High Mileage

Believe it or not, Rome has a subway/metro.  Many tourists visiting the city never realize it exists, and just how useful it can be.  For only 1 Euro you can buy a ticket good for 75 minutes of travel.  And for 4 Euro you can get a 1-day pass.  Considering what a taxi would cost this is a bargain.  And no traffic to worry about, which in Rome can be a real log jamb.
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If you’ve read my stories in the past you probably know I am not a fan of Tour Packages.  But some years ago I found a tour I couldn’t refuse…actually a cruise which I hate as much as group tours.  Why did I succumb?  Well the itinerary was something I just couldn’t resist and couldn’t put together myself.  I’ve always obsessed about seeing the pyramids at Giza.  And visiting the Cairo museum, the Greek Islands, and maybe Jerusalem/Bethlehem are also highpoints I needed to see.  So I found this great cruise on a very small ship.
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Is the term “Ugly American” still relevant?  Are you one?  Why do you travel anyway?

I often wonder why people travel to Europe, and expect to be greeted in English and never try to understand or assimilate into the local culture.  If your goal is to simply see sites, visit museums, and take tons of pictures, maybe traveling the great old USA would be better.  When I go to another country my main reason is to see how other folks live, eat, work, and play.  Their culture is what interests me, and how it’s different from ours.
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There was a time when it was impossible to get bad food in Rome.  And gourmet food was something Italians scoffed at as French.  Boy have times changed!

Having been to Italy many, many times over the last 15 years, my food experiences have covered a very broad range.  Everything from basic pizza to specialty pastas to rare and exotic meat dishes.  And lately some really aweful offerings, possibly due to giving the tourists what they want or are willing to accept.  The rule today is either you get food or ambiance.  Good food in out of the way places, or bad at the Piazza’s so you can people and site watch.  My rule has always been only go where the locals go.
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The train is a great way to explore Europe in a relaxed manner. There are many reasons to prefer trains over planes, cars and buses for travel in Europe.  Nearly every city has one or more stations which are served by trains many times each day. There are no time-consuming check-ins and often you arrive in the heart of your destination.  While traveling you can admire the view, talk to fellow passengers, go for a stroll or read a good book.  Plus you can eat any time you want without the hasstle of finding a good place.  And you can meet interesting people that always seem willing to share travel tips and ideas.
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I was born and raised in a typical working class suburb in western Pennsylvania.  With an ethnic background from the Slavic areas my family meals were basic “meat and potatoes”.  Very little real taste and everything cooked extremely well “just to be safe”.  That meant overcooked meat, soggy vegetables, and no spices except for salt and pepper.
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