-noambit -Travel Europe- where to go, what to see, and how to get there

Protecting Yourself On The Road: 5 tips on preparing for problems

2008-07-31T07:43:29-05:00

For most of us our day to day life takes place in our homes, apartments and offices. Each of these house pretty much everything we own, need to survive and identify who we are. Somehow though, when we travel we are able to condense all these “essentials” into one or two small bags, carry them on our shoulders and hoist them onto trains. What this should tell us is that 1. We really don’t “need” all that stuff at home and 2. The condensed version is important and needs to be protected. For those unfortunate situations that can not be avoided, preparation can be made and for those that can, precautions can be taken. Here are a few simple tips to help ensure damage and loss of your true essentials is kept to a minimum.

1. Passport preparation:

Having a passport is necessary these days. With new laws being put into effect every year it is virtually impossible to travel without one. Safeguarding yourself in the event of a loss overseas is important; knowing what to do in such a situation is necessary.

Anyone who has temporarily misplaced their passport while on the road knows that feeling of panic. How will I continue my trip? Will I be stuck in this country for weeks? Who should I call? The truth of the matter is that for many countries the process for replacement is the same. Call the passport agency and report the document missing and then find the nearest embassy and start filling out forms. Americans can call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778. Australians should notify the authorities on line and Canadians can ring 819-997-8338.

What you will find unfortunately is that in both the initial call and the forms to follow you will be asked to provide the issue date, issuing agency, passport number and expiration date and possibly proof of citizenship (which you just lost). Having all this info will expedite a process that can significantly cut into your travel time. According to the NPIC, “the more you know the better off you will be”. A great way to ensure you have access to this info is to take the time before your trip to scan the front page of your Passport. This page will have your photo as well as all the necessary info. Once you have the scanned image, attach it to an e-mail and send it to yourself. Now you have access to all the important info, visual proof that you, at least before your trip, had the document and best of all can get to it any time with simple internet access.

If you do not have a scanner at home your local library or university will. Make sure you delete the scan from the public computer however before you leave. All in all, try not to panic. Your embassy will walk you through the process and as the NPIC told me “if you need to get home they will get you home” even if it is with a temporary passport.

2. Who you gonna call?

If you’re like me, every time you have to call your bank or credit card company you look on the back of the card and call the toll free number printed at the bottom. Then, when the computer at the other end of the line picks up it asks you to “say or key in your account number”. So what are you going to do when you step off an overcrowded bus in a foreign city and realized someone just lifted your wallet out of your pocket?

Having these numbers listed somewhere can be invaluable if such a situation arises. You will be able to cancel your cards and remotely access your account in a hurry. The toll free numbers of course can be kept pretty much anywhere you feel comfortable such as your travel journal but please don’t keep them in your wallet…see above. Your account numbers on the other hand should of course be kept in a secure location. Like my passport scan, I e-mail myself all these numbers so that in the event I need them I will be able to access them from pretty much anywhere. If you’re one of those people who really don’t trust the security of your own e-mail account; leave out a reoccurring number that you can commit to memory. How about the first digit of your address or your phone number?

3. Give ‘em a piece of access:

This next little tip has provided a couple helpful benefits while on the road. Consider allowing a parent or loved one staying behind access to the bank account you will be using.

Figure out which credit/ debit card you will be using and take a trusted family member on down to the bank and have their name put onto your account. Doing this is not very hard and reversing the decision when you get back is usually pretty simple. Some banks will let you limit the access the second person has but generally expect for your “financial trustee” to have complete access.

The first benefit of doing this is that in case of an emergency your contact back home can move funds around in your account or add a few extra bucks to get you out of the hole you fell into. Trust me; it is much cheaper, easier and quicker to have someone put a couple hundred dollars directly into a bank account you have access to via ATM card than to have them try to wire it to you overseas.

The other benefit to doing this is tied directly to the last but takes a bit of foresight. Pick a person who is really enthusiastic about your trip and wants you to have a great time. Mom for example probably wants her son or daughter to take full advantage of seeing the world and being taken care of while they do it. What all this usually translates into are a few special surprise deposits made during your trip. Who knows, thanks to Mom you might just be able to afford to splurge on a decent hotel one night, regardless of the fact you blew all your extra money on nightclub cover charges.

4. Bad guys don’t like to be tied up:

It doesn’t take much to deter a thief while traveling. One of the best ways to protect your bag on trains, sitting in a park or even in your hostel dorm room is to make it inconvenient for someone to snatch it up.

There are plenty of bags around that are left unattended or thrown hastily on the overhead rack while its owner sleeps soundly below for a thief to pick up and run with. Purchasing and using a small travel cable and lock such as the Lewis N. Clark retractable cable lock makes your bag more of a hassle to take. There are plenty varieties out there so shop around and see what works best for you. One type of travel security is a wire netting that fits around your bag to prevent criminals from easily accessing the pockets and zippers of your bag. For me, this is a pain to get on and off in a hurry as well as extra weight to carry. Do yourself a favor and find a lock and cable that is easy to use and light to carry then make it a habit to attach your bag to frame of your hostel bed or luggage rack above your head as you sleep.

