Who knew???? Rome has a beltway!

Phil and Doug are leaving on the 22 June, Tuesday where as Rob and Beth must wait, due to work restraints, until 25 June, Friday to leave. I found a great spa on the shores of Lake Bracciano where we will wait for R & B (R & B ---LOL get it??cute!) It's a short 66 kilometers out into the country. Looks nice but in the true style of "domani" we are still waiting for our confirmation.

Residence Reconstano is a lakeside spa and resort in the little village of Trevignano Roman. Nice. I hear a seaweed wrap calling to me!

Parlo italianno?

One of the most exciting aspects is learning the language when traveling. You often hear it suggested that the whole world will eventually be speaking English - God forbid! Even still, a number of years ago countries began to take steps to avoid that and began taking great pride in their individualized language. English may be the "language of science" but in every day life, it will remain their native tongues.

I started Italian in Adult education a couple of years ago with Roberto Paucchi. It was a blast and for some reason my accent tickled him, but because I love languages I worked extra hard. When it came time to get enough folks for Italian II class, there weren't enough. So I insisted that he give me private lessons. He objected as he was "not a real teacher". I told him "I am a teacher, you're Italian - that's all we need!" Even after refussing to take money for the private lessons, I would pay him in lasgna and baked zitti. I have been studying and alot of it is coming back.

It's amazing how instantly folk in foreign countries accept you and even enjoy your company when you make the tiniest effort to speak their langage. Numbers, directions, greetings and polite words, situational vocabulary is all you really need and there are sao many good introductary courses nowadays. Try it - you'll like it AND don't be shy!

The Allmighty Dollar

It's a shame but necessary when so much of your planning is dictated by  cash, loot, booty, MONEY! Internationally, you not only need to worry about how much you can spend of your own money, but how much things overseas cost and the ever present current rate of exchange. In the old days it was Italian lira. The first time my dinner bill was presented and I had to pay 28,000 lira I nearly had a heart attack. When there was about 1400 lira per dollar, I was relieved that dinner was $20.00. Since the European Union's switch to a universal monetary system between all countires, the Euro has made its debut (adopted in 1995 but did not appear until 2002). Each country (16 of the 27 in the Union) have their own individual reverso. Italy, of course, uses Dante's Vetruvian Man.

When the Euro first arrived on the scene, it came on at almost a 1:1 ratio and made it very easy to convert costs of things. Over the last 8 years, the US $ has declined to an all time low the beginning of this year making things very exspensive. Well in recent months, the Euro has done some struggling of its own and the US economy is making upward strides so....NOW is the time to buy euros. This is the best exchange rate in years. We are pleased....down to $1.25 to buy a euro from $1.49.

Cava dei Tirreni

The city of Cava dei Tirreni is actually 50,000+ but the small medievil hamlet of Badia de Cava surrounds the 1000 (next year milleniul celebration 1011-2011) year old Benedictine monestary, Holy Trinity one of the oldest religous communities in southern Italy. While the church retains some of its original walls and ramparts, it was "modernized" in the Rennaissance.

The village is described as not "touristy" and all of the restuarants are family owned and operated. With the high elevation, the mountain breezes keep the town and apartment nice and cool. Good...

Is Italy HOT in June?

Our friend Beth and I had been talking about getting back to Italy, without the singing thing and a bus trip/singing tour that stayed one night in each town. Mr. Phil's idea of a relaxing vacation is to unpack and stay in one place which is what we have mostly done in recent years.

Husband Rob has a conference in London early summer, so his way to Europe is already paid. We decided, despite the fact that it is tourist season, to visit southern Italy where none of us have been; fly into Rome, drive three hours south below Naples to the Amalfi Coast. We found a cute, modernized two bedroom apartment in an historical building next to the oldest Cathedral in southern Italy in the small village of Cava dei Tirreni. More on the digs later. The countdown is about 6 weeks. I think ALL of us are real ready!