ITALY Readers's Tips - The Marco Polo leaves Venezia Santa Lucia (the station down by the canal at 00:04 (that would be on the 12th now and gets to Roma Tiburtina at 06:56. Click on Details in the first column (Info and you see that it has sleepers and couchettes and that reservation is mandatory and will be included in the ticket, even if you decided to sit up all night (when the letter R is boxed in, that means mandatory reservation. It is not currently on sale.his could have to do with some anticipated changes on Dec. when Italy, together with much of the rest of Europe since all countries are computerlinked, adjusts yearly train timetables and schedules etc. Keep looking it up and one day, voilà, or in Italian Ecco it will bring up the shopping basket and let you proceed. Hope this helps.

Am doing a Home Exchange with an Italian family.ave been in Rome for 4 days and will go on to Florence next (another lucky exchange.ny questions Linda, San Diego Hi there, Hope you having a great time.an you tell me if you've found any good cafes or restaurants If so what are thier names and which area of the city are they in. Thanks

Finding a restaurant is a hit or miss thing.here are not any open in Rome.he ones mentioned in Cheap Hotel Guide are closed for August as well as others recommended by friends.e have had excellent luck, however, in the few outdoor cafes in central Rome we have stumbled onto.ry to stay away from the obvious touristy ones. Food and service has been excellent, prices quite reasonable.ere is one where we had lunch today..l Giardino Romano at Via Portico d Ottavia 18.hey have a website, www.giardinoromano. You can dine on the sidewalk or do as we did, walk through the restaurant to the back where there is an enclosed outdoor patio, very quaint Let them suggest an appetizer and a main course.rices were less than 5 to 10£ for most everything.e had the best sample platter of Italian appetizers, pizza (not anything like the U., lasagna, 2 bottles of wine, dessert, etc.nd I think we stayed for 3 hours.ast night we stayed 5 hours in an outdoor restaurant.o one rushes you out as they do in the U.Often they bring an after dinner drink, for free, for you to try.he Italians really like the dining experience and their food.t is really a social event and we have had a chance to meet many locals just by being friendly as we sit next to them.f course, all this could change next month.ow, there is no one here.

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