BootsnAll Travel Network



Archive for the 'Italy' Category

« Home

Back from Venice

Friday, December 16th, 2005

Gondola

After a week in Italy, we’re back with some recommendations for you–and plenty of other travel news that we missed covering:

Despite mixed reviews about its food, Venice’s “Mexican” restaurant, Iguana, kept us happily enjoying La Serenissima with a superb happy hour. A Spritz, Venice’s magical anytime mix of wine, bitters, and seltzer goes for only a euro from 6-8 every night.

The TSA will change its screening procedures, allowing some sharp items but increasing patdowns and tests for traces of explosives.

After getting international attention, air marshalls get sent to other transportation systems–maybe.

Rome-ing the streets

Wednesday, November 30th, 2005

A Vespa

NY Times correspondant Ian Fisher yucks it up as he recalls his Vespa-piloting adventure through Italy’s capital. Trying to navigate the city’s notorious traffic using GPS, Fisher learns that Italians don’t appreciate gadgets the way Americans do. After attempting to follow his mini-computer’s directions, Fisher realizes it might be better to just ask for directions. Thus:

the truth is, not even G.P.S. can drain Rome of its chaotic soul. I used it the other day to get to an interview at the courthouse on Piazzale Clodio. My Quest drew a decent route, but I still overshot an exit. To get back, I turned the scooter against traffic, hopped a curb onto the sidewalk, then onto the right route. This is all illegal, but completely normal for scooters. Ten uneventful minutes later, a little checkered flag went up on my G.P.S. signaling that I had successfully reached Piazzale Clodio. Now where the heck was the courthouse? I didn’t see anything that looked remotely like one. I had to ask someone.

Also in Rome: Euro-hippies will have to find a new piazza to fill with flaming devil sticks and hacky sacks now that Rome’s mayor is cracking down on bohemians in Piazza Navona. More interestingly, the mayor’s name is Walter…