Upcoming Vacation in the Mediterranean

[Chuck Nessa]

So, on October 31, Ann and I leave on a 50th anniversary trip. We fly to Rome for 3 days/2 nights and then cruise thru the Islands of the Western Mediterranean for a while and end up with 3 days/2 nights in Barcelona before flying home. Any advice would be appreciated. If anyone wants details please email at cnessa@charter.net .

[sidewinder]

Maybe call in at Jazz Messengers in Barcelona?

Edited September 27, 2013 by sidewinder

[JSngry]

Bring swarth!

[king ubu]

Chuck, not sure you're into that type of sightseeing, but if you want to visit the Vatican, it might be good to get tickets in advance:

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do

[David Ayers]

Be very careful of wallets and handbags in Rome. Watch out especially when getting on buses where at crowded stops. Watch out for gangs of small children, often carrying cardboard. Small points maybe but this stuff often happens to people in Rome.

You must see the Vatican, you must of course see the great classical monuments, the Villa Borghese is pretty compulsory, and many people find an interest in visiting one or other of the catacombs. You won't run out of churches and when you visit the famous squares make sure not to miss out Campo dei Fiori. Really for 3 days the guidebook will tell you everything and, while I haven't seen the one for Rome, and while though I travel much I don't do tourism, I have found the small Frommer's day-by-day guides the most succinct and practical.

Rome is not known for eating and the cheaper restaurants are all fair enough but tend to offer the same basic things.

Record stores? Not sure there are any left.

I used to live in Rome and for that reason know almost nothing about it

Oh and Barcelona! Same thing, Frommer's day-by-day, which I did use on the one occasion I visited. Maybe try for 4Cats restaurant where artsy folks used to hang out, now just tourists of course. Be careful of area near waterfront. Oh and if their Spanish sounds weird it is not because they are making mistakes, they are speaking Catalan (I was a bit thrown until I figured this out...). The architecture is of course a must-see.

Here I am in Barcelona with Frommers and uh dictionary. Which I didn't need of course. And yes, I'm in Starbucks. I know, I know...

Here's the restaurant http://4gats.com/en/

Edited September 27, 2013 by David Ayers

[brownie]

Highly recommended Mediterranean islands: Crete and Cyprus. Also Dubrovnik on the Croatian coast!

Place to avoid at all cost: Syria!

Skip the coast of North Africa (beautiful places but not safe enough)

Worth a visit: splendid Sicily, but be even more careful than in Rome and Barcelona!

[bertrand]

Maybe call in at Jazz Messengers in Barcelona?

Say hi to Jordi!

[uli]

Enjoy!

[Alexander Hawkins]

Damn, playing in Rome the week before that! Sounds like a fantastic trip. For Barcelona - all of the Gaudi buildings are wonderful; and also the Fundacio Joan Miro.

[jeffcrom]

I have nothing to contribute except wishes for a great trip. You're quite the travelin' man.

[Homefromtheforest]

Part of my honeymoon was spent in Mykonos and Santorini and those were both beautiful places but it sounds like you are heading the opposite direction from Italy

Have a great and safe trip!

[paul secor]

I'm not much of a traveler - except when necessary - so I can't offer any advice. But your vacation sounds wonderful and I hope that both you and Ann have a great time.

[Michael Weiss]

Barcelona:

- The Sagrada Familia is awe inspiring. You must buy tickets in advance to reserve a time slot, but you can stay as long as you like. Well worth it.

- La Boqueria (the market) is a top destination, just off the Ramblas. There are many delicious food stalls. The seafood one in the back (#220), "Bar Boqueria" is killin'.

[Stefan Wood]

:tup

When on a cruise, avoid fried foods. Get extra batteries for your camera. When in Spain, eat paella. Just random thoughts.....

[robertoart]

Hades.

[Dan Gould]

I'm not much of a traveler - except when necessary - so I can't offer any advice. But your vacation sounds wonderful and I hope that both you and Ann have a great time.

+1 and congrats on number 50.

[RiRiIII]

Enjoy your trip!

[John Litweiler]

Rome is a great city to get lost in. Loved it right up to the afternoon my camera got ripped off (beware riding on a bus). The jazz record store had few CDs by Italian musicians. Lots of sunshine when I was there in 1999.

[Jazzmoose]

I'm jealous; I never made it to that part of the world. Enjoy!

[sidewinder]

Highly recommended Mediterranean islands: Crete and Cyprus. Also Dubrovnik on the Croatian coast!

Yes, Crete can be lovely - especially inland but avoiding the fleshpots of Ag Nik and Chania. The people are great too.

Island hopping off Dubrovnik is also lovely e,g, around Korcula. Must go back there (last time I visited Tito was still in power and all the hotels were state-owned ).

Edited September 28, 2013 by sidewinder

[Larry Kart]

Have a great time. You two deserve it.

Signed, God

[papsrus]

Haven't been to Europe in decades, but take David Ayers' advice about being on guard for theft. My sister had an iPad stolen out of her hotel room in Barcelona last year.

A money belt might not be a bad idea for carrying passports, wallets, etc., on your person at all times.

I guess the best advice is don't take anything with you that you would be upset if it was stolen.

That aside, have a wonderful trip and congrats on your 50th. You're a lucky man.

[BeBop]

I really don't understand all the warnings. Hopefully they won't weigh heavily on decisions and choices. Stuff happens, mainly to fools (occasionally to the unlucky). You're not a fool.

So go, have a helluva time. Celebrate something truly worth celebrating.

[medjuck]

Barcelona: If you're interested in architecture at all or just Gaudi, I found the Casa Batllo even more fascinating than the Segrada Familla. Easy to get to see without advance tickets.

[Jazzmoose]

I really don't understand all the warnings.

Me either. I mean, he's used to Chicago, right?