5. Pop a pill:

The last bit of advice is probably the easiest to enact. More important than your replaceable stuff is your health. When you’re traveling, eating well and getting enough sleep can be a challenge. Let’s face it the last thing on your mind when exploring the world is, “have I had my recommended daily portion of fruit”. Carry along a bottle of chewable multi vitamins like Flintstone’s chewables. They are easy to take and can help you stay on top of trip ruining illness.

For a quick burst of vitamin C and other feel better goodies toss a vial of Airborne in your backpack. These handy effervescent tablets not only can keep your immune system up to par but also help flavor that occasional bottle of tap water you’re stuck drinking.

A lot of time, energy and money go into traveling. Taking these few extra precautions and protecting the essentials you brought along with you can help ensure your trip doesn’t hit any unwanted bumps that you can’t deal with. Then, when you get home take a look around your apartment and throw out all that non-essential junk lying around. It will make packing easier next time.

Audio Tours: save money in Europe and go at your own pace

2008-07-15T09:45:49-05:00

If you think about it it just doesn't make sense. Nobody likes tagging along behind a lady who only barely sticks out amongst the crowd because of the gawdy umbrella she holds above her head. Trying to maneuver your way to the front of 15 people just to get a glimpse of what the difficult to understand tour guide is saying is plain old annoying; turning around only to realize the group of lemmings your with has moved on to "learn" about the next sight before your finished looking at the last is frustrating; then of course, worst of all, you have to pay 15 Euros per person just to get all this. There is something so much better!

The idea is catching on and as the above points out, rightly so. Downloadable, MP3 audio tours are curing all the problems once associated with the guided tour option that dominates the travel industry. No longer will you be forced to move at another's pace. You can take all the time you like because your finger controls the pause button. Missed that important piece of information? Just rewind the track. Traveling with friends? Split the cost of one download and put it on all your own MP3 players. Currently, prices of Audio tours range from around 5-15 bucks which equal quite a lot of savings when you think about what it would cost for three of you to follow someone you can't understand around.

The process is simple. You find the tour you want ; usually there is some sort of demo you can listen to. Click the "buy now" or "download" button, pay the fee and wait for an email confirmation. Usually the email arrives instantly and includes a link that will begin the download process to your computer. Once its finished all you have to do is place the files on your ipod or MP3 player and you're done. Many tours come with a printable map that you can take along with you as you listen to the information provided. If you own an MP3 player, you know how to use these tours!

The tours vary by production company or team. Some strive hard to give you that at home feel by providing an accented voice. Some are humorous, others are bland. Many include some type of music or sound effect to make the listening experience more enjoyable. Most give you more information and richer, more entertaining, history than you'll find by reading a guidebook. Trying a few different "brands" may be the way to go until you find what you like. Keep your eyes open when searching and you'll likely run across some tours that guide you from a bus route through the city or a boat ride through Venice. Some require walking from site to site but others encourage you to relax on a Piazza and just take in the scenery.

Everyday the options are growing in terms of what tours you can find on-line. For the most part you shouldn't have to hard a time finding a tour that suits your needs in Europe. Even back home, Universities are beginning to switch to this format to provide potential students on their visits. Where ever you are planning on visiting, a quick search on websites that provide catalogs of these guides will usually result in success. To date there are only a few that provide a nice comprehensive listing but they do it well.

www.audioguide2go.com provides a nice search that is full of color coded symbols that key you into what type of tour and what type of extras are offered. This site is going to redirect you back to the tour's production team's own site for a direct experience.

www.allaudioguides.com is beginning to accrue a nice offering of tours. If you're headed to England they have several tours to choose from and are adding more in other countries like Italy and the Netherlands often.

www.audiosteps.com currently has its majority of tours covering US locations but European destinations are on the rise for this site offering quality guides.

www.audiosnacks.com is a fun and easy site to use when searching for a tour. Its interactive map lets you zoom in on exactly what you're looking for and once you've pinpointed the location the options are plentiful.

www.walki-talki.com is a company that to date produces its own tours that are not only fun to listen to but a great value. The maps that come with each tour are specific to the guide and help any listener find their way around.

www.tourcaster.com functions like a warehouse of audio tours and if you're looking for a guide outside the borders of Europe this should be your first stop.

Of course you may have heard that we here at noambit.com are now starting our own "line" of audio tours that we are calling "talk about tours". My last trip to Europe really opened my eyes to the great benefits this type of travel provides. We're striving to provide the same practical information on our tours as you can find on our site as well as entertaining dialog all at a price cheaper than most tours out there. So far we are producing two tours for Florence Italy and another for visitors of Sachsenhausen concentration camp is coming soon. Down the road we also intend on recording tours of Barcelona, in particular Park Guell and Pisa. We love to travel so the possibilities are endless. We welcome any suggestions and as always will do our best to help you around Europe.

