I am going to Italy!!!

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:14 am

Sounds like a great trip, Italy is a fabulous country.

Jerry14 · Post by **Jerry14** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:34 am

I'd love to go to rome. I hear it's one of the most incredible cities in terms of architecture.

Swimming maggie · Post by **Swimming maggie** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:39 am

Jerry14;1245188 wrote: I'd love to go to rome. I hear it's one of the most incredible cities in terms of architecture.

Yes so would I, Venice was brilliant, but Rome must be something special, it is on our agenda to see, but next Monday we are going to Budapest for 5 days and Hamster went there a few years ago and she said it was absolutely beautiful, so watch out for the pictures when I get back:-6

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:02 am

I hope you have a fantastic time in Venice, Minks!!! Sounds like a wonderful trip. I'm sure we're all looking forward to pics when you get back. Make sure you get serenaded on a canal by a hunky gondoliere!!!

You'll be in Munich for Oktoberfest!! Prost! A place of much rollicking adventure ......:sneaky:

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:52 am

AussiePam;1245203 wrote: I hope you have a fantastic time in Venice, Minks!!! Sounds like a wonderful trip. I'm sure we're all looking forward to pics when you get back. Make sure you get serenaded on a canal by a hunky gondoliere!!!

You'll be in Munich for Oktoberfest!! Prost! A place of much rollicking adventure ......:sneaky:

If you can remember it :wah:

Sadly, I remember my last visit to a bierkeller - and the ride home after it

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:02 pm

Bryn Mawr;1245339 wrote: If you can remember it :wah:

Sadly, I remember my last visit to a bierkeller - and the ride home after it

For an Aussie with a German Dad, Bryn, it's weird, but I don't drink beer.

I've been twice to Munich. The first time I was 18 and was on a tour with my parents. The men in the group had all gone off for some serious imbibing, and an Indian girl of about my age and a Spanish girl ditto and me the blonde went with my mum to a do some sightseeing. We ended up in a Bierkeller somewhere interesting, and couldn't work out why we got such a frosty reception. No one wanted to serve us and it was quite tense. To cut a long story short, the establishment had a different hospitality sideline, and they thought my mum was a rival madam and that her multinational young ladies were not ladies.

The second time was a few years after that. I was out on the town in a group and we collected a few locals in our wanderings. One young man insisted on taking us back to his place of work - he boasted some cloak and dagger stuff - where he collected a rather beautiful handgun which he proceeded to shoot off in the street. At that point, I scarpered....

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:18 pm

AussiePam;1245399 wrote: For an Aussie with a German Dad, Bryn, it's weird, but I don't drink beer.

I've been twice to Munich. The first time I was 18 and was on a tour with my parents. The men in the group had all gone off for some serious imbibing, and an Indian girl of about my age and a Spanish girl ditto and me the blonde went with my mum to a do some sightseeing. We ended up in a Bierkeller somewhere interesting, and couldn't work out why we got such a frosty reception. No one wanted to serve us and it was quite tense. To cut a long story short, the establishment had a different hospitality sideline, and they thought my mum was a rival madam and that her multinational young ladies were not ladies.

The second time was a few years after that. I was out on the town in a group and we collected a few locals in our wanderings. One young man insisted on taking us back to his place of work - he boasted some cloak and dagger stuff - where he collected a rather beautiful handgun which he proceeded to shoot off in the street. At that point, I scarpered....

After howling at your first story and worrying for you over your second I must thank you for the best post I've read in a long time :-6

minks · Post by **minks** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:15 am

Prost hahaha that is hilarious I can't begin to tell you how many times We were prosted!

I don't know what it means somebody told us if you did not look the person in the eye when you said Prost and clinked "glass bottoms never rims" with them you would have some ungodly number of years of bad sex. Hmmmm I hope I did that right then ahahahaha

Well I am home safe and sound, pics will eventually show up, my home puter is so slow and corrupt I may have to put up a facebook link.

We had a riot. Rome amazing, simply facinating at every turn, didn't even see all of it, it was impossible in 5 days and we walked everywhere no bus or taxi rides for us 2. We even hit up the market in Trastevere which was a blast. I loved the colosseum the best, I had to buy a book about it as I had no idea of it's extensive history and how it was ignored and thought a taboo place for so many years. Oh the history there in Rome was mind boggling.

