Destinations Change, Take for Example..........

Rome and Venice. These two are not sleepy. In fact, they're very dynamic, changin regularly. Below is an article discussing the changes in sights, transportation and scenery of these two Italian cities. Keep in mind, however, that changes occur in all destinations. So for your next trip, a little homework couldn't hurt!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/03/08/rome.venice.travel/index.html

For all trips to Europe, check out these trips! Keep in mind, we always have more where that came from. In fact, we have thousands of trips we simply do not have the time to post online.

Don't forget to pay your taxes..............

............. and then take the returns and go on vacation! I was thinking Italy this year! Then, I was looking around for travel news and found these pictures. Is there any reason why you wouldn't go to this amazing country once in your life? Simply breathtaking! This was a picture we took of St. Peter's Basilica at about 8 AM when no one was around yet! We had the whole square almost to ourselves!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/26/travel.snapshots.italy/index.html

Check out some of our trips to Europe, including Italy and any other amazing destination or view all of our trips to see the world! Remember, these are just a sampling of the trips we offer.

Italian Festivals: In Depth

I officially have the "check out the official tourism website of every European country" bug. Today, I'm highlighting a wonderful PDF that the Italian Tourism Board has put together for us. It discusses, in depth, four festivals throughout the country and at different times of the year that are definitely worth looking at: The Stressa Festival, the Festival Puccini, the Rossini Opera Festival and the Ravello Festival.

Keeping in mind this was made for 2009, some of the performances at each will change for the upcoming year, but the festivals are described well and also have links to each in case you want to read more!

See all of our trips to Italy or just visit us at JetSetPilot!

An In-Depth View of the Pantheon

Don't understand why the Pantheon is considered one of the most amazing monuments in the world? Looking from the outside, it looks more like a bomb shelter with pillars than anything. However, this is one of those cases where you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Within this stoic facade lies a church that rivals the beauty of St. Peter's Basilica itself. If you look really close, you might even find something that reminds you of the time this was a place to worship the Roman Gods.




Don't forget, we can get you here. Want to see all of Italy? Maybe you just want to browse all of our trips? We add new trips daily, so come back regularly to see our new trips! Also, don't forget to to add your opinions and your experiences on our blog and Facebook page!

Top 5 sights in Rome!

Here are OUR top 5 Roman sights! Remember, this is just our opinion so tell us your top sights in Rome after you read!

1. The Colosseum, in the Colosseo district, was the home of the gladiators in ancient times. Prepare to spend about an hour marveling at this ancient wonder where both land and sea battles once took place for the amusement of the Roman Emperors and their subjects. Go to www.pierreci.it to attain your tickets online before you leave. This ticket will also gain you entry to the Palatine Hill (we’ll discuss this later!).

2. St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, in the San Pietro district, is the Christian capitol of the world. You can imagine how much money and how many artifacts have come through this building and this Catholic church proves just that. Not only is this the largest church in the world, it is the most ornate and most spectacular. Don’t forget to climb the dome! Come early (7 a.m. early) and have the run of the place. You won’t regret it as you watch the lines mount up as you leave.



3. Hand-in-hand with The Basilica are The Vatican Museums. Remember those artifacts we discussed earlier? They are all here and they are breathtaking. Be sure to visit www.vatican.va to book your guided tour before you leave. Also, don’t forget to bring a small mirror in which to stare up at the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

4. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, both incomprehensible, lie next to the Colosseum yet are separate ruins of the Roman era. The Forum is free of charge and The Palatine Hill ticket comes with your Colosseum ticket. Take guided tours of each because both can be very confusing. The English tour for the Forum leaves at 10:30 am every morning and tours of the Palatine Hill leave regularly.

5. The Galleria Borghese, within the Villa Borghese, was originally built to house art and still does. This “gallery” hosts amazing murals, but highlights some of the most beautiful sculptures in the world. Go to www.pierreci.it to attain tickets to this sanctuary as they only let a finite amount of people in the building and lines can be horrible.

