Beefy's Corner - The Off-Topic Chat Thread

Italy is one country which I really didn't make the most of, so I must go back. I did get to see Pompeii and Herculaneum, and climb Vesuvius, but the rest of the time was really just spent lazing around in the sun and not doing much. There didn't seem to be much by way of culture in the Napoli area.

 

A bit steep? £55 for ST holders is more than just a bit steep.

 

Been there twice, once to Tuscany for a week and once to Rome for a weekend a couple years later, absolutely loved it there, best country I've ever been to although I haven't been to many. Would love to go again but haven't been able to afford a holiday for years.

 

Our Champions League match against them won't even be that much.

 

I got engaged in Italy.

 

The culture is all around you, Joe.

EDIT: I suppose I'm odd in that I'm not off to the old country every other year or so. But I'm back for a visit this September, if all goes to plan. If not, it's something on the bike. Hey, maybe it's Italy on the bike. That would be cool. I could see whether my old Rossi relatives really ARE related to The Doctor, as I roar up on the Honda. Mmm, that might need some adjustment

 

I know Bournemouth are on the up, but to suggest that they'll be playing in the CL soon...

 

I'm off to Rome in a weeks time for 5 days, any places (apart from the obvious) that you'd recommend going? I want to make the most of it

 

You romantic..!

Does proposing to the girlfriend [who couldn't resist] on the second tier of the Eiffel Tower, on bended knee, ring and all, compete..?

 

Click on -> things to do in Rome next week

 

I've already researched places to go, of course. I was just wondering if people saw things or went places that maybe aren't filled with tourists but were interesting or worth going to. Just trying to make sure I get the most out of it

 

Can't really remember specific little places as it was a while ago and everywhere I went I loved really, couldn't miss, personally I preferred to stay out of the real tourist traps as much as possible and just wander around the quieter areas fairly aimlessly with a few key places (Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Palatine Hill etc.) in mind to visit. For example seeing the Colosseum in person from outside was awesome, but waiting for an hour and a half to get inside wasn't worth it to me once I'd got in. I much preferred just taking it slow and really letting the place soak in rather than charging around with a strict itinerary, which I had done before. Also if any restaurant looks specifically catered to tourists, don't go there, the best places I went to identified me as a tourist and hated me immediately but they gave me damn good food! Although it has to be said there were some very nice, welcoming ones too.

There's too much to see in a fortnight let alone five days so don't fret about missing things, just enjoy and savour what you do see.

 

Just back from a Uni visit to find out I've been offered some more summer work experience and my application to write for a Sports website with 11m reads this past June has been successful. Great day.

 

No. That wins. I almost did it in front of the Trevi fountain, but there were millions of people and I chickened out.

 

I was born in Italy....

 

Like Mikey says above, there's too much to see. Just go with your own flow and stay out of tourist traps. Don't waste time going into shops either, unless they are specific to Italy or region.

I went to Northern France with some friends and they couldn't stay out of the bloody shops. I couldn't believe it. We saw bugger all of Northern France. It was like 10 hours of Ferry to St Malo. Shops. 10 hours back. What was the point..? Bleeding Mont Saint Michel was 2 minutes up the road.

 

Never set yourself a large itinerary. I do research before I go anywhere, but I never cry if I miss something. A couple of things to see, then saunter around and stop for food and drink. You can always go back. I love Italy and would recommend the hill towns in Tuscany and Umbria. Colosseum is interesting, but agree that the outside is the best part.

 

Ergh, shopping. *Shudders in disgust*

I remember speaking to one of my mates last year when he was on holiday in Egypt with his family, he'd been there for about 3/4 days and I asked him what he'd been to see so far, what were the Pyramids like etc., he said they'd only left their hotel once to go shopping and had just been chilling by the pool the entire time. In the whole week he never got further than 10 minutes away from his hotel, I couldn't understand the bloody point in going! If I wanted to just take a week relaxing doing nothing I'd drive down to Cornwall or up to Wales or some such and stay in a cheap cottage, rather than spending a couple of grand to fly to a different country and not even leave the generic-tourist-resort-that-has-nothing-to-do-with-country-your staying-in-and-has-as-much-to do-with-Egypt-as-Northumberland! *Exhale*

 

I adore Italy - my favourite country. As Fran says, the Tuscan hills are just glorious. I still intend to retire there, drink red wine, eat olives and play chess with wrinkled old men.

 

I'm not a wrinkled old man but can I come?