Pisa, quiet yet beautiful in some areas other areas not so. We did hold up the tower for a spell yes. I was completedly taken by the Camposanto at Campo De Miracoli. It is crazy to think what these ancient places have been through before people decided they should be preserved. In the Camposanto 2 very large Fresco's have been removed from their original wall and taken into a special room to be preserved. History states that most of the Frescos (wall murals) were destroyed in the 40's during bombings and it caught on fire and the lead roof melted down over many of the frescos and ruined them.... one that they saved was titled the Triumph of Death is particularly gory and was painted a few months before the "Black Death" in 1348. The story it tells is so clear, just a kind of collage of mans decent into hell. it amazed me.

Venice, aw I can not believe we were told we would be disappointed in Venice, I really liked it, sure it's crowded with tourists and the canal water is not a pretty green, more a skedgie green, but the city was facinating. No gondola rides they were close to $100 a piece (85 euros each) We just could not do it. We sure enjoyed our tour of Basillica di San Marco, wow all that gold... just crazy to see.

So much of what we saw wasn't even huge and monumentous, just cool places as we walked through all 3 cities.

I could go on and on.

Munich was gorgeous, sadly we were staying in the area of Haar, so had to take the train to get anywhere and we were tired so did not get to the sights of Munich but I vow to get back there again one day soon.

We did partake in Octoberfest 2 times, first time was Paralyzing ugh we met up with a couple very young american boys who attached themselves to us and decided we all should tour the pubs ok sure why not... yep we got home to our hotel at 3am... good lord those beers were huge and got heavier as we progressed. On our 3rd day we actually got to Theresienwiese and loved it. But we behaved as the next day we were flying out early for home. A couple mostly 1 young Austrian man took quite the shine to us and bough us each a beer. Good lord it's a good thing us girls behaved ourselves or we may have ended up as Octoberfest casualties rested up along the ledge of the pretzel shop, passed out. Yes we saw a number of people passed out and it was only like 3:00pm.

It was a fantastic time. I have great memories and will let you know when and where my pics are posted.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:26 am

Welcome home Mel:-6

Glad you had a great time with daughter. I loved my visit to Italy...Rome, Venice and San Marino....also loved Munich....especially the beer gardens:wah: It was so funny to watch one woman carry all of those huge steins.

minks · Post by **minks** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:13 am

Oh KE was that the Hofbrauhaus, I know I drank one of those when I was there, heck we closed down that place. Had to find us a pub after that.

I have over 800 pictures on one camera and I know jr minks took near 1000 so I shall hand pick some of the best ones to add into here later.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:36 am

minks;1246882 wrote: Oh KE was that the Hofbrauhaus, I know I drank one of those when I was there, heck we closed down that place. Had to find us a pub after that.

I have over 800 pictures on one camera and I know jr minks took near 1000 so I shall hand pick some of the best ones to add into here later.

Mel,

I'm sorry if I told you this story before....

I had the opportunity of a lifetime when I was younger...think I was about 21 yrs. My poor Dad broke his toes in the NY Water tunnel and couldn't go on the trip he planned with Mom and 4 of my aunts and uncles.

So, he transferred his ticket to me along with spending money...bless him...We went to Ireland, England, Italy and Germany first class.....

I loved the Hofbrauhaus House and closed it also:D Funny then, my mom couldn't drink beer and asked for snapps. They wouldn't give it to her as they felt it was too strong a drink for women:yh_rotfl oy vey.

My local Irish Pub is having "Octoberfest" and is featuring all sorts of German beer, food and music during October. It should be fun.

I can't wait to see your pics. I'm so glad you had this experience with Jr. Minks...my Mom and I used to travel together...she was so easy travelling with....bless her.

minks · Post by **minks** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:46 am

Oh no KE I have not heard that story before.

Yes it was a trip of a lifetime I would like to be able to take the other daughter on a holiday but motherhood consumes her for now

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:17 am

ok guys this is just a teaser, it's a slow process to reduce my photos from my trip due to the crazy high resolution of my 2 cameras, but here is the start of a couple pictures from the start of our trip, we are in Rome.

First pic is us 2 on the plane from Montreal to Rome, next picture is my at the corner of our street that we lived on (ok our hotel was on, Via Nazionale) next one is the central plazza of the Republic, that building is now a hotel, sorry the historic infor of the place eludes me today. Next Picture is Foro Trajano, and Last is Trevi fountain.

These take me a long time to work down to size but I will just add at my convenience.

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minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:19 am

oh look I already messed it up ok us on the plane, the republic, the foro Trajano, and me standing at the corner of the republic plaza, the my left is the road our hotel was on.

