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I'm at "work" in Italy!
Ischia Island is beautiful!! But I had quite an experience getting here! Flew2 Rome. Didn’t sleep well on the flight, so was hoping for a chance on the train 2 Naples. Train was over an hour and a half late, but it 2k ME about an hour of that time 2 realize I wasn’t just dumb – almost nobody here speaks English, and the train schedules are CONFUSING, 2 say the least (apologies 2 those who speak Italian: Ol' 2long shoulda learned!). Anyway, got on the train, but sat in a first class car with a 2nd class ticket. I thought I’d get bounced, but the guy just remarked about it. We were almost 2 Naples by that time anyway.
In Naples, I got wisked off really quickly 2 a cab. I decided 2 let him lead because I was tired and I could get reimbursed anyway. Would have been a good thing, 2, because the ferries in the port I was thinking of going 2 were closed at 9, and it was about 9:30. So, we drove like crazy 2 Pozzuoli. Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever ridden in a cab in NYC. I have. Quite the white-knuckle experience. This cabbie would make a NYC cabbie pee in his pants. He played chicken with a BUS, and won! When traffic was piled up on narrow 2-lane streets, he’d pass on the left between EVERY oncoming car, getting honks and gestures (though I don’t think any Italians are truly angry – they communicate that way!). At a tollgate, within 100 feet of the gate, he changed lanes across 4 lanes of traffic, then decided 2 change BACK, across 4 lanes. Literally driving perpendicular 2 the lanes. Bumper 2 bumper the whole time. I was so tired, it was actually fun.
When we got 2 Pozzuoli, though, it was 10:20, and the last ferry had gone. So, I got a cheap room for the night and caught the ferry in the morning. Paid for both rooms last night in the process (OUCH!). The port had a bell that rang every 15 minutes! So, at 12:45, it rang the bigger bell 12 times, then the smaller one 3. I remember waking up at 4:15 when some dog was wandering the narrow streets below barking at everything (with Italians yelling at it as it went by, providing a sort of "surrealistic echo"), but I don’t remember much else. I was so tired I was out cold most of the time!
One of the first things I did after I got 2 Ischia was 2 go find a café and try a 2ple of flavors of ice cream. I’d heard it was GOOD. It wasn’t! It was AMAZING. I don’t know why it is we can’t make really, really yummy ice cream like this in the USA, but even the best of the best I’ve tried are so-so compared 2 Italian ice cream! Must be a billion calories per scoop or something.
Anyway, I'm alive, and lurking a tad. Fam shows up next week, and I hope I can figure out the schedules by then!
Bonjourno!
-ol' 2long
<small>[ September 19, 2004, 04:11 PM: Message edited by: 2long ]</small>
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Ciao 2long - A vivere la dolce vita! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> Arrivederci Weaver
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ol 2! Don't speak a bit of Italian--well, OK, one word that also starts with "f" (and another that starts with "p"--OK OK--I know the "bad" words! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" /> Glad to hear you survived your Italian taxi adventure! I've heard they are crazy like that compared to NYC taxis. But can they beat the smell?!?!? Good to hear from you! Have fun! (The heck with working!) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <small>[ September 20, 2004, 01:05 AM: Message edited by: LINY ]</small>
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I get to work in Italy a coupla times per year. Makes a nice change from rainy ol' England I tell you that !
Enjoy, friend.
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Edited - because 2long doesn't need a downer post on his cool travel post. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
Have a great time 2long.
Jen
<small>[ September 20, 2004, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: KiwiJ ]</small>
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* good point Jen ! * Enjoy 2l <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <small>[ September 20, 2004, 09:01 PM: Message edited by: Bob Pure ]</small>
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travel safe and well 2long...
I wonder what the night sky looks like on that side of the planet.....
ARK
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We were in Italy in May. We went to Naples to go to the Archeological Museum where they house the important finds from Pompeii and Ercolano (Herculaneum). If you haven't been before you may want to go to those places. Fascinating.
We took the boat to Capri, which was beautiful. I think we could see the island of Ischia in the distance.
We didn't take a taxi in Naples, we took trains and rented a car for a week in Tuscany. Trains are a very easy way to get around Italy. We have taken taxis in other parts. Our first experience similar to yours was driving to Toarmina, Sicily with my Sicilian Great Uncle. Scary.
Have fun, and we will look forward to hearing more about your trip.
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ark...I suppose it also is black with stars above.
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Wow, page 2 already.
It's STILL purdy!
2k the afternoon off and 2k a boat tour around the island. Very nice!
-ol' 2long
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Howdy 2Long! I just got an email from my sister in Austin and she just got back from Rome yesterday! Hope you are having a good time over there with them foreigners. Don't drink the water, 2Long! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
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Mel:
It isn't the water I need 2 worry about. It's that stuff, whatzit called? Limoncello or something?
I'm still making gentle wide 2rns after last night!
-ol' 2long
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2L,
Tell us more....................
I've always wanted to go!
By the way you are NOT butt ugly!!! Don't talk about my friend like that !!!
<small>[ September 22, 2004, 10:17 PM: Message edited by: CSue ]</small>
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I'm back!
Hooked up with the fam after I left Naples (I saw Pompei on the field trip, very cool). They got in 2 rome the night before I trained up there. Rome ruins were neat and voluminous, but not as fascinating as Pompei, which was a moment frozen in time.
Went to Florence after that. I like that city the best of the ones I visited in Italy, but I'd like 2 see Venice and Tuscany sometime.
Cardiff after was good, 2. Met my fu2re inlaws, who put us up for 3 nights there. Just got back 2 LA this afternoon. Boy, are my arms tired! (old joke, but it's true - my bags were so HEAVY with all that added stuff, not the least of which was 3 bottles of Welsh ales given 2 me by my daughter's fiance's dad. One was "Old Spotted Hen" which I tried there - very yummy. The next was "Bishop's Finger" which I haven't opened a copy yet, and I don't remember the third.
Then there's all that Italian chocolate!
Italians really know how 2 make pizza, 2. Go figure!
-ol' 2long
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ol2!!!
Glad you're back safe.
So good to hear you had a great time!
(And I was just about to bump my own thread--as you can see, I'm still pathetic!)
<small>[ October 03, 2004, 10:23 PM: Message edited by: LINY ]</small>
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Glad you're back! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
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