Florence Italy,Come On In The Rose-Waters fine:Officina Profumo-farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

2008-06-23T07:51:59-05:00

Often not found in guidebooks, Florence has a fragrant little treasure tucked away through a non-assuming door way near the main train station. Take a minute out of your day and stop by one of the oldest pharmacies in the world.
   You probably arrived in Florence by train or bus so finding the main train station Santa Maria Novella shouldn’t be too hard. Exit out the front doors towards the grassy area outside the large Ticket Office. Right across the street and past all those tents where cheap luggage is for sale, is a Dominican Church, Santa Maria Novella. Head down the side of the church and make your way around to the front and into the piazza. This piazza by the way, which might still be under construction, has two obelisks at either end. Until the end of the 19th Century chariot races were held here for the amusement of local Florentines. Soon, this square will have a fresh new look complete with new fountains, lighting and street furniture.
At the end of the Piazza, opposite the church, make a right onto Via della Scala. Not far down the street at number 16 on your right side you'll arrive at a relatively out of place stone archway. This is the entrance to the Officina Profumo-farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, which is actually what it says above the door.
   Push open the large wooden door and make your way down the hall. You’ll probably notice a strong scent of perfume. No, nobody spilled anything; it's just about 400 years of elixirs, ointments and soaps prepared from distilled flowers and herbs that have given the place a distinct smell. And of course, things probably do get spilled from time to time.
   The history of the Officina dates back to around 1380 when Dominican friars began selling distilled botanicals such as rose-water as a disinfectant during the Plague. The friars would grow plants that they believed to have medicinal qualities in a nearby garden; mix, melt, distill and boil them together forming various potions. As the years passed the friars business grew and by 1612 the office you are standing in began to take shape out of a chapel and private residences in the monastery. The Florentine Dominican's products began to gain fame not only in Italy but throughout the world even becoming the official suppliers to the Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinando II. Then in 1866 the Dominicans sold the pharmacy to Cesare Augusto Stefani whose descendants run the Officina to this day. Take your time and wander around each of the three rooms.

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The first room you entered is the sales room and was once one of the monastery's most beautiful chapels. Look up and take in the preserved frescoes on the Gothic, ribbed vaulted ceiling. A peek into the display case on your right reveals photos from a 1966 Flood that reached a devastating level right where you're standing. The other cupboards are full of colorful products for sale as well as old and ornate vessels. Feel free to wander the adjacent rooms which at various times served as the laboratory and original sales room.
As you tour the Officina look around in the walnut display cases along the walls. You'll see some of the tools of the trade as well as some products that date back 100's of years. If you're interested in seeing the variety of products sold or perhaps want to pick up a little something packaged with the distinct label of the pharmacy, grab a list of products from the room furthest back. As you'll see the offerings are immense, varied and maybe a bit pricey. Still, where else can you buy an all natural hand lotion made from a 300 year old recipe and an elixir that cures acne? If nothing else the list of products, printed on high quality paper, could make a nice and free souvenir to frame in your home.

Fear Of Flying: 5 tips on overcoming your fear

2008-06-17T08:35:46-05:00

I now know I had made the biggest mistake of my adult life. For years I found excuses not to travel out of the country. The cost was too much; I had to finish my education; I simply couldn’t go when the weather was cold…in London. The truth of the matter was however, that I was afraid to fly. Ultimately my desire to explore the world overpowered my innate fear of rising above the clouds in a steel soda straw so I had a few martinis and hopped on a flight out of the US. Still, every time I fly I find myself nervous and besides simply getting on the plane and doing it I have picked up a few tricks to alleviate at least that part of me that once refused to step foot near even an airline’s website. What I have compiled below are five tips to help those out there with similar anxiety.

1. Know what to expect:

You have conjured the image in your mind of arriving at the airport. You’re next to go through security and suddenly you’re pulled aside and told to undress for a random and thorough screening. After surviving that utterly humiliating ordeal you limp towards the plane only see that the paint on the nose is chipped; surely the hull has been breached. Still, you board and before you know it the engines roar. You’re in the air and smoke, maybe mist…no no, you’re sure it’s smoke, is rolling off the wing. Turbulence sets in and the flight attendants are having a very difficult time serving drinks since they are repeatedly being thrown against the ceiling of the plane as it looses altitude. Then you start to think…children loose helium balloons all the time at Disneyland; we are flying over California; what if one gets sucked into the engine and we plummet to the ground in a fiery, mouse shaped balloon related, accident. I can assure you this will not happen.

