Finally I am going to visit this city. It is something I wanted to do as long as I can remember. I found a very cheap flight, and a cheap hostel. I am going with my best friend and I am really looking forward to it!!

Has any of you been there? Any tips? Does or dont's?











Any Romans here?

Rome is a great city but and it's quite big, so you should go to a newsagents and get a bus map and a daily/weekly bus pass. If you're planning on visiting all the usual attractions the bus is the best way to go.

Have a great time!

Natisse said:

Thank you Natisse

AsylumUtopia said:

Thanks for the tip. I will be going for 6 days so I hope I have enough time to see a lot.

sorry - unintended post.
[Edited 6/17/05 5:15am]

It's a beautiful city . Unfortunately I was there for only 2 days, so I didn't see that much. If you want to go to the Vatican (Peter's Dome) be sure to dress in a proper way, otherwise you are not allowed to go there . People in Italy usually don't speak English (or any other language besides Italian), so be prepared for that.

roma is a great city to visit i loved it !!!

make sure you do all the churches and the vatican city !!

the vatican museum is awsome , michaelangelo's sistine chapel !

raphael

leonardo da vinci

and theres even a vincent van gogh in the modern wing !!

theres a church which claims to have a piece of christs cross from the crucifixion !!! cant remember the name of it ?? its near st john latern .

when you visit the colliseum make sure you get a guided tour very very interesting !!!

there are ruins everywhere , lots of churches (it is rome after all)

the gallery of modern art also has two van goghs , le jardiniere and madame ravoux.

enjoi !

I have been there and it is very beautiful. Vatican City, and the Sistine Chapel (no video taking or pictures allowed in Sistine Chapel), and the Coliseum are worth the visit. Words of advice:

1. Watch out for gypsies, they work in packs and try to rob you without you knowing. Also watch out for peeps on a moped, they like to grab and run your purse. Use money belt for passport, money.

2. Keep a toilet roll or tissue on you before leaving your hotel. Public washrooms usually don't have tissue should you need it.

3. Keep change handy, public washrooms are not free, yes you have to pay a fee.

4. Carry bottled water on you, as it can be hot.

5. Learn some Italian phrases.

But most of all - have fun and take a lot of pics. Italy is very beautiful

My sister lived there for about 6-7 months. She had a wonderful time, just watch out for stray dogs, adn try not to drive when you are there.

Serious said:

True that. It'd be worth picking up an English/Italian phrasebook or dictionary. Italian is an almost entirely phonetic language so it's not that difficult to speak and be understood. I got by with just a few phrases like "due espresso per favore" and "un carafe di vino rosso per favore". Although they don't all speak English, quite a few of the Italians I encountered did, and they seemed to be more than happy to speak it (getting some practice in I suppose).

Also, don't believe any maps or tourist information that tell you the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's square are beside eachother. Well, technically they are, but you have to walk fucking miles from the outside of St. Peter's square to get to the Sistine. It closes really early too (about 4pm I think) so if you plan to see it, aim to get to St. Peter's square by 2pm. We went two days in a row and still ended up being too late and/or hot,tired and lazy to get to it on time.

One final word of warning - drivers in Rome are complete maniacs, particularly with all the thousands of vespas weaving in and out. Just because you're on a pedestrian crossing and have a green light - don't assume that you're safe - the vespa riders seem to think that 'pedestrian' refers to them too and will take great delight in trying to kill you.

Thank you all for the tips!

Be sure to throw a coin in Trevi fountain.

That's the only advice I could think of. Rome is gorgeous. Have a fabulous time!

Best thing about Rome is that it is piss easy to find - that's assuming the old saying is in fact true.....

rocknrolldave said:

I should say

Ignore Dave, Dennisnet. I'm sure the pilot knows the way

senik said:

I have to agree, Dennisnet, that "Ignore Dave" is, in fact, very good advice to follow.

rocknrolldave said:

Make me feel like a right twat, why don't ya

You're okay, Dave I still your blond spiky hair

senik said:

I got my first real six string, bought it at the five and dime....
Played it til my fingers bled...


