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Little Italy 25

999 replies

Rosa · 29/03/2012 11:23

Greetings, Ciao , Welcome , Benvenuto

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Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2012 12:26

ciao!

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BananaGio · 29/03/2012 17:39

ciao! Franca am glad the travel agent was quite positive.

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Rosa · 29/03/2012 18:09

CAn I just say it was 23 + deg oggi and there were still kid in hats, bandane, and felpe grosse and jackets ...one kid was still in his pumino FGS......

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BananaGio · 29/03/2012 18:34

Grin Rosa I dont doubt it. DS was the only kid in the playground running around in the sun after school (at 1) in a T shirt. I made sure I placated the armies of mamme shooting me daggers by wiping his neck etc of sweat after playing and putting on his jacket and talking loudly of the dangers of sweat....

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Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2012 18:43

Lol at talking loudly of the dangers of sweat Grin

I sent mine in a tshirt, grembiule and felpa this morning...

Really hot here too, mind you, this is my ideal weather.

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BananaGio · 29/03/2012 19:27

me too Franca. Love it.
So the Emilio Fede and Berlusca love affair is no more...

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Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2012 19:48

Oh yes. "Mi mancherete. Soprattutto dopo 23 anni di direzione svolta nel massimo dell'obiettività e della libertà"... this is what he's just said in his last tg.
Grin at massimo dell'obiettività!!! Mitico!

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Sputnik · 29/03/2012 21:24

Ho ho shame I missed that.
Today we saw a car being winched out of a fountain, god knows how they ended up in there.

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 08:52

Grin @ car in the fountain. Were they throwing coins? Or cooling up?

Ok: it seems that dh's interview is on the 13th. Our tickets are on the 10th. Travel agent thinks he can try to change dh's ticket, but he is adamant he won't be able to change ours (me and the children)

So, I can go with the children on the 10th and wait for dh to arrive (on the 14th) at the hotel in Key West we are booked in. Fine, it is a lovely hotel, I am sure we'll be fine. Please reassure me Grin!!!

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Rosa · 30/03/2012 10:51

You will be fine , Key West is great are you driving there from Miami ? The worst bit IMO is getting out of the airport and onto the highway then its straight down. Once in Key West hire bikes and pedal round we hardly used the car when we were there but our hotel wasn't right in the main streets it was just before but it was about a 15/20 min walk. Its lovely and relaxed round there and OMG the KeyLime ice cream sort of a small shop not on the main drag but before POssibly South street or adjacent . It only sold Key Lime things I bought cold tea mix, pie mix, we ate a bit of pie and went back for the ice creams it was all yummy. We did go about 8 years ago so things might have changed but we found eating pretty reasonable - the places on the main street were higher in price and more 'trendy' with lots of Hemmingway lookalikes and things. We did have a drink in Sloppy Joes but preferred the bars near the harbour.
Sanibel I have never been to but my sis said it was lovely. Orlando don't just do parks the outlets as well you can fill a case from Gap , Hillfinger, Ralph Lauren etc - forget the shopping mals unless there are sales and go to the outlets !!! ( far cheaper then New York as well !). Where are you staying in Orlando ? I am green with envy already you will have a ball....

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Rosa · 30/03/2012 10:52

Spy LOL at a cra in a fountain was it a flat one or did it have raised edges so the car 'jumped in '?

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 12:18

Grin at Hemingway's lookalikes Grin

We are flying into Key West via Miami, so no probs there (unless we loose the connecting flight Hmm, I am already stressing about it and have visions of me and the children forever trapped in Miami's airport Grin)l

Ok, you are really reassuring me that it is possible to get around the town by bike or walking, as you know, I haven't driven for yrs. Our hotel is by the seaside and seems to have all sorts of amenities, but I am glad to know that we can easily escape into town and that there is lovely ice cream to cheer us up!!!

We are staying only 2 full days in Orlando, as theme parks and malls aren't really dh's scene, so we had to compromise there!

Dining, hotels and renting cars seem way cheaper in the US than here. At least in Florida.

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 12:23

Oh in Orlando we are staying in the Renaissance Orlando Hotel at Seaworld, it has good reviews on tripadvisor and very convenient price.

