Hey Everyone,

Next week My wife and I are going to Italy for our vacation. I know there are some members here that are from Europe and wonder if you all have any tips for me. I really dont know much about how Europe is as its my first trip there. I have been told not to take Cash or Travelers checks but to take my atm card? Any advise?

I keep hearing about these "McGriddle" bucks? Don't know anything about them though.

McGriddle Points to be excate. You just gain 100 for bringing it up, congrats.

lol!

If they ask "where ah you from fungoola?" Say you're Canadian
Don't drive in Rome.
Both of you keep your wallet/purse in tight pockets [don't know which you carry Nothing ---> j/k ]
Absolutely tour the museums/galleries.
Rome=expensive - be prepared//research.
Eat well like you are royalty.
Visit the small towns.
.... and can you deliver a parcel to my chum in Sicily?

.....I have a parcel too - lol

So, do you really think we should say we are from Canada? Do they really dislike Americans that much? Any other suggestions for us? We are visiting Rome, Venice and Tuscany.

I was actually half serious there - I have heard its a good idea in some places - but you can be the judge of those situations when you're there -> above all have fun- all I'm saying is don't get a rude awakening-just be prepared-in case..... I think they hate Bush rather than a typical American visitor, and like anywhere any visitor who acts arrogant. I think you'll get a good reception as a regular tourist, even though you may likely hear some folks two-cent worths on american foreign policy.
You may want to google up something like "americans visiting italy tips".
Simply though, have great fun - you picked nice classical spots with lots of rich heritage... bring lots of flash memory cards

ps. make a detour to southern France too since you're in the neighbourhood.

Everyone loves Canadians....

Bring Canadian Flags...Canadian T-shirts and Canadian Beer...LOL

I hope you have a great trip and make sure you get lots of pics...

I know there is a link that you can go on for feed back about travel to Europe, try Google...probably get some good results and feedback.

Be Safe..

Well Guys, Im leaving tomorrow and probably will not have any time to play the game before hand so I will see you all in about 2 weeks or so. I will miss Barb and the spawn rapage on Cassino, lol. Save a spot in the servers for me when I get back.

Later!!

Bye Nothing... have a safe trip.... eat like there's no tomorrow..... blow all your trip money not too fast....... and bring us back some vino!!!!!!!! Have fun chum!

Been to Italy,and its brilliant for heritage and history...................just have loads of fun.

Like Hellfighter said "don`t forget our vino"

Hey Everyone,

Just got back yesterday and the plane ride was just aweful. 11 hours is the longest plane ride I have had to take and dont want to go through that again!

Italy was just awesome. I really did not like the train rides as they were very confusing. I had no idea I needed to get a reservation to take a train since we purchased the Europass for the trip. Rome and Venice were great, but Tuscany was the best. The people there were great, the vino and food were to die for. I highly recommend seeing the countryside of Italy if you are planning a trip.

This vacation cost more for me than even my 2 weeks in Hawaii. My 2 weeks in Hawaii ran me about usd7000.00, and the Italy trip of less than 2 weeks ran me close to usd9000.00. I was amazed at the prices of everything there.

Well, I can wait to get on some Cassino and Barb later and kick all your asses, lol.

P.S. Being at the train station there I seen that there is a city in Italy called Cassino. I had no idea that the map was based on an actual city, lol.

Glad you had a great trip. The last time I was in europe was back in 1998. I saw under your name that you live in chicago was just curious if you live in chicago or a suburb of chicago. I live in chicago by Touhy and Harlem.

i live an hour outside of chicago, ouch. i used to live in aurora.

Glad to hear you had a blast!!!!
Did you get to see the abbey at Cassino too? That battle was a major thorn in the Allied advance in Italy - a tragic battle of attrition-with various allied contingents getting the worst of it;
Here's the short of it;
http://hometown.aol.com/wladp/page/cassino.htm

You think 11 hours is bad-[it is]> I did 25 hours by plane[4 brief stopovers] going to Ozland.[from eastern Canada]. But that was bareable- I went across Canada a few times by bus and train... 3-4 days straight on those rides each way!

FEEZY! some info on cassino please!? yes and theres a church i believe the allies couldnt take after bombing after bmbing,monte cassino?

You dont know the famous battle of Monta Cassino? With the polish army?
I will do one about it in the famous people section wehn I feel for it.

Well the church was actually a huge historic monastery. The Allies let everyone in the area know that the Abbey was going to be obliterated. I believe the Germans were telling the Allies they weren't using it too/well as a defensive position [leaving aside the superb observation position it provided]. It was evacuated, then plastered, whereupon the Germans used it thereafter now that it was superb defenesive terrain [rubble]. The fight for the town of Cassino was very vicious as you can see in the link in my prior post -not as good as Feezy's posts with pix, but it gives a good all-round description.

edit; actually here's the link again Actually has a good intro on the creation of the Polish forces fighting in the Western army.
http://hometown.aol.com/wladp/page/cassino.htm
and a new link [BONUS ].
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Monte_Cassino
Look at all the various allied contingents thrown in- even the awesome Nisei Combat unit [segregated Japanese-american unit].
Actually I'll throw in a link for these brave Americans of Japanese descent.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/nisei/index4_cassino.html

Hey Ouch, I live in Schaumburg and play from my office in Wood Dale, not actually Chicago.



HF, I did not get to stop into Cassino. I seen it was one of the stops the trains went to.


I did have a great time there!

I lived in Aurora, in 1991, then Plainfield from 1992 till 2002. We also have an office in Wood Dale but i never go there.

I really need to get back the Billy Goat Tavern for a cheeseburger.