... Must've been around the summer of '69...


I bin ein theadjacker...



Never been to Rome but we do an Italian Lesson CD if you want a few pointers.....?

you are MOLTO FORTUNATO to be going to Roma..!

she is a VERY BEAUTIFUL city, she is not called "the Eternal City" for nothing!
compared to US cities.. many parts of Roma are VERY OLD.


DO MAKE THE EFFORT TO SPEAK ITALIAN.
the locals will appreciate this,
but you probably will come across at least a few Romans who speak English..
Roma is similar to Paris in that there are
MANY tourists there, so a lot of Romans there speak English.

Vatican City is nice - but MUCH SMALLER in real life than it looks on tv.

the COLESEUM is definitely worth a tour inside..
HOW MANY places have you ever visited that were built in..

80???

NOT 1780 or 1180 or even 580..
but

EIGHTY???


while you're in Roma, be sure to ride the public transportation - the city busses - for free! I did this EVERY DAY the last time I was in Roma..

& most importantly - EAT AS MUCH OF THAT INCREDIBLE

GELATO

as you can get your hands on! THIS IS A MUST.


& lastly..
Roma has MORE than its share of FINE women-
be ready to drool.


show us some photos after you get back!


BUON VIAGGIO !

Try fucking 20 guys a day. That way you might get through all them fine bitches by the time you go home

luv4u said:

North-Americans (since you're Canadian!) aren't used to jack-shit!!!!! Too funny, everybody knows that!!!!! (no, haven't been to Rome, yet!)

Thanks again, I am leaving in two days and really looking forward too it!

I was there many years ago...but I adored Rome (all of Italy, actually). Seeing the ruins up close was amazing...the history, the scenery of Italy...just beautiful. The Vatican will make your mouth drop open...and seeing the Sistine Chapel... ...for an artist and art lover, it was heaven.


Me in Rome a long time ago..lol:


[Edited 7/3/05 14:22pm]

Dennisnet said:

DO

...explore the little side streets. You'll find cultural artifacts everywhere.
...order a real pizza.
...visit the Vatican. It's beautiful and interesting.

DON'T

...drive. Italians are fucking lunatics in traffic and won't stop for a red light unless they feel like picking their nose for a while.
...expect good hygiene. If you're going for a cheap hostel you might want to get some vaccine shots before you leave.
...expect the Colisseum to be a magnificent building. It's tinier than you'd think and is totally falling apart.
...try to be more vain than the Italian men. You'll fail.

Yes, it's a wonderful city and one I must go back to at some stage.

The Vatican is amazing. We went there on a Sunday and heard Pope John Paul II celebrating mass. It was a lovely sunny day and I remember looking up at the statues in the square and thinking how God-like they looked with the blue skies behind them. If you go into the Sistine Chapel, don't forget to look up!

The various piazzas are lovely places to stop for a bite of lunch or a drink and just watch the world go by.

It's a lovely city to walk around, and you can easily walk from the Vatican to the Colosseum and Forum in a day, taking in the various chapels and churches en route.

Food is amazing, especially at some of the smaller family-run restaurants. I can't remember how they eat but it seemed to be very different to the way we eat. I seem to remember them being suprised I only wanted a starter and main course rather than some of the other courses that were on offer. I never did figure out how I should have ordered.

Have fun!

Byron said:

How cool - they even opened a shop in your honour!

retina said:

I'm SHOCKED at you and your INSENSITIVITY. You INSENSITIVE FUCK.



Really, if I travel any where, I'm asking your advice.

Nero said:

We can write a guide book together. A real, true one.

retina said:

You may be too much of an insensitive fuck for that.

But sure, let's make some dollars. Or euros.

Hi everybody I am back!!!!

Wow, what an amazing city!!!!! I will post some pics soon!