Without knowing what to expect at the airport and on the flight itself your mind tends to wander. Familiarize yourself with the sights and sounds of flying. Understand the bumps and movements of an airplane. Getting an idea of what is to come will dramatically help you form a realistic notion of what you’re experiencing; this will undoubtedly be better than your uninformed imaginings. To do so you might talk to friends who have flown. Ask them to describe the process from start to finish. Question them about turbulence. Do they have a “bad turbulence” story? Chances are they do (everyone thinks they do). Then, realize they are still here to tell you that story. Obviously they are either exaggerating, turbulence really isn’t that bad or both (more often than not it’s the latter).

Another great resource out there can be found on the web. flyingwithoutfear.com is a wonderful site that is loaded with free content. You can listen to the sounds of pretty much every aspect of flying from engine noise at take off to final boarding calls in the airport. There are videos that describe exactly what you will see and help you understand what to expect. You can even find a support forum to discuss much of what I mentioned above. Take the time to know what you’re getting yourself into. You certainly took the time to understand what you will experience once you land…why not what you will go through on your way there?

2. Understand how safe flying actually is:

We have all heard the saying “you’re more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the airport than on the plane”. This is certainly true with statistics pointing out you are in fact 500-1000 times more likely to meet your end on the highway. But let’s face it; this does not really help calm your nerves. You are still not in control of the plane! Think about it though, how many drivers are actually in control of what other drivers are doing on the road around them; none! I’m fairly confident that 40,000 + Americans are not dying each year in a car wreck because they have control over the situation. Then consider that since 1970 there have been only 58 fatal events between 16 different US and Canada airlines. That is an estimated total of around 36.6 fatal events (at least one person died) per million flights. Now granted crunching these numbers probably doesn’t make you feel comfortable with flying. It should however, give you hope that your chances of getting to your destination on a plane are pretty good, statistically. Considering that your chances of dying from hot weather are even greater than dying in a plane crash; make it somewhere cool.

3. Sit on the wing and breathe the fresh air:

Once you get yourself all the way on the plane you are likely to still have to deal with your nerves acting up once in your seat. The cool air from the valve above you is a great way to chill out and relax. Open the nozzle full blast and direct it onto your face. The rush of air will not only help your possibly heavy breathing but also help keep your underarms a bit dryer. You certainly want to minimize the amount of sweat you will have to wear for the next few hours.

If the idea of turbulence is your nemesis, grab a seat on the wing of the plane. While the jury is still out on this one there is a general consensus that sitting over the wing of the plane will provide the most stability. In the end I don’t think the turbulence you will feel in the back of the plane is going to be significantly less bothersome than that in the middle since any bumpiness is likely to have you clutching the armrests. Still, if you think of the plane like a teeter-totter or seesaw with the wings as the pivot in the middle, it makes sense that you would feel less sitting here. At least you can tell yourself that and see if it helps. It certainly works for me.

4. Just pretend you are on a bus:

Albeit a simple technique, closing your eyes and imagining that you are just taking a bus ride can help. When it comes down to it, being on a plane doesn’t feel that much different than being on a greyhound bus (once you’re in the air). Turbulence often feels much like a bumpy road and your neighbor is usually too big for his seat and nodding off onto your shoulder in either modes of transportation. For this method to work however, you may have to disregard number 2 above.

5. Sedatives are just a doctor’s appointment away:

When there is simply no way to get around your fears and thoughts of canceling your flight start entering your head make an appointment to see your doctor. Explaining the situation and asking for a prescription of sedatives such as Xanex (brand name) or Alprazolam is your right and nothing to be ashamed of. These little pills come in .25m .5, and 1 mg doses and you and your doctor will have to figure out what is best for you. As a 5’8” male weighing about 160 Lbs I can say the 1mg pretty well knocks me out for a good portion of a 7 hour flight and I prefer the .5mg.

With one or two of these pills you may not be able to alleviate all your apprehensions but you certainly won’t feel quite as tense for near as long. Just be sure to wait until you get to the airport or have someone else drive you there and likewise don’t fall asleep in the waiting area and miss your flight. If a prescription is not an option for you just remember that most major airlines are now taking credit cards for alcohol purchases during a flight and many foreign carriers still offer complimentary booze.

Giving into your fear of flying can certainly cause you to miss out on the fantastic chance of traveling the world. The confidence and sense of accomplishment that everyone gains by visiting a foreign country or distant land is only multiplied by the conquering of your fears. You will never hear anyone say that visiting another culture was simply not worth the flight so take what seems like the greatest risk and achieve what will be your biggest reward.