I see this is going to take a longgggg time. eeek

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:21 am

trevi fountain and some of ancient Rome, I believe the far pillars are part of the old Roman Forum.

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YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:24 am

Cool pics, looks like you had fun.

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:33 am

YZGI;1249723 wrote: Cool pics, looks like you had fun.

Ah we had the time of our lives, I would love to go back and see all that we missed. this will be ongoing with the pictures mine you as we took nearly 2000 not that I will include all of them.

These 2 are our breakfast patio where we ate breakfast every morning and the girls who served us were delightful.

the other is just a side street we stumbled upon as we wandered.

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CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:42 am

IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide

Here is a link to a great little free program that allows you to resize, and decide what format you want them in. picture to the exact size you want or a site needs. It is simple I use it constantly better than anything I have used.

Your picture are wonderful. :-6

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:57 am

oh thank you Carla

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:42 am

our first venture out and we stumbled across this gated area, upon further investigation we determined it was a park, and it was the grounds of some school, but were facinated by what we found in the park, obviously nothing to earth shattering as it was not being preserved or protected. We walked up a bunch of steps to see what we could see of the park and the next few pics are a handful of what we came across. Oddly all statues had lost their heads.

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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:56 pm

Your breasts look enormous in that one picture.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:33 pm

minks;1249725 wrote: Ah we had the time of our lives, I would love to go back and see all that we missed. this will be ongoing with the pictures mine you as we took nearly 2000 not that I will include all of them.

These 2 are our breakfast patio where we ate breakfast every morning and the girls who served us were delightful.

the other is just a side street we stumbled upon as we wandered.

awesome photos Minks!

beautiful country!:guitarist:guitarist

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:33 pm

Nomad;1249859 wrote: Your breasts look enormous in that one picture.

how did I know you'd say something?:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:44 pm

Nomad;1249859 wrote: Your breasts look enormous in that one picture.

um you aren't spose to be looking at my chest you clown., ugh!!!!!!

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 4:29 am

minks;1249902 wrote: um you aren't spose to be looking at my chest you clown., ugh!!!!!!

I wasn't but they were covering up the entire Sistine Chapel !

minks · Post by **minks** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:27 am

Nomad;1249964 wrote: I wasn't but they were covering up the entire Sistine Chapel !

oh brother

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:58 am

minks;1250047 wrote: oh brother

What?

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:59 pm

Ok here are some more pictures, the first few are of Rome only They are 1 the view along the tiber River, the Basilica Di S. Maria In Aracoeli where and actual wedding was going on, The bridge of Angels which leads to and from the Castel St Angelo. For anyone who watched Angels and Demons (Dan Browns book turned movie) this castel was a big part of the story

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Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:04 pm

Rome Bridge of Angels is my fav.

thanks for sharing!

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:13 pm

These are Ancient Rome Columns I think perhaps from the Roman Fourm, Ceasars tomb both from the outside and inside, Looking down the Spanish stemps, Piazza Venezia, Statue of Afrodite, Traiano Foro (2 views) and Traiano Market

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minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:16 pm

oops looks like i missed the outside of ceasars tomb here it is now

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minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:24 pm

ok last of Rome, View Down Via Del Teatro Marcello, Archs, I have no idea the names of these, they are in the Ancient Rome area and are huge and all my internet research has failed me. If anyone knows what thay are I would love to know, they are massive.

2 pics of the colosseum, Piazza Del Popolo, 2 of Ancient Roman Ruins, and the Trevi Fountain

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minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:29 pm

Now here is Pisa

Of course the Bell Tower, or commonly known as The Leaning tower of Pisa`

A pleasant random Street shot

Along the River Front

A gorgeous Tomb in The Campasanto

The Church Pulpit

Santa Maria Della Spina Church

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Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:32 pm

minks;1253952 wrote: oops looks like i missed the outside of ceasars tomb here it is now

wow.........erie eh?

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:34 pm

Venice

The Grand Canal

Masks for Sale in a shop on the Rialto Bridge

San Marco Basilica

The view from our Room

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minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:35 pm

Odie;1253955 wrote: wow.........erie eh?

it was a little yes, all that pile is all ask from the burning of offerings people keep leaving behind.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:14 pm

Great pictures Minks just beautiful. :-6

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:02 pm

minks;1253957 wrote: it was a little yes, all that pile is all ask from the burning of offerings people keep leaving behind.

amazing what they all thought of him.

awesome pics, now I'm jealous!

minks · Post by **minks** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:09 am

Odie;1253965 wrote: amazing what they all thought of him.

awesome pics, now I'm jealous!

