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Mumsnet Little Italy 6

1001 replies

Rosa · 10/06/2008 14:56

Ciao , Hello , Welcome .

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francagoestohollywood · 28/07/2008 13:30

Yes, Sputnik, the main problem about the eolie is that it takes ages to get there, no matter how you choose to go. We go there quite often, so have experimented all the options. This time it was the train, we took the torino-palermo, as we travelled with inlaws. We travelled by night, it takes around 15 hrs (as the train is put on a ferry in villa san giovanni). than you get off in Milazzo and get the first hydrofoil. I have to say that the children have been fantastic during the whole journey, they exceeded my expectation. They fell asleep in their bed at around 9 both times and slept until we woke them up.

Being so close to Roma you are pretty close to some amazing places, have you ever been to ponza? I think for you the best way to reach the eolie is taking the overnight ferry from napoli.

MarsLady · 28/07/2008 13:32

Just to let you know that Vogue are having to reprint the Black Model issue because demand is so great!

As you were ladies!

francagoestohollywood · 28/07/2008 13:37

was it vogue italia? I missed it.

MarsLady · 28/07/2008 13:39

It's the July edition and was only out recently. La bella Brangelina sent me a copy last week.

francagoestohollywood · 28/07/2008 13:43

Fantastic! I'm going to get a copy then

Rosa · 28/07/2008 18:19

Franca sounds as if you had a ball -- yum on teh food front as well. oday its cool here in the West Country but yesterday was just wonderful. All going ok here dd very happy thats the most important thing !
Marslady good about Vogue - I don't ever read it sorry to say I am lucky if I manage a copy of Italian hello in the hairdresser !!!!

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francagoestohollywood · 29/07/2008 07:55

Hello rosa, how's the pg going? How's the good old west country?
(yes, I had a lovely time, but a month with my children 24/7 has been ahem "interesting" )

gio71 · 29/07/2008 08:57

Franca your holiday sounded lovely. UK based people (and Rosa), the weather has been gorgeous hasn't it! Can't remember the last time in the UK I experienced a warm, balmy evening like it's been the last few days. Cant believe the difference. When we arrived over a week ago it was freezing and strong winds, first stop was Clarks to get ds some winter shoes! Now he's running around in sandals and shorts, playing in his paddling pool. Seems a bit more iffy today. We are off to Chester Zoo with parents so in true Brit style am packing for all weathers and ds will have choice of shorts and sandals or jeans and kagool depending on what happens.
Brange have you booked holiday yet? We're in Varenna from the 9th. Franca have you been to Ponza? Am thinking ahead to next years holiday and want idyllic beach holiday for ds not too far from Rome.

Rosa · 29/07/2008 10:36

Gio its humid down here and should be raining - it did last night!!!
I bought dd trainers from Brantano as thought £25 in Clarks was excessive . Then just before we go back I will go and get some autumn winter shoes for dd.
We might try the zoo later on this week its a small one but seeing as how she loved the animals so much .
Franca were you not with the inlaws??? When are you off tO Spain ?

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gio71 · 29/07/2008 11:09

I managed to get a pair of 17 quid sale shoes for ds in clarks so I was quite pleased with that, spent ten mins prior to finding them tucked away huffing over £28 for a pair of kids shoes. Shocking!

francagoestohollywood · 29/07/2008 18:47

Ah, I miss the English perfect summer day, so beautiful (shame there weren't enough perfect days for my liking )... the sky gets so blue... (gets nostalgic).

lol at the two of you buying all those shoes, I used to buy the children's shoes in Italy (while for me I was addicted to topsham's flats).

Rosa, yes, my inlaws - who are great - were there, but all the boring bits of child -rearing (mainly showering a reluctant ds and being a referee to endless arguing) which I usually share with dh were down to me, and after a while I was a bit bored. To be fair, dd had a ball in Sicily, while ds was quite whiney, which he rarely is and a bit "nervous". I think he is in now at an age when he craves company for his peers. He told me so. Poor ds.

Gio ponza is bellissima. I went in the early 80s, I was 12 and loved its rocky bays, where I spent my time diving and snorkeling. There is also a big sandy beach. I do recommend it, if you can avoid august, of course.

Rosa, I'm off on friday. Here in Milan is now very hot, after 3 weeks of mild weather.

Pippi, I received another copy of the magazine from you. thank you ever so much, it is much appreciated. Do you need anything from italy, like novella 2000 ?

MarsLady · 29/07/2008 19:04

Ciao bella (can't think of the plural sorry! Really must learn the language).