Thank You, Danke, Gracias, Merci, Dank Je, Dekuji, Grazie, Sas Efharisto, Obrigado:thanks for reading and what to expect from noambit - June 2008

2008-06-09T10:40:14-05:00

Hi everybody,

It's been awhile since an update on what we're up to here at noambit so I figure it's time to fill ya in. First off let me say Thanks once again for making the site more successful than I had expected. Noambit has been getting more attention by the week and this is in large part due to those of you out there who have linked back to our site and everyone else that has recommended us to your traveling friends or has been a loyal reader. Just a few weeks ago I was invited to be a panelist on a live on-line forum about making the most of your dollar overseas...that certainly wouldn't have happened without people recognizing we exist. Thank you!

In my last update back in...February or so, I had laid out two goals for the future of noambit. 1. To make the site more user friendly. This I think I accomplished, as best I could with no HTML experience and the limited means that a "basic" account gets one on with this host. The Nav. buttons and the article lists they link to, make finding what you need much easier. We've even added a Google search, a facebook group, a great new logo and homepage. 2. I hinted that we might start taking contributions. In the last couple weeks noambit did just that. Now we're still waiting for those contributions to flow in but at least the goal was reached; and even a few months early! So with that said, it feels like that time to look a bit farther down the proverbial road to what's next.

On my last trip to Europe I went back to a trusted standby, Rick Steves, and downloaded the MP3 audio tours he has posted on his site. Even though I had been to St. Peters Basilica and the Colosseum many times before I realized that these nifty little downloads added a whole new dimension to the experience. Now of course you can pay 5-7 bucks for a audio tour at the Colosseum or much much more for an real person but with the downloads I could put them on several MP3 players for no extra cost and listen to them on the train before I arrived. My dad could listen, I could listen and in Rick's case they were free. Since then I've scoured the Internet and found that there are several sites with these types of tours. The problem I've found though is that not only are most of them "stuffy" and lacking in info that you can't just read out of a guidebook but that they tend to be around 15 bucks. For that price, I could save money by just buying a tour at the site. Soooooo, I decided that the next step for noambit is to start providing interesting (I hope), one of a kind (naturally), cheap (I don't know any other way) audio tours. I think we'll call them "Talk Abouts"....get it...Walk-about...Talk...never mind.

What we're finding out is that this is not a fast process. The time to put just one of these tours together is, well...a lot. I'm sort of hoping that article contributions can balance out the extra time I will be devoting to this project and having regular posts on the site. In any case, be assured that if posts are not quite as regular as usual (2-3 times a week) that I'm not just sleeping at my desk but that something big is coming.

If anyone has any feed back on this new venture please feel free to chime in. I would love to hear what you have to say. Suggestions on tours you want to have available, what you think a fair price would be...we're leaning towards 3-5 dollars (we want to pay for contributions and need some sort of revenue to do that), etc.

Once again thank you all very much for stopping by the site, reading, leaving comments and making the whole project that much more rewarding. Here's looking forward to what ever adventure comes next!

Eating Like A Local In Florence: do you know what trippa is?

2008-06-02T13:02:28-05:00

It's lunch time. Florentine bricklayers, lawyers or working men in general make there way along cobble stone streets to grab a bite to eat. Gathering around a small unassuming window or stainless steel food service cart they discuss the warm weather, yesterday's soccer match or current politics and order pane di trippa.

The tripe sandwich is a true "culinary" experience in Florence. M ost often frequented by working men; although you may spot a woman here every now and again; the rather inexpensive lunch is a sure fire way to experience Florence. Although you can find this "cut of beef" prepared in restaurants throughout Florence you certainly would be missing out on a cultural tradition/ experience if you didn't seek out a Trippaio and mingle with the locals.

The tripe stands or wagons if you will, can be found all over the city. There are several at the Mercato Centrale (surrounding the Cappelle Medicee) worth trying if your up for it. Just keep your eye out for a group of chatty Italian men hovering around a small cart amongst the tons and tons of leather goods for sale. There is also another you may be passing on your way to see Dante's house. This one down the small alley leading past "Dante's Church" is nothing more than a window in a wall. You really cant miss it. Still for a more authentic experience, the wagons are your best bet. Generally you will find that a sandwich will cost you around 3 Euro.

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The meat is often slow boiled, making it more tender than it would otherwise be and then placed on a bun which can be dipped in the broth the meat was cooked in. This dipping of the bun is referred to as bagnato and recommended if asked. At most stands you are given the choice of a green salsa made of garlic, parsley, capers and oil plus a few house specialties or a hot sauce (essentially chili oil). The snack can be a bit messy so grab a few napkins and try to enjoy.

For those that don't know, tripe is actually cow's stomach and yes it looks about as disgusting as you can imagine. For my part, I can say they are tasty but looking away from what you're eating may be a tactic you employ. A Trippaio in Florence typically uses abomasum or lampredotto which is from the cow's fourth stomach and not from the second more pocketed stomach you find easier in the States (if you're looking). The texture is not all that off putting and the long boiling time gets rid of any distinct "I'm eating a cow's stomach" flavor. Besides, all the flavor comes from the sauces you choose anyways.

