Yes, that is my mother in-law who is cracking up like that. It was always her and my father in-law's dream to go with the whole family to Italy if they reached their 50th wedding anniversary. Obviously they reached it and fulfilled their dream!

Aw that is so sweet DC. I bet they had a wonderful time there.

It looks like a tiny version of one of those grand poopah hats on the top of your head.

Is that someone's way of telling you you're as cold as ice? haha.

Just too funny!!!

WHALE HO!!! Thar she blows!!

Here are some more Italy Pics that I finally transfered over to my computer :

Town of Taormina




Sorrento




Our Hotel, which sits on the side of a mountain, In Taormina




Fruitstand in Amalfi. Notice the Large Lemons!




Our wine tour in Marsala, after lunch, the tour guide and I carving up a fresh watermelon for everyone.

Nice melons.

Didn't I say that to you when we were at Panicos?

DC, those are great!! Each and every time I see one of your photos, I want to go back to Italy! Alitalia may end up owing you a commission!

Are you referring to the watermelon or DC's head?

I don't remember you anywhere near my melons.

Every time I look at those pictures I want to go back there myself!

Screw Alitalia! I'd never take them again if I could help it. Very rude and unprofessional. Not to mention the tight seating on their planes.

My son's friend's brother works for Alitalia and he told us that last year they "tightened up" the insides of their planes to get some more seating in because they were losing money. Turns out that Alitalia has filed for bankruptcy and will either sell to Delta Airlines or go out of business. That's probably why those people that work there were so rude and impersonal. They're probably worried for their jobs.

When I go back, I will probably take Continental.

They were right across the table from me! All that was missing was the prosciutto!

DC,

Those are absolutely beautiful!!

Taormina looks just like Cesar's Palace inside streets/mall. don't you think? Very Plush looking!

Sorrento very scenic as well. It reminds me of the Italian song "Come Back To Sorrento". I don't think I've ever seen a picture or heard much about it before except that it's a city in Italy.

Your hotel along with all the pictures look very modern as opposed to much older, which is what I pictured. Makes me really want to go there someday.

Thank you for posting.

TIS

And the hot tub key.

Incredible pictures DC, I can't wait - I'm going to Rome for a few nights on Tuesday.

I'm hoping Alitalia sells to Delta.

Turi my man. You MUST get over to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.

And if you have the time, get over to The Vatican.

Oh, and have a Prosciutto, Mozzarella and Sun Dried Tomato Panini and a Chocolate Gelati for me!

Have a great time and don't forget to let us know if you liked it there or not.

Man I loved Roma, I didn't want to return and tried everything and saw as much as I possibly could. I nearly creamed myself with trying Cannoli. Stabbed a Roman Legionaire who touched me lady's bottom.

Here we are.

...

What the hell..... ??

Ha ha ha!! This is Turi. Do we even dare ask?



TIS

(whispering to TIS): Which one is Turi?

I never understood what was Romish (I'm making up words now) about a Sphynx. We also saw human statues for the Statue of Liberty.

SC, Any chance you can show all my pics like that. I'm too simple and a little drunk to do it.

I loved Roma also Turi.

Were you able to go anywhere else in Italy?


Hey! I met the same guy when I was there!

Hey DC.

No afraid not, we only went to Rome. We had a few days off work and we're living on a budget at the moment but could still manage some dirt cheap flights and cheap camping places to stay outside the city for a few nights. We were just drunk and booked the flights, then about a week before we went we thought we better get some place to stay sorted out.

I would loved to have seen more, infact we didn't want to come back.

The funniest thing about the trip was that I got by with the basics of Italiano but once we'd landed back in Liverpool, England, we then had to get a bus back to Manchester which takes about an hour. On the bus I met young Italian lad who had been on the same flight from Rome and he was teaching me some more Italian. It turns out he's just moved to Manchester so I helped him out a bit and plan to meet up with him soon for him to teach me more Italian and I'll show him the city.

Turi, Is that outside Castel Sant'Angelo??

Great pictures. I love Rome. A lot of people don't, because they think it's just another city, but I love that blend of ancient Rome and modern Italy. Just wonderful.

We didn't want to come home either.

Hey, that's great stuff. Now the both of you can help each other out, and even better, become friends in the process!

DC,

I never asked you. I know SB knows some Italian, do you or your wife speak Italian??? That sure would make things easier.


TIS

Neither of us speak fluent Italian. However when we were in Italy, by the 3rd day, a lot of what I learned back in middle school along with my mother's mother speaking Italian, came back to me and surprisingly I was able to communicate pretty well. I wound up speaking more of it than I ever thought I was capable of speaking.

I've always considered myself fortunate to be fluent in Italian, considering my parents were born here. See, I grew up in my grandfather's building and my parents both worked, so my brother and I were left to the care of my grandparents for much of the day, while I was growing up. However, I am proud to say, that although all 4 of my grandparents immigrated after their 20th birthdays, they all spoke English fluently by the time they passed away. Aside from going to Italy every couple of years, I spent 18 months in Cosenza, during the late 80's. Like I say, although I consider myself fluent, I was still nervous when I first arrived there. By the time I left, my English wasn't so good.

Well I've said here many times how I regret not learning Italian. Both sets of grandparents and my father came here from Sicily; it was spoken in my home every day, even though English was the primary language and my parents knew it well. They never pressusred me to learn Italian although encouraged it. Sometimes I wish they would have pressured me a bit. I do remember certain times though, taking my parents by surprise. They'd speak Italian if they didn't want us kids to know what they were talking about. Every now and then my sister and I would pick up on a few words and even though couldn't translate word for word, we knew exactly what or who they were talking about and they'd be surprised. Then they'd shut up if they were afraid we'd learn too much.

My grandmothers (and my grandfathers, but I never knew them) never learned English and we did communicate in our own little way. I think my grandma understood a little more than she led on and I knew certain words/phrases which helped. Still, I'd never consider that as knowing Italian.

TIS

I'm amazed how you knew from that picture it was outside of Castel Sant'Angelo. That's an excellent observation SB.

Rome is completely different to anywhere I've been in my life. From what I saw, and we walked everywhere around the city, it felt like I was in another period of time. It was so ruinous (I don't know if I've made that word up) and that's a good thing. It was amazing to see. Even when Rome was sacked and pillaged I can't believe so much of it is still standing whether it's just a few pillars here or even a manhole cover (Mouth of Truth) there.