I hope this conjures up pictures in your head of your last visit to Rome or gives you ideas of what to expect when you go for the first time! Don't forget to leave your comments!

Our Favorite Sights in Rome!

Below are numbers six through ten on our favorite Roman sights list. They are in order, but understand that everyone will have their own Rome and their own order. Just have fun finding yours!

6. The Pantheon is now a tourist attraction, but was a church and before that was a temple to the gods. In another city, this would be THE number one attraction. However, this is Rome, and it is still in the top 10! The “oculus” is why and how the dome has lasted thousands of years, just hope it doesn’t rain.



7. The fountains, including the Trevi are everywhere. In fact, you can drink from many of them. Don’t be scared to get a cool drink from these on a hot day. You will know if you can drink if you see the Romans do so! Oh, and don’t forget to revisit the fountains at night for a different look at these wonders.

8. Coupled with the many of the fountains are the squares including Piazza Navona and Piazza del Popolo. These are usually good places to grab lunch or coffee and people watch. Many of them also have obelisks. These are beautiful stone statues that were stolen from Egypt after Rome conquered it.

9. One of the aforementioned squares is Piazza di Spagna which lies at the base of the Spanish Steps. Do we even need to describe the most famous staircase in the world? This is another great place to people watch and rest your feet!

10. Villa Borghese, the large park in the Center of Rome, is a secluded spot for those looking for some peace and quiet in a very vibrant town. Rent a bike or just stroll while stopping to take in the gardens and monuments that litter the park.

There’s so much more to Rome. In fact, there’s so much that it will take multiple visits to see everything. Make sure to throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return!

Tomorrow, we will have one through five to round out or list. Don't forget to chime in with your favorites!

European Festivals in November

Throughout Europe, there are many festivals and celebrations of every sort all year 'round. Here are some of the more interesting ones in November:

On November 1st will be the Veteran Car Run in the UK (specifically London to Brighton). All the cars involved were made before 1905! While we could make this trip in minutes with no traffic, these cars take hours to do so. It's a long route, so plan where you can watch the show in advance! Click here for more:
http://www.vccofgb.co.uk/lontobri/



Le Feste de Tartufo is the Italian Festival for Truffles! It is celebrated every weekend in November starting the 14th in San Miniato. Click here for more: http://www.sanminiatotartufo.it/inglese/homeing.htm

The Santa Claus World Championships? Yes, it's true! On November 27-28th, go to Samnuan, Switzerland and watch the best Santas in the world compete in events such as skiing! Click here for more: http://www.clauwau.com/index_en.php

Crossing Borders is a giant tribute to all things artistic. "Crossing Borders is the festival where literature, music, film and the visual arts combine to take central stage. 18 - 21 November 2009, writers, poets, musicians, filmmakers and artists will reign over The Hague's cultural centre." This is one of Europe's giant festivals. Click here for more: http://www.crossingborder.nl/index.php?ID=1&lang=uk

There's so much more to sample so look around for a festival that appeals to you! Also, share with us your stories about festivals throughout Europe, November or not.

Flashback: Samantha Brown Passport to EUROPE!

Remember Samantha Brown? I mean the good ‘ol Samantha Brown from Passport to Europe? What happened to her? Sure she is still around the Travel Channel with her Passport to great weekends, but is it me or is it just not the same? Maybe I favor Passport to Europe because of my love for Europe, and would rather watch 30min on any European country over a random US city worthy of only a weekend stop.

In the clip I've chosen below Samantha visits Rome, Italy and gives us a tour of her hotel. In this episode I was surprised the show decided to feature such a contemporary hotel. Personally, I’d much rather choose a classic, three star boutique hotel like the one we stayed in during our first visit to Rome.

Sure, Samantha’s room was HUGE compared to what we stayed in, and she even makes note that the ability to move around the room without bumping into furniture was a definite plus compared to most of Europe. But don't forget square footage = big $$$!