For many of you out there this may not be your reason to visit Florence. For those that do try a Tripe sandwich it in all honestly may be the last you ever have. It was for me! Still, there are few ways that 3 Euro can get you an authentic, local mingling, in your face and down your chin cultural experience like at least trying a pane di trippa in Florence.

Letter To The Editor: accommodation in rome

2008-05-30T08:41:14-05:00

Hi!
I am a Professor from India.
I plan to visit Rome with my wife and my son
on 28th for two nights.
I am planning to stay at tiber village camp grounds after going through your blog.
Can you tell me the cheapest acommodation available there.
Suggest alternative options.
Thank you in advance.
S.

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Hi S.

I actually just returned from a stay at Tiber village and was just as pleased with it once again. The cheapest accommodation there is going to be bringing a tent and setting up camp. But "splurging" for a "trailer" type room is well worth the few extra Euros. The trailers come in a couple sizes, one being just a simple room with two beds separated from your neighbor by a very ....very thin wall and the other is a larger room with an attached bathroom and shower. The prices can be found on their website at www.campingtiber.com . So, to answer your question the cheapest accommodation would be around 5 Euro per person per night for a tent space.

Be sure to pick up a Roma pass for your duration there since it will not only get you into two museums for free and the rest at reduced price (pays for itself with one visit to the Colosseum/Palatine Hill/ Forum and one visit to ...say the Capitolini Museum) plus will cover all your transportation in the city and to and from the campground.

Another place more central in Rome, which I haven't stayed but have been in contact with the owner and think it would be worth a look is www.arcosbedandbreakfast.it . They seem reasonably priced. Still, the campground would be my first choice to save some cash, and don't let the area around the train station fool you (a bit run down)...the campground is very nice and clean. The food is great too!

Hope this helps,

Chris.

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Dear Chris
The tiber camp guys r quoting a price of Eur 65 for 3 of us per night while Arcos is quoting Eur 80 for the 3 of us.Do u think it may be worthwhile to spend Eur 80 if by staying at the Arcos we can save on the Roma Passsince if it is central we can walk down to most sights?Besides my son and myself have the ITIC Card which gives discounts to teachers and students.
I will trouble u further and let u know the tentative itinery we have worked out.Pl let me know if u have any suggestions.
05/28/08 Leave for Rome from Pavia via Milano at night reaching Rome on 05/29 morning-check into the hotel and sightsee at Rome sleep and see Vatican on05/30 and leave in the evening for Naples-stay there 4 the night sightsee on 05/31 and on 06/01 go to Capri return and depart for Pisa by the night train reaching Pisa in the morning of 06/02 spend half a day there and move to Florence stay the night there and leave Florence on 06/03 for Milano and then Pavia.
For the hotels at Naples and Florence we r checking out your website!
Thanks for your time
Cheers

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Hi S.

The Roma pass is a good deal in any case because it covers the cost of the first two sights like the Colosseum and say the Capatolini museum. This in itself almost pays for itself but on top of that you will get a reduced price at a number of other sights and the free transportation...taking a metro here and there is likely something you will do. In terms of where to stay. If I could afford to spend the extra 15 Euro I would opt to stay in town. Being able to walk around Rome at night and see the Colosseum lit up or just having more restaurant/ grocery store options would be worth it. I think you're just going to have to weigh the cost to what you want to spend.

As far as your Itinerary goes; you will be quite rushed and never really have a chance to relax and decompress. You will have to be quite specific about what you want to see in places like Rome and go straight there see them and move on, probably using the metro to eliminate walking time. I think it can be done if you're up for a lot of moving quickly. You might consider putting Capri or Pisa off until a future trip to give your self a tad more leisure time. Being able to head to Naples is awesome but if you never have time to stop and enjoy a Naples pizza because of time constraints your missing out on a big part of the visit...the same would go for Gelato in Florence...or even the Pantheon in Rome. Don't forget that even though your sitting on a train or flying to your destination...it does take a lot out of you.

Till soon,

Chris.

The Royal Victoria Hotel in Pisa: a historical experience

2008-05-23T09:14:40-05:00

Pisa is often a city that travelers see as day trip or as an ecscape from the hustle and bustle of Florence. The quick train ride and the concentration of major sights on the Piazza Dei Miracoli prompt many visitors to forgo a stay overnight. Such day trippers however are missing out on a historical experience of elegance, comfort, beautiful views and a mingling with the past that only the Royal Victoria Hotel can provide.

With portions of the Hotel dating back to the 10th Century, the Royal Victoria's history began as an Inn and over the years, through the adjoining of other buildings, became the place you see today in 1837. Since then, the Inn has been run by the same, Piegaja family and their dedication to housing their guests in style and atmosphere pays off. A look through the guest book which is housed in an enormous antique trunk behind the front desk immediately brings you back to a time when the likes of Charles Lindberg and Charles Dickens wandered the halls; and possibly slept in the same room you are given. The pages and pages of grateful comments written in a cursive script that few of us "word processor babies" can duplicate today is a testament to the Pisa tradition whose walls you stand between. Go ahead ask to see it.

