Question:
Hi there, Some of you in this newsgroup were very helpful with answering questions about our trip to Rome, so as a way to try to pay you back, I’m posting a little recap of our trip. We went to Rome for a week (9/24/99 – 10/2/99) and had a wonderful time. We stayed in the Hotel Savoy (Via Venato and Via Ludovesi). Not only was the location wonderful, the concierge and cleanliness was also. My only complaint was that the breakfast they offered was an attempt at "American style", but they barely cooked the eggs (looked like soup) and bacon, and their idea of sausage was hot dogs. But it was free, so we just ate cereal. It’s "only" about $200 a night, but the location makes up for the cost. We NEVER needed a cab or bus or anything, we could walk whereever we wanted and we always felt safe. We went to see all the big sites to see, but if you only have a few days there, I would say go to the Coloseum, Pantheon, St. Peters/Vatican/Sistine, and hang out at night at the Spanish Steps, where all the pretty people go. Skip the Forum unless you really want to go, and if you do, get a tour guide. It looked like a bunch of rocks to us. We also took a day trip to Florence. I would say to skip that unless you are never coming back to Italy. The bus ride is 3.5 hours without traffic each way. So that’s at least 7 hours on the road for a 5 hour tour. But David is there and it really is a pretty city, so if you aren’t coming back, suck it up and go. The food is fantastic. Our one recommendation : Ristorante alla Rampa (La Rampa), located behind the Amex office in Piazza di Spagna. Wonderful Wine, Pasta, Veal, Steak, everything. Get there between 7:00 and 7:30 and you can get a table without waiting. Definately sit outside if the weather permits. Eat Gelato (ice cream) each day, it’s a great afternoon treat (hey, your on vacation, you are allowed). We also went to Il Ristorante 34. Food was good (lasagna was sin), but we had to sit inside b/c we did not make "outside" reservations. So we had to sit in a stuffy, hot room on a night where the temp was like 70 degrees! So if you go, make sure to say you want to sit outside when you make your reservations. We ate pizza most of the time for lunch, nice and light. One small warning: Rome is a city, and while where we stayed was cleaner than most parts of my hometown (Philadelphia), there are parts that are dirtier (around the Train Station, for example), and whereever you are, the air is not very fresh. Especially at rush hour, where on some streets the exhaust is almost unbearable. But it’s worth it. This is all I can think of for now. Before you die, you have to go to this city, and if you are going to Europe for the first time, I would recommend that this be your first stop! Jamie Horan and Catherine Schmitt Before you buy.
Response:
Hi, reading from Rome, I might be proud of how you generally described our town, and I’m really happy you enjoyed it. Just a small note about the Forum: >Skip the Forum unless you really want >to go, and if you do, get a tour guide. It looked like a bunch of >rocks to us.
Foum is what remains after the centuries of the ancient Roman center. Of the place in which people used to live and work. Certainly it is not in order: columns are mostly down and fragmented, very few of the buildings survived to ruine, the original architecture expired and definitely you often cannot even imagine what you are looking at if you can’t get a good guide (buy a specialized book the day before, might I suggest – there’s plenty of). But I think that the main sense of Rome is in that Forum. All what is around, from there up to the suburbs, is coming from that history. If you really would like to understand something of us and of the importance of this town, do not skip it "a priori" (we still do love latin). They might indeed seem a bunch of rocks. But it is also the place in which all the western european culture and lifestyle have their roots. (I was not offended, at all: it is only because sometimes I have to admit we have insufficient guides and visitors cannot enjoy these places at their best) Hoping to have you soon back in Rome. dearest regards franco
Response:
A good report. I’d like to add that the worst restaurant we came across in Rome (during the same time period) was the Europa, which is alongside the Hotel Europa. Hopeless food, served by a surly, disinterested waiter.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi there, >Some of you in this newsgroup were very helpful with answering >questions about our trip to Rome, so as a way to try to pay you back, >I’m posting a little recap of our trip. We went to Rome for a week >(9/24/99 – 10/2/99) and had a wonderful time. >We stayed in the Hotel Savoy (Via Venato and Via Ludovesi). Not only >was the location wonderful, the concierge and cleanliness was also. My >only complaint was that the breakfast they offered was an attempt at >"American style", but they barely cooked the eggs (looked like soup) >and bacon, and their idea of sausage was hot dogs. But it was free, so >we just ate cereal. It’s "only" about $200 a night, but the location >makes up for the cost. We NEVER needed a cab or bus or anything, we >could walk whereever we wanted and we always felt safe. >We went to see all the big sites to see, but if you only have a few >days there, I would say go to the Coloseum, Pantheon, St. >Peters/Vatican/Sistine, and hang out at night at the Spanish Steps, >where all the pretty people go. Skip the Forum unless you really want >to go, and if you do, get a tour guide. It looked like a bunch of >rocks to us. We also took a day trip to Florence. I would say to skip >that unless you are never coming back to Italy. The bus ride is 3.5 >hours without traffic each way. So that’s at least 7 hours on the road >for a 5 hour tour. But David is there and it really is a pretty city, >so if you aren’t coming back, suck it up and go. >The food is fantastic. Our one recommendation : Ristorante alla Rampa >(La Rampa), located behind the Amex office in Piazza di Spagna. >Wonderful Wine, Pasta, Veal, Steak, everything. Get there between 7:00 >and 7:30 and you can get a table without waiting. Definately sit >outside if the weather permits. Eat Gelato (ice cream) each day, it’s >a great afternoon treat (hey, your on vacation, you are allowed). We >also went to Il Ristorante 34. Food was good (lasagna was sin), but we >had to sit inside b/c we did not make "outside" reservations. So we >had to sit in a stuffy, hot room on a night where the temp was like 70 >degrees! So if you go, make sure to say you want to sit outside when >you make your reservations. We ate pizza most of the time for lunch, >nice and light. >One small warning: Rome is a city, and while where we stayed was >cleaner than most parts of my hometown (Philadelphia), there are parts >that are dirtier (around the Train Station, for example), and whereever >you are, the air is not very fresh. Especially at rush hour, where on >some streets the exhaust is almost unbearable. But it’s worth it. >This is all I can think of for now. Before you die, you have to go to >this city, and if you are going to Europe for the first time, I would >recommend that this be your first stop! >Jamie Horan and Catherine Schmitt >Before you buy.