DS1 has requested a trip to Italy next July (this is to celebrate the end of his GCSEs and yes I am shamelessly bribing him because he has done so well I don't want him to lose focus).

So... where should we go? I loved Venice, Florence and Padua when I went. He's been to Sorrento and Capri which he also really enjoyed.

I know I have plenty of time but I may find a good cheap deal if I sort it out sooner rather than later.

Rosa · 29/07/2008 19:34

Marslady
I would possibly say a mixture of culture and fun as too much say of a city might get a bit boring but having said that if you ds likes art / history then a city ( Venice, FLorence, Rome) would be just the trick !
Sicily possibly ???
Also depends on what you want to get out of it - shopping ????
Franca- I have heard its really hot again - so happy packing again but this time it will be with DH right so a bit more equal dc time !
Forecast rest of this week is cr*p so need to think up dd ideas mind you she is happy playing !

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MarsLady · 29/07/2008 19:43

I'd quite like to do some shopping. I don't know how much shopping a 16yo boy can take (of course he may be into clothes fully by then).

I think a mix of fun and culture. Oh I'm so clueless. I do love Italy though. Of course I suppose those gorgeous Italian girls will flirt with him. Sigh...

gio71 · 29/07/2008 19:57

Is your ds a beach lover Mars? What kind of thing would equal fun for him?

francagoestohollywood · 29/07/2008 22:48

Have spent a lovely few hrs at our friends in LOVELY air conditioned flat and now we are back to our oven...

Marslady, bear in mind that July is the hottest month in Italy, so there are areas I wouldn't recommend if you don't fancy sweat . Sicily for instance is amazing, you can easily do culture (and shopping) and amazing beaches, but the temperature can be really high.
Or you could do trentino alto adige: Trento is the main and very beautiful city and from there you are very close to the dolomiti, which are my fav mountains in Italy, if your ds is into mountain biking/trekking/and all these sports. Trento is pretty close to lake garda as well.
Or Tuscany... and Rome.

MarsLady · 29/07/2008 23:50

DS1 likes sport... football, rugby, cricket, athletics. I think he'd like the beach (I know that I would). I've been thinking about Rome because neither of us have been there.

I'll quiz him more carefully and see what he hopes to get out of the trip.

Graci Bella(s)

hotHELL · 30/07/2008 09:54

mars lady - rome can be in the mid thirties in july, so not that pleasant walking around, unless you are into high heat....i would look into the region of umbria as well, though no sea there.....but nice and fresh and beautiful walks....

gio71 · 30/07/2008 10:15

agree with Hot re July and Rome, I always try and spend as much of July and August outside Rome-its not pleasant. Is also very humid at that time of year which makes it much worse than just high temps.

MarsLady · 30/07/2008 13:27

I'll need sea I think. What about Capri or Sorrento?

Rosa · 30/07/2008 15:27

I like beaches so Sorrento is fun but I like a good beach ! Capri is too snobby for me ( sorry) but I loved Ischia ! Mind you it was in Autumn so not really beach and sea weather !
Viareggio so you can train into Florence its only about an hour or so ???

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francagoestohollywood · 30/07/2008 17:28

Marslady, try to travel to Italy in the first two weeks of July, as it's less busier.
Another good place to go is Puglia: fantastic beaches (warm, blue, clean sea) especially near gallipoli, Leuca, Otranto etc and good for culture too: Lecce is a beautiful baroque town. The food is excellent, and the Pugliesi are famous for being very kind.
Or Roma and then head to Ponza for the beach life.

MarsLady · 30/07/2008 17:51

Gracie bella(s). The plan is to go for the first week of July. I will google these different options. I knew I'd be in good hands if I asked here rather than just starting a travel thread!

Sputnik · 30/07/2008 18:16

I love Ischia and have been for the last 3 years running (see recommendation up thread) but I don't know if it would be the best thing for a 16 year old. Beaches are few and small, not that much culture, or shopping either.

I guess the footie is over in July (clueless, but one of you should know) but I have to say that I was once dragged by my football loving sis to watch Roma v. Lazio in Rome at the olympic stadium and it was an amazing experience.

Anyway if it didn't have to be July you could come to Rome, which is well worth a visit, and combine it with some sporting event (rugby matches are supposed to be fun here too)

gio71 · 31/07/2008 09:00

football is over by July, the new seasons fixtures are out now if you wanted to plan a non July visit to see a game. Agree with Sputnik, amazing experience to watch a game at the Olympic stadium.

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