On every wall in what can only be described as palace sized halls are photos and sketchings of the Hotel and the surrounding city. If you look closely on the 2nd floor (1st floor to Europeans) you may find sketches done from your balcony window. The ceilings are ornatly painted and glass paneled doors lead you to unexpected surprises as you wander the 5 levels of the hotel. There are piano rooms that although may be silent at the moment seem to move y our mind to conjure the key strokes and laughter of illustrious guests moving all about you. A kitchen full of antique cutlery may be through one door, an old Underwood typewriter sits on an oak writing desk in another and then one quick turn will reveal a small black phone inset in the wall which you swear could not have a dial tone; yet it does.

While each floor provides access to a small public balcony overlooking an ivy covered court yard the 5th floor opens to a large foliage full terrace perfect for post card writing or soaking in the ecscape from your own time. A call down to the front desk can result in a bottle of wine (reasonably priced at 8 Euro) or coffee being brought up to the terrace at no extra service charge. The rooms are decorated with much the same style as the rest of the hotel and you will not find a more comfortable bed in all of Europe. Small televisions are provided in the room but watching the city go by, as you look out over the Arno river which flows 50 feet from the Hotel's entrance, is priceless entertainment that is likely to keep you from searching for the remote. 40 of the 48 rooms have an ensuite bathroom and if you happen to have driven, there is a garage where you can park for a small fee.

In the morning a plentiful breakfast is served beneath 19th Century portraits that inspire conversation and contemplation as to who they just might have been. The staff is never far away and at the smallest request, willing to go far out of their way to provide for the guests. There are bikes to rent and plenty of areas to lounge throughout the Hotel and get lost in the imaginings of a far off time.

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Finding the Royal Victoria Hotel is no problem as you essentially just head straight out of the Pisa Central train station, cross the Arno and head along and left until your home for the night appears on your right at Lungarno Pacinotti # 12. If your flying into Pisa, you will only have to take a taxi the 2km or 10 min drive to the hotel; not bad at all. The rates per night range from 80 Euro to 204 Euro a night. For many this may seem a bit outside their budget but I assure you, splurging one night in this beautiful city and soaking in the history of this hotel is money well spent. The memories of wandering the lamp lit city after sun down and returning to the historically rich halls of the Royal Victoria are worth every Euro cent.

For bookings follow this link and email the Hotel directly. The Royal Victoria also maintains its own website with a short history and photos at www.royalvictoria.it . Check out the videos below for a rough and choppy digital camera view of the hotel.

Letter To The Editor: what to see with 17 days in Italy

2008-05-21T08:32:24-05:00

Hi,

We are planning a trip to Italy from Australia in October 2008, we plan to stay 17 days. We are a party of - 3 adults & 2 teenagers (17 & 16).

Hoping to maybe fit in a trip to Paris Disney.

Could you please help me with the best places to see and stay, and of course we would like to fit in as much as we can.

Hope you can help.

Kind regards

-------------------------------

Hi M.

First off, you may want to check out the T.I.P. section on noambit. The step by step planning guide (which was actually written during my planning for a trip to Italy) may help you start organizing. Since you'll have 17 days, you can cover quite a bit of ground. Of course how much you see or linger in a city is going to just depend on your goal for the trip. Do you want to see everything you can or do you want to relax and just feel like a local for a few days?

You mention you want to go to Disney Paris. Since this is essentially at the opposite side of the Continent from Italy you're gonna have to figure out how many days you are going to need to get there (and back if your flight dictates). Of course you could fly there in a couple hours but planning this ahead of time (soon) is going to help make this affordable for your whole family. The train is going to be more expensive and probably take a few transfers; which can be a hassle with kids in tow. Ultimately I would look into flying into Europe at one airport and flying out from another...say into Rome and out of Paris. The cost isn't going to vary all that much if you do a bit of searching.

For Italy, assuming you're going to have about 12-13 days of "just in Italy" travel you'll probably want to hit the major sights. Rome, Florence and Venice. 3 days in Rome and two in the others are going to be minimum. If you're more of a beach / resort type family and it wasn't October, I would recommend you spend a few extra days on the coast in Rimini. Being that it will be cold your days may be better spent heading down to Naples and seeing the sights at Pompeii. Check out my article on a great place to stay down there. A nice way to decompress after the hustle and bustle of Rome is a day and night in Pisa. If your not on a really tight budget a wonderful place to stay is the Royal Victoria Hotel...I'll have a review posted soon.

