I'm olive-skinned and usually have low Vitamin D in the winter. I don't tend to sunblock until at least June or so.

So, this was weird. Apparently I'm going to Italy.

We were tossing around ideas for my dad's birthday (he's 70 this year) and right in the middle of that I spotted some seriously cheap fares to Italy. And suddenly an idea my sister and I had tossed around yonks ago in a sort of yeah, someday way was resurrected.

He spent several years there in the Navy, still speaks Italian (kind of), met my mom there when she was spending her grad school tuition futzing around Europe with her friends, etc. So, yeah, it was kind of a significant place to him. And they never made it back there.

[It wasn't a huge tragic story - we did make it to other parts of Europe on a couple of occasions so it's not like they couldn't have. But still. I know it would mean a huge amount to him to get to see the place once more and remember and share some of his history.

So I bought the damn tickets and the three of us are going in May. Only for a few days - in theory, she's contributing but reality is that is basically going to be on my dime so I really had to be firm with myself about what was going to be manageable.

Anyway, we're flying into Pisa, will go from there maybe to Florence for a day, then a couple of days in Naples where he lived and then back to Pisa to head back. Phew.

Any advice, suggestions, warnings? I'll take anything you got.

Well. I just hope it all goes smoothly. -- I mean the travel, I am sure your talk will. (that was for hil)

DH did his first travel with new co. The person who booked things - not a travel agent. Booked everything one way. Over night 2 stops to Ohio. He comes back Friday -- but the second flight , it looks like he will be bumped. 8pm at DFW. and it was sort of booked that way. Now there are lots of flights from DFW to this area, but this didn't have to happen

Since the office in Columbus,OH is where a number of his people work ... he needs to find the best way.

and yay brenda!

Hmm. I was in Italy a few years ago.

Florence has all the art museums, of course. It's also got a museum of the history of science that's nowhere near as interesting as the ads would have you believe. (There are like three really cool exhibits, and rooms and rooms filled with things like protractors and log tables.) If you go to the Academia, there's a little exhibit in a sort of side gallery of antique musical instruments, and that one is pretty cool.

Food is incredible everywhere except Venice. If you've got time and interest to do a winery tour, those are fun.

There was this great little restaurant that we found in Pisa, but I can't remember exactly where it is. The restaurants within a few blocks of the tower are all overpriced. When you go see the tower, also go over the other side of the plaza and look in the church -- there's some cool artwork on the walls.

Hil, Hubby suspects a muscle has shifted on you and is now pinching some nerves.

Any advice, suggestions, warnings? I'll take anything you got.

You should email mfnlaw. Her family's originally from italy and she goes there every other year, I think.

Brenda, take the time to see the statue of David while in Florence. Also, if anyone is in a shopping mood, Florence is the place to do it, especially for gold and leather goods.

Tea:

We actually had really good food in Venice. We ate on a nearby island called Burano. It's a beautiful fishing village, and we had the freshest seafood dinner.

I'm thinking if to send my resume for a 1/2 time job. Because that job is easy, and I need one, and I can also work from home, but I really only have the time for a 1/4 time job.

Hil, I hope things will turn alright for you.

brenda, I say you'll be too close to not visiting Israel. But dammit, Italy. Have fun!

I took a couple big sips. eh. Not bad, not WOW! but I can drink this. Cute co-worker was like "oh, I've always wondered what they taste like, can I?" Um, Ya! Apparently that thing was pure booze. Me? No clue. Thankfully I stopped drinking it after that next sip. 10 minutes later. Ya. Felt it. Feeling it. Yum. Feels great, but glad I stopped, or no driving home for me. WOW! And that was only 1/4 of the glass, if that! So what's that say about my ability to drink? My mouth used to be an early warning for hard liquor. Apparently not any more! If I make it to the F2F, something tells me, I'm gonna be drunk off my ass.

Now I want to experiment. Please, by all means, if he makes it to the next F2F, take pictures. With notes.

Brenda, I heard an NPR story on the state of tourism in Italy right now, which is apparently crappy, so there's som good hotel and tourist deals right now. Some AmEx places have closed, so I would make sure I got good info on the best exchange places before you go. And Italy/American taxes are crap, so remember that when you buy stuff.

Otherwise, I am totally jealous! Neither my mom or my dad have ever travelled out of the US, except one day trip to Mexico in the 60's and I know they've always wanted to. This is so cool.