Trip Planning 2

Well, since it is two days after my last post and if you can do the math, you should be able to figure out that we are now down to 30 days before leaving for Europe and I'm not really much further along in my plans than I was before. Okay, that isn't quite true since the last post we have:

• Scheduled a tour for the Vatican Gardens.
• Scheduled a day trip to see Lacock (where parts of Harry Potter was filmed), Bath, and Stonehenge as the sun is setting.
• Have narrowed down a day trip to see Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii, just need to click the 'purchase' button.
• I purchased a bunch of shoes from Zappos.com yesterday as I continue to try and find the perfect shoes to walk in.

I have also been spending some time with my Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary that I recieved as a birthday present. This I find to be very entertaining, although I'm not certain how much good it will actually do me. Here are some tidbits that I have come across while flipping through the book:

In the "Help for Women" Section:

• Leave me alone = Mi lasci in pace.
• I want to be alone = Voglio stare sola
• I'm not interested = Non sono interessata
• I'm married = Sono sposata
• I'm a lesbian = Sono lesbica
• I have a contagious disease = Ho una malattia contagiosa

So I guess the only ways to get rid of an Italian man is to be married, gay, or diseased...

Of course, I then flip to the "Ah, Amore" Section and come across these gems:

• I'm not married = Non sono sposata
• I'm adventurous = Sono avventuroso
• I'm lonely tonight = Sono sola stasera
• I'm rich and single = Sono ricca e single
• I have no diseases = Non ho malattie
• I have many diseases = Ho molte malattie
• Let's have a wild and crazy night! = Passiamo una notte di fuoco!
• You are my most beautiful souvenir = Sei il mio piu bel ricordo
• How's my breath = Com'e il mio alito?
• Darling, will you marry me? = Cara, mi vuoi sposare?

Hmmm, maybe these are the ones I should be focusing on.

Trip Planning 1

I am now on the official countdown for my trip. I have 32 days before I head out and there is so much that I still don't know and haven't figured out and REALLY need to work on getting my list together so that I can actually follow through, but keep getting distracted by things like starting a new book or watching stupid television (e.g., Impractical Jokers - thanks, Sara).

One thing that I did do this morning was come across the following tip when trying to cross the streets in Rome:

Crossing the road. There are apocryphal tales of visitors to the city coming and leaving having only seen everything on one side of Piazza Venezia, such is the daunting prospect of crossing the vast mass of traffic. Follow these simple rules and you won't be one of them.
1/ Stand on the kerb, looking in the correct direction of oncoming traffic. When there is a decent break (i.e. enough for whoever's coming to brake),
2/ Make sure they have seen you,
3/ Step out decisively and, maintaining a constant and regular pace, walk across. As if by magic the cars and scooters will weave around you.
DON'T stop midway, go backwards, or run across screaming, that confuses everybody, and don't wait in ever-growing frustration for everyone to stop, it's never going to happen.

First, love how the spell things. Second, I love the fact that magic will be part of my life while in Rome....I'll be sure to let you know if it actually works or if I'm hit by a scooter... (Although I fear that I will actually be that crazy tourist who runs screaming across the street.)

To give you an idea of where I currently stand with my plans:

• Lodging plans made
• Plane tickets purchased
• One tour set up
• Luggage identified
• 1/6th of the wardrobe determined
• How to speak Italian book listened to
• Camera purchased and some picture taking practice done
• Guide books skimmed through

So much yet to think about...maybe I'll just take a nap.