Since you will be attempting to get up to the Paris area, and want to see as much as you can, why not spend a few days in Paris? 17 or so days in just Italy, at least to me, starts feeling like I came all the way to Europe and only saw one thing. Vary up your countries and your trip will feel a lot more fulfilling. Wander the catacombs, climb the Eiffel tower, spend an afternoon getting lost in the Louvre.

In Rome you'll want to be sure to see the Colosseum, the Forum, Vatican, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. The Capatolini Museum is a great stop if you're interested in seeing ancient sculpture (the giant Constantine Head is at this museum). Also, seek out the free and fascinating "bone church" right off Barberini Metro stop in the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini church. Just head up V. Vitt Veneto. Your kids will probably get a kick out of it; a section under the church decorated all with human bones and mummies.

In Florence you have the Duomo, Dante's house, Gelato and the Uffizi if you like Renaissance art. For a local "treat" (I couldn't eat it all) seek out a Tripe stand. Its a sandwich that Florentine men eat while standing around chatting on their breaks. The "meat" (I'll let you look up the word Tripe if you don't already know) is boiled or grilled then soaked in the cooking juice, topped with spice and slapped between a couple pieces of bread. Have your kids or husband eat one before you tell them what it is. You can find a couple stands amongst the leather products at the Mercato Centrale. Right off Piazza S. Maria Novella and up V.della Scala street over by the Main train station you will find one of the worlds oldest Pharmacies. Dealing primarily with herbal concoctions the place is a trip to walk around and it smells great!

When you get to Venice, I would just wander...get lost and wander some more. Maps are pointless; you'll never find one you can follow for long. Grab a 24 (or longer) transportation pass for around 16 Euro and cruise the Grand Canal, hoping off whenever the view moves you. I've never really sought out particular sights in Venice besides San Marco square and the Basilica but there are a few Museums to hit up if that is your thing...and you're not tired of them by this point.

If you end up with extra days...think about flying into Madrid before you get to Italy or maybe Berlin on your way out...If you really want to see as much as you can then try to bounce around a few different countries in Europe, not a few different cities in Italy.

If there is anything else I can help you with, just let me know.

Till soon,

Chris.

A Barcelona Bar That Shouldn't Be Missed: bodega el aguelo

2008-05-16T09:56:43-05:00

Once in a while you wander the streets of a European city and happen into a bar or restaurant that for years and trips to come will be "your" spot. Every time you return to that city you seek out that place, sip a glass of wine, chug a pint of beer or munch on your favorite tapas. Often re-creating that first memorable experience falls short and you may not return, but other times, those times you know you found the right place, each visit is a happy continuation from the next. My place which I recommend to everyone headed to Barcelona is a unique little bar called Bodega el Aguelo.

Without a sense of where you're going this corner bar can be difficult to find. The streets around La Rambla are complicated and narrow, winding this way then that. On my most recent trip I spent an hour or so wandering the back streets trying to find this place I have visited five times before. But, with directions in mind it is an easy find. Head down La Rambla until you reach Carrer de Josep Anselm Clave right before the main street that runs along the water front. Make a left, walking away from the Columbus statue (who is not pointing to the Americas by the way) until you hit Carrer d'Avinyo. Head left once again and keep your eyes open for the bar on a corner on your right at number 37.

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With drying pork legs hung from the ceiling waiting to be sliced into delicious prosciutto at a local market, old wooden benches and an upper level in the back it would be hard to miss. Bright red wagon wheels are mounted to a wall in the rear and somewhat dusty glass chandelier provides just enough light to set an ambiance. The bar is stocked with a variety of liquors but a nice cold cerveza is what is on the menu when I sit down. In the back, under the upper level and towards the restroom are some fussball tables that probably get more use from the owners than patrons. At times the place is quiet but once in awhile you get a small rush of locals or tourists drawn in by a sense of "feeling at home" that is evident from outside.

On the wall you may notice several bottles of something called Pacharan. This tasty liquor, served over ice is a made in-house specialty and may remind you of a sweet Jager Meister. Ordering it by the glass will cost yo u about 20 Euro a bottle but if you want to take a bottle home, 10 Euros can buy you a souvenir to look forward to. Just remember you will have to check it at the airport or mail it before you leave.

The bartenders are friendly and despite the lack of English spoken here, everyone understands "beer"; but I'm sure you can muster "Cerveza". Tapas are served from the bar and if your hungry try the Pan con Tomate. A toasted bread rubbed with garlic and tomato. The food however is not why locals come by.

My first visit was an accidental meeting when I found myself unprepared for a French rail strike and "stranded" in Barcelona trying to figure out what to do next. I wandered into Avinyo 37, sat down, ordered a beer and planned the remaining 3 weeks of my trip around Europe. From that time forward I have returned here on each of my visits to Barcelona. On my most recent visit in April 2008 I was lucky enough to introduce my Dad, on his first ever visit to Europe, to this dear Spanish friend of mine, the Bodega el Aguelo and I hope you give it a try too.