Quote:
Originally Posted by mykalberta
How long are you going for?
I cant remember exactly where, Spezia I think? But if you are interested in hiking there are quite a few nice trails near there.
Also if you are in a town near there, and you smell a bakery, DO NOT TRY TO FIND IT. You will find it, but they will never be open when they say they are.
MYK
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La Spezia and the Cinque Terra... Hiking and absolutely breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. If you go here, stay in the 5th town (can't remember if that's Rio Maggiore or if Rio Maggiore is the 1st town (relative to La Spezia).
In the 5th town is a place called the Souvenier Inn and it is super reasonable and very clean.
You can hike to all the towns. Take a little walk through Vernazza too.
The city (term used loosely) past the fifth town is a waste of time. Don't bother.
Cinque Terra deserves at least 3 days if you have the time. Cinque Terra is an hour or two past Pisa (by train) and Pisa is 3 or 4 from Roma. IF you're in the area, make sure you spend a day in LUCCA (I'm not just biased because my Dad was born here, it really is beautiful. The wall, the churches, the narrow streets... Trust me)
By comparison, Roma and the surrounding area (Ostia, Tivoli) deserves 6 days unless you are going full tilt and seeing stuff every day.
Go to Vatican on a Tuesday if possible, unless you want to see the pope (wednesday and sunday). Avoid thursdays, fridays and saturdays at the Vatican where possible. Mondays and sundays sometimes have funny opening times and musuem closures.
The last sunday of the month is free at the Vatican museum.
If you're a student, bring your ID and use it everywhere.
Photocopy your passport and have your parents on call to fax it wherever.
WATCH YOUR POCKETS on busses and trains and in crowds around attractions. Never fall asleep on a Trenitalia train unless you're with a friend who is awake. You may wake up to no luggage.
Take the time to learn a few phrases in Italian before you get there. Learn things like please and thankyou, and do you speak english? Asking if they speak english before actually speaking english will get you MILES in Roma. Especially if you're speaking to an Italian. Not so much with the immigrants.
Oh there's so much more. I'll try to post again.