Response:
Hi there, Some of you in this newsgroup were very helpful with answering questions about our trip to Rome, so as a way to try to pay you back, I’m posting a little recap of our trip. We went to Rome for a week (9/24/99 – 10/2/99) and had a wonderful time. We stayed in the Hotel Savoy (Via Venato and Via Ludovesi). Not only was the location wonderful, the concierge and cleanliness was also. My only complaint was that the breakfast they offered was an attempt at "American style", but they barely cooked the eggs (looked like soup) and bacon, and their idea of sausage was hot dogs. But it was free, so we just ate cereal. It’s "only" about $200 a night, but the location makes up for the cost. We NEVER needed a cab or bus or anything, we could walk whereever we wanted and we always felt safe. We went to see all the big sites to see, but if you only have a few days there, I would say go to the Coloseum, Pantheon, St. Peters/Vatican/Sistine, and hang out at night at the Spanish Steps, where all the pretty people go. Skip the Forum unless you really want to go, and if you do, get a tour guide. It looked like a bunch of rocks to us. We also took a day trip to Florence. I would say to skip that unless you are never coming back to Italy. The bus ride is 3.5 hours without traffic each way. So that’s at least 7 hours on the road for a 5 hour tour. But David is there and it really is a pretty city, so if you aren’t coming back, suck it up and go. The food is fantastic. Our one recommendation : Ristorante alla Rampa (La Rampa), located behind the Amex office in Piazza di Spagna. Wonderful Wine, Pasta, Veal, Steak, everything. Get there between 7:00 and 7:30 and you can get a table without waiting. Definately sit outside if the weather permits. Eat Gelato (ice cream) each day, it’s a great afternoon treat (hey, your on vacation, you are allowed). We also went to Il Ristorante 34. Food was good (lasagna was sin), but we had to sit inside b/c we did not make "outside" reservations. So we had to sit in a stuffy, hot room on a night where the temp was like 70 degrees! So if you go, make sure to say you want to sit outside when you make your reservations. We ate pizza most of the time for lunch, nice and light. One small warning: Rome is a city, and while where we stayed was cleaner than most parts of my hometown (Philadelphia), there are parts that are dirtier (around the Train Station, for example), and whereever you are, the air is not very fresh. Especially at rush hour, where on some streets the exhaust is almost unbearable. But it’s worth it. This is all I can think of for now. Before you die, you have to go to this city, and if you are going to Europe for the first time, I would recommend that this be your first stop! Jamie Horan and Catherine Schmitt Before you buy.
