concerning your proposed travel locations.

The Sistine Chapel is closed. Now What?

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I recently had a conversation with one of my suppliers and we were talking about the fact that many travelers are upset that they cannot take the complete Vatican – Sistine Chapel tour as the Sistine Chapel is closed and they would like a refund.

 

Get a grip people!  This is Italy and all of the tour guides in Rome can manage changes like this.  You must be flexible when you travel.  You will be in Rome during the making of history!

I remember taking a small group to Italy and the day we left for Italy the pope died.  I knew there would be changes along the way but it did not bother me.  I was thrilled to be in Rome during this event.  And an event it was!    We arrived in Rome on the day of his funeral.  The private bus had to leave us two blocks from the hotel which was located on the Vatican side of Rome.  We dragged our bags along the cobblestone streets and when we entered the hotel we left our bags and joined the crowds.  We still remember the experience and still talk about to this day.  We also were scheduled to see the Sistine Chapel on our tour but it was closed!

What did we do?  We continued with your plans and enjoyed  the rest of the tour which included the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Enjoy Rome people! Be a better traveler by immersing yourself in the local culture rather than being a tourist!

Any of you readers experience changes in your itinerary while in Italy?  What was the outcome?  Did you still enjoy yourself?

Wining and Dining in Naples Florida!

Speaking of food! let me give you a few recommendations since my objective besides enjoying my rounds of golf was to go shopping and eat good food! As you exit the Inn of Fifth Ave you can go either turn left or right and encounter many restaurants offering their best fare!  We decided to turn left this night.  Many  restaurants were full of eater and the streets were full of eager hungry people on the prowl for good food.  Our noses brought us to Pazzo!  They were willing  to seat us, since we were only two, but I do recommend you make a reservation!  We both had delicious and very fresh salads to start. Their claim to fame is their homemade pasta.  We both had pasta dishes that night and the pasta was tender and light, the way is should be.  Over all I would definitely go back to this restaurant.  Oh! By the way, their chocolate soufflé was great!  The center was oozing of chocolate – the way I like it!

 

Roy’s Hawaiian Cuisine, across Tamiami Road is another great choice.  We had a party of six people and everything was done to perfection even the dessert.

Sea Salt in the historic section (3rd Street South) is a relatively new restaurant.  That evening it was extremely crowded and the kitchen was in full swing.  My dinner was ok so I would recommend that if you are going to Naples during high season go here for lunch when it is not so crazy!  I will give this restaurant another chance.  It has an extensive wine list!

Another restaurant in this area is Campiella, which I understand is very very good, however I was not able to get reservations there -so next time I will book well in advance.

My favorite above all was Bistro 821 on Fifth Ave South. Every dish was done to perfection and I am going back to this restaurant!  Chef Jesse Housman uses only the freshest of ingredients. A very innovative cuisine!  Going back here for sure!

Oh!  Want to get a good pizza in town?  Oh yes you can!  One evening I decided I needed to have my own pizza and a glass of wine.  So off we went to RossoPomodoro, which means red tomato.  I was a little hesitant at first since this is a chain restaurant but decided to go ahead and take my chances.  The restaurant,   originated in Italy with a few in the USA, was very crowded so I thought it couldn’t be that bad!  Want a delicious brick oven pizza?  Go here and you will not be disappointed.  This is the only way pizza should be baked!  With the ovens roaring over 900 degrees the bottom is slightly charred, a good sign. Every ingredient is fresh and from Italy.  In fact our food was so good we went back for lunch one day and had a tasty calzone!  Again the dough was tender and light!

 

If you are interested in good weather, great shopping, especially on 3rd Street South filled with boutique shops, great golf and great accommodations, head south to Naples Florida that is.  You will not be disappointed!

The Best Balsamic Vinegar

A few weeks ago a dear friend of mine gave me a gourmet gift.  She told me it was 'delicious' and that she just loved her little bottle of balsamic vinegar.  Of cousrse, I thanked her very much for thinking of me. I do love salads and every day, well almost everyday, at lunch I make myself a great salad with fresh fruit, dried fruit, spinach leaves and whatever I find in the refrigerator.  This one day I decided to use some of this balsamic vinegar made with Sicilian lemons.  Needless to say, this vinegar is a product from Modena, Italy which is where all THE BEST balsamic vinegar comes from!

Well am I in love with this vinegar?  Oh indeed!  I could drink it.  As soon as I finish this bottle I am going on line to order more to fulfill my craving for the best balsamic vinegar.

It is imported by Gustare, so if you want to order some for yourself, or some of their other products, I have provided their link.  Go ahead and treat yourslef.  You will not be disappointed!

A Visit to St. Louis, MO

Have you ever been to St. Louis, MO?  We, the family, attended a wedding over Labor Day weekend because my son was bestman for his childhood friend.  My husband, daughter and I decided to explore the city before the festivities started.  We had a good amount of time so off we went to the downtown area by cab.  Our cab driver was very informative. So for about 15 minutes he took  us on a scenic tour to downtown St. Louis.  We saw the famous Gateway Arch!  Then on to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery for a free one hour tour ending with two free beer tastings!  Free! Did you know that St. Louis has free admissions to other sights such as: S.t Louis Science Center, St. Louis Art Museum, National Great Rivers Museum and more!

By now it was close to lunch time and we had read about a great Italian restaurant in 'The Hill' district of St. Louis.  Being Italians and we love good food, we called a cab and off we went!  To Rigazzi's!

We ordered the 'toasted ravioli'and two different pizzas.  First came the ravioli, which by the way is not toasted, it is fried! ! with sauce on the side. We all looked at each other and wondered what the pizzas where going to taste like!

Before long they were being delivered to our table.  With our taste buds ready to attack we indulged.  One was a white pizza with roasted garlic, and the other was the pizza margherita - with gorganzola cheese? And how about the crust!  Does the phrase 'stale fortune cookie' have any meaning for you? Basically it had to be a loser in the Betty Crocker baker-off.   I must say we were a bit disappointed.  Coming from the New York metropolitan area maybe our expectations were too high!  We decided it was a waste of calories! 

Overall, we did have a good time touring St. Louis and we were all quite impressed with the city.  Well worth a trip !  By now it was time to get back to the hotel, Ritz Carlton, to get ready for the wedding, which by the way, was outstanding!

I would highly recommend the Ritz Carlton in St. Louis!  A very elegant hotel and it was enjoyed by all.