CIAO!

We arrived in Roma this afternoon. This country is just AMAZING!!

Sooooo beautiful!!!

We started out in Palermo, then on to Tariomina which was absolutely gorgeous!

Then we went to Callabrea, Naples, Capri, Amalfi, Postitana, Pompeii and on to Roma.

I have a lot of nice stories to share about each place, but I will elaborate when I get back home.

It starts with my first night in Palermo and the hotel that we stood in was the same hotel that Lucky Luciano once lived at!

The Teatro Massimo was right around the corner!


BRAVO ITALIA!!!

Hi DC

I wondered when we would hear from you. I'm glad you are having a great time. I can't wait to hear your stories and hoping you will post some pic's as well.

The Col. has been to the places you mentioned. Maybe one of these days you guys can share stories huh?

How's the weather there? Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

I'm sooo jealous

It's been 100+ degrees almost everyday!!!

DC, do me a favour. If you've not already been, say hello to the Trevi Fountain for me. That place holds a very special place in my heart. Enjoy the rest of ya trip!

I hope you are staying hydrated. We want ya to come home safe and sound.

Don, yes please take lot's of pic's & post them for us!
Can't wait to hear all about it!
You guy's have a very happy & safe trip!

Hi DC,

Sounds absolutely wonderful. I am so wishign I could join you. I look forward to seeing pictures. I didn't realize it got into the 100's there. Is it humid as well?

Anyway, enjoy yourself and have a safe trip home.

TIS

Capo - we just returned from the Spanish Steps, which were absolutely breathtaking, and after dinner we are going over to th Trevi Fountain. I will drop a Euro in there for you.


Mig - I drank so much water that I've grown two humps on my back!


TIS - It's just beautiful here. You would absolutely love it. It's not really that humid, but it's hot.


OWTGF - I will post pictures as soon as I get back home.


(using this damn web tv is so difficult. So please excuse any typos.)


Bouna Serra!

Cardi's in Italy??

I thought he was going to Mulberry Street.

Has Cardi Jr. been hit with the Thunderbolt yet?

Sounds Wonderful,can't wait to see the pics,im off to Germany in two weeks,hope the weather is better than UK..

DC i hope you have a great time back in the old country

jealous regards Chopper

Just got back from the Trevi Fountain.

OMG!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!! MOLTO BELLA!!!

Capo - Make a wish because I threw an extra Euro in the fountain for you!


Mig - Cardi Jr. is sitting in the Hard Rock Cafe as I am typing this, getting hit by the thunderbolt for the third time!


Chopper / DE NIRO - Thank for the well wishes.


SC - Mulberry Street doesn't even come close to the Cafe`s that are in Sicily and Roma. You can't imagine.

OK, here's the scoop. Our first stop in Italy was in Palermo for three days. On the first day I found this sidewalk Trattoria / Cafe and stopped for lunch there. The owner, a Sicilian man, came over to our table and began talking with us. To make a long story short we went back there for drinks later on that evening and the place became my hangout all the while that I was in Palermo. This guy's name was Mario and he had his own little table and everytime I was there I noticed people walking up to him, shaking his hand, handing him money and then he would write things down on a piece of paper. He obviously was a bookie or a shylock.

He and I would chat everytime I went there.( it's unbelievable how much of the Italian that I learned as a kid returned to me enabling me to communicate with the native Italians). He asked me what Hotel I was staying at and when i told him, he replied " Ahh, you staying at the same hotel that Lucky Luciano used to live in." And then he asked me if I knew who Lucky Luciano was! He also told me stories about Provanzano.

We also went to the Theatro Massimo where they filmed the ending of GFIII. I'll tell you, it was just so sureal standing there looking at those steps in person,


Tomorrow night I'll tell you all about my experience in Taromina, probably one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Did you sing "Ineggiamo Il Signor non e Morto" on those steps?
Mick has a soft spot for the Trevi Fountain because he's a big Anita Ekberg fan.

It sounds absolutely magnificent DC. Those are great descriptions. Don't we all wish we were there. I'm actually watching GFIII. Right now is the whole Italy part. I'll think of you sitting on the steps when they come to the part of Mary's demise.

I'd expect that their cafes are far superior, but I bet our pizza is better!

Sounds amazing..

Sounds like a surreal experience you are having there DC.
Any chance you'll be visiting Venice?
Thats where my mothers side of the family is from.
Have a safe trip.

"Marcello! Marcello! Come here!"

Oooooooooooooooooh.

Sounds so fun DC!!! I'd love to see the Fountain of Trevi. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures when you return.


Btw, did you look up Lavinia????? That'd be great to meet her.

Have fun

TIS

DC - This truly sounds like a dream vacation. Hope to see lots of pictures, and read lots of stories.

And tell us about the food and wine! Wish I had some of those recipes. (I can dream, can't I?)

(BTW, Capo - one day I may post the story of how I applied makeup to 8½ Anita Ekberg clones!)

As they say, next year in Sicily.

Signor V.

"Makeup"? Is it time for some sexual innuendo?

When you find the time, even if you don't find the appropriate thread, PM me with that story.

DC, I am so glad that you are having a wonderful time. Did you go to the Cloisters in Monreale when you were in Palermo??

I've been reading about the heat over in Europe. There are shells left from the war in Macedonia that have actually been exploding from the heat and the fires it's been causing.

It sounds like the trip has been all you dreamed of and more. I am so very happy, and just a bit jealous. Okay, more than a bit!

Can't wait to hear more!!! Tanti baci a vostra famiglia!!!

We just returned from touring The Coliseium and The Forum. Unbelievable! Just so sureal knowing that you are standing in the same place that the Roman Empire once stood. Simply marvelous!!!!

I'll tell you something. If you are of Italian descent, then you MUST go to Italy at least once on your life. And if you are not, then you SHOULD go to Italy at least once in your life!

This country is simply amazing.


When we were on our way over from Sicily, we made a stop to a small town, up in the mountains of Calabria. Wwe went to this restaurant that was something out of an old Italian movie. The grandmother was cooking in the kitchen, the grandfather was serving the homemade wine. The sons and daughters served us antipasta that consisted of various italian cheeses, prisciutto di parma, cappicola ( which by the way is completely different than the capi that we get in the states) and dry sausage. Then we were given home made pizza. Then a dish of home made spaghetti ogla oil that was simply to die for. For dessert we were given a home made tirumisu, a double espresso, and a platter of assorted melons. As we were having dessert 3 little children came out to entertain us by playing the accordian. They played many italian folk songs and finished with The Godfather theme. I felt like I was taken back in time to my roots as my family originated from the Calabria region. It was such a fantastic experience in that small town family restaurant. Something that I will never forget!

will you be posting some pictures dc? if so then i cant wait i have always wanted to go to italy.some day some day..........

When I get back home I'll post some pics.

Great looking forward to seeing them

Incredible, DC! I'm envious!
I think USDA regs prevent real proscuitto and capi from entering the US. Certain kinds of sausage, too. Lotta people find terrific local or regional wines in Europe (especially Italy) that never get to the US.

Exactly right TB. We toured a winery in Marsala and sure enough they had some really top notch wines that are only available in Europe and Canada.

This evening we went to dinner at the famous Alfredo's where FettuchinI Alfredo was invented and obviously where it got it's name from. It was magnifico! Molto bene! Then we went to the Piazza for some Espresso and Gelati.