Final thought…you’re not in Rome to hang out in the hotel. As long as you have a clean bed to sleep in and a shower with hot water, you’re set.


Enjoy a little blast from the past with a short clip from Samantha Brown: Passport to Rome

The Neighborhoods of Rome. Which one will you stay in?

The Neighborhoods: Il Centro is all of the center of Rome and is where most of the attractions lie as well as most of the hotels we will recommend on this site. This is a large area, however, so we have broken down the major areas of Il Centro starting with our favorites:

1. Piazza Navona/Pantheon: Talk about great location. This area is not only the in the center of Rome, it is the center of the center! This is area is the namesake of one of the greatest squares in Rome as well as the ancient monument that lies within it. This is area possesses incredible architecture as well as fountains. We highly recommend staying in this area.

2. Trevi/Piazza di Spagna: We may be repeating ourselves, but centrally located and the namesake of two more amazing sights: The Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. We also highly recommend staying in this area, especially if you enjoy shopping!

3. Colloseo: What can we say, we love Rome and ALL its neighborhoods. Colloseo offers the best of ancient Rome, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Still centrally located, if you don’t stay here, you will spend much of your time here anyway! Not the most fashionable area, but perfect for history buffs!

4. Via Veneto: This area is perfect for those looking for quiet evenings in a pretty area. While there isn’t much to speak of in this neighborhood beyond nice hotels, become inspired by this laid back part of Rome and enjoy the tranquility.

5. Borghese: If you enjoy luxury, look no further! Overlooking Rome’s grand park (Villa Borghese) are many of the five-star resorts in Rome. Why? Because not only is the park beautiful, but within it lies about the only tranquility one can find in Rome during the day. If you don’t stay here, make sure to visit the park!

6. Trastavere: For younger visitors, try this neighborhood. Along the western bank of the Tiber south of the Vatican lies this quaint, artsy neighborhood that has become a very nice place to stay in the last few decades. Here you can find an area with great food and nightlife.

7. Prati/San Pietro: Surrounding St. Peter’s Square and directly to the North is an area with good shopping and decent nightlife. You can find great deals from the hotels in this area even though it’s a very pleasant place to stay!

8. Piazza del Popolo: With an amazing square and THE place to stroll at dusk, this area does not have a lot of hotel options. However, it does have many fun bars, restaurants and places to shop.

9. Testaccio/Teatro Marcello: Similarly, these two neighborhoods don’t offer too many hotel options. Lying on the east side of the Tiber, these areas do boast beautiful homes, alleys, archeological sights and amazing nightlife. Repubblica: With an amazing square, a fun market
and some other great shopping, this area is a great option for those looking the best deals in Rome. Also, Termini Station (Rome’s main train hub) lies within this neighborhood.

When in Rome...

Rome was my first European city experience, and to date it remains my favorite. I could blog about Rome everyday for the next year and not run out of things to say. Just thought I'd share with you some of my favorite pictures and favorite memories....enjoy.

First stop in Rome...Colosseum!! Such a great experience and amazing to be there in person. This picture is framed and hanging in my dining room.

It took about 2 hrs and a scary walk through the wrong neighborhood to get to see this view of Rome. Totally worth it!

So we're walking through a narrow street, turn a corner and see the Pantheon!! Only my favorite architectural structure in Rome!

Don't you wish your city streets looked like this?

This is what St. Peter's Basilica looks like at 7am. No lines was worth waking up that early. Not to mention being one of a handful of people in the entire square.

I think I'll make it a point to return at least once every 5 years. Who's with me? Next trip in 2011!!

Malta, a Nation of Islands in Europe

In the second installment of the "Europe's Least Known Countries", we head south of Sicily in the middle of the Mediterranean to a cluster of islands that have been of extreme historical significance, Malta. This country of 400,000 inhabitants resembles Hawaii in the US. There are three main inhabited islands and numerous others. Malta is generally warm, attributing its relatively stable climate to the Mediterranean that surrounds it.