Response:
A good report. I’d like to add that the worst restaurant we came across in Rome (during the same time period) was the Europa, which is alongside the Hotel Europa. Hopeless food, served by a surly, disinterested waiter.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi there, >Some of you in this newsgroup were very helpful with answering >questions about our trip to Rome, so as a way to try to pay you back, >I’m posting a little recap of our trip. We went to Rome for a week >(9/24/99 – 10/2/99) and had a wonderful time. >We stayed in the Hotel Savoy (Via Venato and Via Ludovesi). Not only >was the location wonderful, the concierge and cleanliness was also. My >only complaint was that the breakfast they offered was an attempt at >"American style", but they barely cooked the eggs (looked like soup) >and bacon, and their idea of sausage was hot dogs. But it was free, so >we just ate cereal. It’s "only" about $200 a night, but the location >makes up for the cost. We NEVER needed a cab or bus or anything, we >could walk whereever we wanted and we always felt safe. >We went to see all the big sites to see, but if you only have a few >days there, I would say go to the Coloseum, Pantheon, St. >Peters/Vatican/Sistine, and hang out at night at the Spanish Steps, >where all the pretty people go. Skip the Forum unless you really want >to go, and if you do, get a tour guide. It looked like a bunch of >rocks to us. We also took a day trip to Florence. I would say to skip >that unless you are never coming back to Italy. The bus ride is 3.5 >hours without traffic each way. So that’s at least 7 hours on the road >for a 5 hour tour. But David is there and it really is a pretty city, >so if you aren’t coming back, suck it up and go. >The food is fantastic. Our one recommendation : Ristorante alla Rampa >(La Rampa), located behind the Amex office in Piazza di Spagna. >Wonderful Wine, Pasta, Veal, Steak, everything. Get there between 7:00 >and 7:30 and you can get a table without waiting. Definately sit >outside if the weather permits. Eat Gelato (ice cream) each day, it’s >a great afternoon treat (hey, your on vacation, you are allowed). We >also went to Il Ristorante 34. Food was good (lasagna was sin), but we >had to sit inside b/c we did not make "outside" reservations. So we >had to sit in a stuffy, hot room on a night where the temp was like 70 >degrees! So if you go, make sure to say you want to sit outside when >you make your reservations. We ate pizza most of the time for lunch, >nice and light. >One small warning: Rome is a city, and while where we stayed was >cleaner than most parts of my hometown (Philadelphia), there are parts >that are dirtier (around the Train Station, for example), and whereever >you are, the air is not very fresh. Especially at rush hour, where on >some streets the exhaust is almost unbearable. But it’s worth it. >This is all I can think of for now. Before you die, you have to go to >this city, and if you are going to Europe for the first time, I would >recommend that this be your first stop! >Jamie Horan and Catherine Schmitt >Before you buy.
Response:
Hi, reading from Rome, I might be proud of how you generally described our town, and I’m really happy you enjoyed it. Just a small note about the Forum: >Skip the Forum unless you really want >to go, and if you do, get a tour guide. It looked like a bunch of >rocks to us.
Foum is what remains after the centuries of the ancient Roman center. Of the place in which people used to live and work. Certainly it is not in order: columns are mostly down and fragmented, very few of the buildings survived to ruine, the original architecture expired and definitely you often cannot even imagine what you are looking at if you can’t get a good guide (buy a specialized book the day before, might I suggest – there’s plenty of). But I think that the main sense of Rome is in that Forum. All what is around, from there up to the suburbs, is coming from that history. If you really would like to understand something of us and of the importance of this town, do not skip it "a priori" (we still do love latin). They might indeed seem a bunch of rocks. But it is also the place in which all the western european culture and lifestyle have their roots. (I was not offended, at all: it is only because sometimes I have to admit we have insufficient guides and visitors cannot enjoy these places at their best) Hoping to have you soon back in Rome. dearest regards franco
Response:
, thus having heavy traffic concentration and severe air pollution by exhaust gas, around 10,000 motorscooters, thousands of cars and truck all together. An Austrian tourist went killed April 8th by a motorcycle. Even to use crosswalks seems to be harmful, according to my daily experience and too frequent press reports. I remember a woman hit to coma by a motorscooter in March. In these days two more hotels are closing. In 1960 they were 255. Now 84 minus last two. Well, when leaving Cote d’Azur, use first local train to cross border line and so reach italian train network in Ventimiglia or use international trains starting from Nice up to Genoa. Leave it at Genoa and use local trains again to Cinque Terre. Sometimes CT may be overcrowded but it’s a charming area anyway. Walking is the better way to visit them. Ladies & gentlemen in this NG talked often about CT features, where I’ve never been, so make a search by means of Dejanews, Google or similar engines for further and deeper info. After that, rent a car in Genoa or La Spezia to drive to Tuscany. Best regards and have a nice vacation Sergio – Sanremo 
(FWIW, the rooms at the side face a narrow air shaft and can be dark and a little dismal, even with the high-quality woodwork, marble bathrooms, etc.) I think you’ll like the Kette’s location. It’s about a five-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square toward the Fenice opera house, in a little side street that doesn’t get much foot traffic. You can find a description of the Kette (with rates and a couple of rather small photos) at: http://www.boutiquehotels.com.au/pages/kette.html You might also want to check out my "Venice Hotels – Historic Center" Web links page at: http://goeurope.miningco.com/msub-v-hotels_center.htm One other hotel you might want to check out is the Falier on the Salizzada San Pantalon in Santa Croce, about a 10-minute walk from the Piazzale Roma and just 3 or 4 minutes on foot from the Campo Santa Margherita. It’s a bit cheaper than the Kette, the neighborhood is delightful, the Campo Santa Margherita has a great gelato parlor, and the area is less overrun with tourists than the San Marco area. But with a small child in tow, you’d probably need a vaporetto tourist pass to see the major sights without hearing complaints from your 3-year-old daughter. - Durant Durant Imboden Europe for Visitors, http://goeurope.miningco.com Venice for Visitors, http://goeurope.miningco.com/mmore.htm