I would reccomend it to anyone it was spectacular.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:10 am

minks;1254005 wrote: I would reccomend it to anyone it was spectacular.

how was the food...seriously?

minks · Post by **minks** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:15 am

Odie;1254007 wrote: how was the food...seriously?

Oh it was yummy. The pizza was very different from what we are used to, thin and loads of cheese. The pasta everywhere was to die for. I had the best seafood spagetti in Pisa, but then again in Pisa I had the worst Pizza ahahahaha We sat down to order at this place and it said on the menu the pizza had wertzul on it, we suspected that was a kind of sausage, oh ya when the pizza came it was sliced hot dogs, yep no lie. And the mushrooms were from a can, it was such an awful pizza but we could only laugh.

Breakfasts were different in all 3 cities (we opted for the free ones at the hotels) usually bread and cheeze, some meats, and cappachino at Rome and Venice, but Pisa the hotel offered us a full awesome Buffet. Granted that was a 4 star hotel hehehehe.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:22 am

minks;1254012 wrote: Oh it was yummy. The pizza was very different from what we are used to, thin and loads of cheese. The pasta everywhere was to die for. I had the best seafood spagetti in Pisa, but then again in Pisa I had the worst Pizza ahahahaha We sat down to order at this place and it said on the menu the pizza had wertzul on it, we suspected that was a kind of sausage, oh ya when the pizza came it was sliced hot dogs, yep no lie. And the mushrooms were from a can, it was such an awful pizza but we could only laugh.

Breakfasts were different in all 3 cities (we opted for the free ones at the hotels) usually bread and cheeze, some meats, and cappachino at Rome and Venice, but Pisa the hotel offered us a full awesome Buffet. Granted that was a 4 star hotel hehehehe.

I was hoping it was the real Italian pizza!:guitarist:guitarist

mushrooms from a can.......yuck:yh_rotfl

excellent Minks, quite often I here the foods were horrible.

minks · Post by **minks** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:37 am

Odie;1254016 wrote: I was hoping it was the real Italian pizza!:guitarist:guitarist

mushrooms from a can.......yuck:yh_rotfl

excellent Minks, quite often I here the foods were horrible.

I am pretty open when it comes to food. I had an amazing Ravioli Dish in Rome, I think it had a hint of nutmeg in the Rose sauce it was delicious. And another place we visited 2 times (I think in Pisa) had delicious Gnnochi (the little potato dumpling pasta stuff) that was awesome as well.

minks · Post by **minks** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:38 am

some of our food experience

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Odie · Post by **Odie** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:06 am

minks;1254021 wrote: I am pretty open when it comes to food. I had an amazing Ravioli Dish in Rome, I think it had a hint of nutmeg in the Rose sauce it was delicious. And another place we visited 2 times (I think in Pisa) had delicious Gnnochi (the little potato dumpling pasta stuff) that was awesome as well.

omg.....everything just sounds soooooooooo good!

minks;1254022 wrote: some of our food experience

wow......you have made me hungry to see these places and enjoy their cuisines.

PennyG · Post by **PennyG** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:11 am

What great pictures and what a stunning place :-6

minks · Post by **minks** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:12 am

PennyG;1254768 wrote: What great pictures and what a stunning place :-6

Thanks Penny I would recommend Italy to anyone. I can't wait to go back.

PennyG · Post by **PennyG** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:21 am

My inlaws have been a couple of times, and truely loved it.

They really enjoyed Venice when they were there too

minks · Post by **minks** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:36 am

PennyG;1254773 wrote: My inlaws have been a couple of times, and truely loved it.

They really enjoyed Venice when they were there too

Awww I truly fell in love with Venice, the funny thing is people here were telling me things like ooo skip Venice it is full of tourists, it's dirty yada yada. Oh yes there were many tourists me included but that is part of the charm. And I was there mid September so there were far less tourists but gosh that city is beautiful and mysterious and amazingly interesting and we didn't see even half of it. Each City held a special charm for me. Rome I just loved the ancientness. The amazing sites of ancient Rome among the current day city. I didn't get to see it all I could spend a month there. Pisa was relaxing and charming as heck. We were staying in a lovely part of Pisa near a university and it was wonderful to be among the locals, yet just down the road from the Plaza of Miracles. Fantastico!

Verb of Nothing · Post by **Verb of Nothing** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:17 am

Venice has become a japanese base.