Being in the middle of this sea has been Malta's blessing and it's curse in that, throughout history, the islands have benfited from being a trading post for Europe yet also a strategic base for many different armies and navies: Phoenicians, Romans, Sicilians, The Knight's of St. John, French and English to name a few. In fact, it wasn't until the early 20th century that the English granted autonomy to Malta. Currently, the official languages are English and Maltes.

So why would any traveller want to go to Malta? Well, like any predominantly Roman Catholic country, Malta provides many beautiful churches for you to see. Also, its cuisine is superb, being your traditional Mediterranean fare (lots of seafood, yummy, yummy seafood) with an Italian approach. Sicily is on a few hundred miles away. Also, Malta boasts the oldest freestanding structures in Europe, the Megalithic Temples. This UNESCO site was made in approximately 3600 BC! Stonehenge, eat your heart out. For all you history buffs. Malta is an offical member of EU, allowing you free access to visit from any other EU country once you've entered.

I have always heard of Malta as an important part of history, but I certainly did not know it was an actual country! If you've been to Malta, share your experiences with us and let us all know how the trip went. We look forward to hearing from you!

Venice is Sinking, visit it while you can!

We've all heard about Venice sinking into the depths of the sea. But Why? How has a city that has stayed afloat for millenia become threatened? Well the answer lies in the city's wells.

Venice's foundations lie on wood imported from the mainland of Italy hundreds of years ago. Yes, that's right, wood! The wood actually has petrified over the years and isn't the cause of the sinking islands. It actually has become petrified and stone-like in its attributes. It wasn't until the 20th century when artisian wells were dug that the buildings started to sink. The wells caused the underground aquafer to drop quickly followed by all the clay, sand and buildings built on top of it. This is why the water levels have risen remarkably compared to the buildings. Let's not be so quick to blame global warming, though it doesn't help the situation.

After banning the wells in the 1960's the sinking has slowed considerably but has not stopped. Some believe that the projects headed-up by Italy's government may be the answer to Venice's problems. The answers may lie in the projects' floating water gates that will stop the high tides from overtaking the city in the Spring and other periods of flooding. Others believe that pumping water back underground will stop the sinking as well.


Either way, I believe we all shouldn't take the chance. Let's all go visit Venice before the horrific floods take over and the beautiful city is lost. Flooding shouldn't be a reason to go to Venice, it should just prod everyone into going sooner! Thank you, Wikipedia, for the insight on this amazing wonder of the world. Please tell us about your experiences in Venice, flooding or not as we all would like to hear from you.

Traveling to Europe in August: best or worst idea?

While some travel experts advise not to travel to Europe in August, Brian and I want to share with you the benefits of traveling at this time. We've experienced Rome in August, first hand, in 2006. Large cities like Rome have dozens of attractions for visitors that remain open during the summer months. Be aware that the hours of operation may shrink some, but overall, major sites will remain open despite the August Holiday month. We found the pros of traveling during the high holiday season out weigh the cons.

Cons -

• Weather tends to be extremely hot and humid
• You may miss out on city culture with most natives leaving the big cities and flocking to the closest beaches.
• Many small businesses, open air markets and street vendors close for the entire month.

Pros -

• Lines at tourist attractions can be shorter.
  

Visiting a city like Rome, with tons of tourist attractions in August may be an ingenious idea! Lines can be shorter and city streets may not be as crowded. We were extremely lucky with temperature highs hitting only upper 80's and only one short rainstorm to mention. Understandably, most August jetsetters probably aren't as lucky. And true, we did miss out on some of the open air markets and street vendors that closed up shop, but it was okay with us because we made this trip to Rome to see the history and art. Not waiting in lines to see the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, which have been known to run 3+ hrs, was well worth it. While most visitors leave Vatican City with a picture full of strangers they've never met...I was able to leave with this:
To be the only 2 people standing in St. Peter's Square was an amazing experience and something we'll never forget.