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 12:24

Rosa, since you are officially my florida expert, do you know where to buy tickets for the parks from??? Smile

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Rosa · 30/03/2012 12:45

Decide what parks you are going to do and then go on the Dismney site and see if there are any park combinations that are right for you . We had Universal and Islands of Adventure. Then one for Disneyworld, Seaworld, Epcot and Busch Gardens I think it was. We ended up with repeat entry for Islands and Universal as we liked it so much and queues were few and far between. We actually purchased from Disney as all the special offers etc diddn't give any savings at all and we never found any queues . However we went in NOvember . Get yourself on the Disney mailing list as often they send out special offers.
For the parks if there are rides that have fast track it is worth on arrival going and getting your timings so you have reduced waiting times or avoid disapointment if they are full or queues are hours long. Get to the parks early as they open and if you go to Epcot make it a day and stay to watch the fireworks. Epcot I love as it is sooo big and often people don't bother going in all the places . It is also interesting I find ! In the Italy podium they sell Murano Glass and LOL one of our friends actuially made the items they were selling !
We only once stayed in the area that you are in and as for eating out we ended up trying to see how much we could eat for as little money as possible .... DO look out for the vouchers /coupons as often you BOGOF. There are lts of buffet places say on I Drive where you on entry say what meat you want which they bring to you and then there is this huge buffet . Breakfast was about $4 and you were stuffed... OK the last time I was there was 6 years ago when I was pg with dd! But yes you can eat for so much less in the USa and portions are huge.
Our hotel was the Banana beach resort in Key West so you can see where we were in relation to where you will be. Its a small place/ resort with boat trips , trips to see the mantees, the islands etc. The beaches I don't think were fab in fact manmade but the sea was clean ! We basically pootled here and there and relaxed. If I recall there is as small shopping centre with a great Ikea kind of shop more for small items sort of before or as the area of Key West starts.
I had conch fritters and found them hard and rubbery and horrible !!!!
Oh happy memories I am sure you will have a great time.

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 13:07

Thanks rosa!!!
We certainly want to do the Universal Island of Adventures, because that is where the Harry Potter Wizarding World is. For the second day, I've no idea. Traditional Disney? I am lost Grin

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MightyNice · 30/03/2012 13:14

sorry to gatecrash (especially when you are talking about Florida) but are any of you in Rome and can you confirm that it is NOT going to cost me £10 for a coffee, as some annoying person warned me yesterday?

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BananaGio · 30/03/2012 13:38

Hi MightyNice am in Rome and rarely pay more than ?1 for a coffee so dont worry Smile. It is possible to pay huge amounts but as long as you avoid sitting down at the main piazzas where they inflate prices for tourists you'll be fine. Italians normally drink their coffee standing up at the bar and this is the cheapest way. If you get waiter service sitting down outside then you are charged more however still shouldnt be anything like a tenner. If you want to sit down then choose the small non flashy bars on the streets with just a few seats outside cluttering up the pavement as this is where the Romans will go rather than the prettier ones which again are often tourist rip offs.
Franca I have holiday envy. Trip sounds amazing. Good news re DH being able to change. I will want every little detail of Harry Potter

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 13:38

I am not in Rome, you need BananaGio or Sputnik Smile.

Of course it's not going to cost you 10 euros for a coffee, but you might run the risk to get ripped off, yes. Probably, if you sit outside in a very touristy area, they'll try to charge you lots of money for a coffee.
I am sure Gio and Sput will tell you were to avoid going.

I am in Milan, btw, and in some upmarket or touristy bars sitting down for a coffee is remarkably expensive, but not in the other 97% of bars, iyswm.

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MightyNice · 30/03/2012 13:40

thanks banana

I thought it couldn't be true, most have ever paid was 2euros in Naples although am gifted in the art of paying more than necessary for everyday things

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 13:42

Oh x post! Grin

Gio, can you perhaps advise MightyNice on which areas to avoid? Like sitting in a bar in PIazza Navona is going to be quite expensive, no?

Gio, of course, I will let you know everything. There is a wonderful website if you feel inclined... they even sell wands Grin

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MightyNice · 30/03/2012 13:42

oh and thanks franca too

you lot are friendly, I wish I liked Italy enough to actually live there (not that do not love it, just not enough)

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 13:43

Oooh me too mightynice. Have you got a lonely planet? They may have lists of good bars where they won't try to rob you!

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MightyNice · 30/03/2012 13:45

good thinking, will get one, am bit worried that have opted to stay nr via veneto for sort of easy access to 'things' but that is far away from where I can probably afford to actually eat Confused

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Francagoestohollywood · 30/03/2012 13:46

I am Italian Mighty, so I had no choice really Grin. I did live in England for years though.

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