Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Other Adventures => Topic started by: trophyhunt on June 03, 2024, 12:23:21 PM

Title: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 03, 2024, 12:23:21 PM: I'd love to be as excited as my wife but I just can't get into traveling across the pond, this is a trip that was cancelled during covid for our 25 th anniversary. 2-3 days in Rome (touristy crap), couple days in Venice (touristy crap), then I finally get to relax in Sicily for a week and half. Believe we are staying in Syracuse when we get to Sicily, haven't paid much attention to the plans. But will prob do some fishing, snorkeling, visit the volcano and eat as much good food as possible. Anyone stayed in Syracuse before? Hopefully being in Italy when the drawing results are posted will bring me some luck.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: wadu1 on June 03, 2024, 12:33:44 PM: My wife's cosines love Tuscany for the food and wine. They are planning a third trip this year. I would like to visit Val Trompia where most of the firearm's manufactures are located.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 03, 2024, 12:43:43 PM: Quote from: wadu1 on June 03, 2024, 12:33:44 PM
My wife's cosines love Tuscany for the food and wine. They are planning a third trip this year. I would like to visit Val Trompia where most of the firearm's manufactures are located.
Tuscany looks beautiful, if I go back, it will be that area
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: Rainier10 on June 03, 2024, 02:28:13 PM: Glad to see this got rescheduled. Will this end up being a 30 year anniversary or 29? Either way I think you will have a great time.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: C-Money on June 03, 2024, 02:40:16 PM: Try and squeeze in a tour of the Perazzi factory!! Have fun!
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: WAcoueshunter on June 03, 2024, 03:04:31 PM: Quote from: trophyhunt on June 03, 2024, 12:23:21 PM
Hopefully being in Italy when the drawing results are posted will bring me some luck.

A few years back I was boarding a plane in Rome to fly home when I got a notice from Nevada that I had drawn a primo elk tag but my card was declined for some reason! So had to hustle up on the runway and submit a new card online before we took off and I lost cell reception. Got it done in the nick of time, but those were a few tense minutes!!! Two weeks later I drew my WA moose tag. So in my mind, Italy is good luck for the draws. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: Smokeploe on June 03, 2024, 03:12:51 PM: Wife and I just got back from there. Had a great time and some great food! Enjoy!

Smokeploe
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 03, 2024, 03:22:35 PM: Quote from: Rainier10 on June 03, 2024, 02:28:13 PM
Glad to see this got rescheduled. Will this end up being a 30 year anniversary or 29? Either way I think you will have a great time.
just early of 28 years, thank you! Yeah, the wife wasn’t gonna let this trip go away!
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 03, 2024, 03:23:23 PM: Quote from: WAcoueshunter on June 03, 2024, 03:04:31 PM
Quote from: trophyhunt on June 03, 2024, 12:23:21 PM
Hopefully being in Italy when the drawing results are posted will bring me some luck.

A few years back I was boarding a plane in Rome to fly home when I got a notice from Nevada that I had drawn a primo elk tag but my card was declined for some reason! So had to hustle up on the runway and submit a new card online before we took off and I lost cell reception. Got it done in the nick of time, but those were a few tense minutes!!! Two weeks later I drew my WA moose tag. So in my mind, Italy is good luck for the draws. :chuckle:
Man, I’d have been a wreck!!!
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 03, 2024, 03:25:01 PM: Quote from: Smokeploe on June 03, 2024, 03:12:51 PM
Wife and I just got back from there. Had a great time and some great food! Enjoy!

Smokeploe
I am looking forward to food that doesn’t upset my stomach!
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: Gentrys on June 03, 2024, 04:33:02 PM: Wife and I went there for our 25th. That's an awesome country to visit and easy to get around. English is taught in the schools there, so most people speak english, other than the elderly. Very friendly people. I'm not much for travel either, but this country is definitely worth seeing. I'd go back.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: Taco280AI on June 03, 2024, 04:45:00 PM: Only been to Verona and Venice, road trip when I was living in Germany. Verona wasn't nearly as crowded which was nice. The drivers are pretty bad. Beautiful areas, good food, nice change in architecture.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: Smokeploe on June 03, 2024, 07:54:48 PM: If you are expecting food like Olive Garden you are going to very surprised! At about 99% of the restaurants all the food is made fresh, that morning! Pasta made that morning, all the sauces made that morning, etc! The tomatoes are the sweetest you will ever taste, no acid the burns your stomach. The seafood is killer, fresh caught that morning. We took a couple of cooking classes, made 4 pastas, sauces and pesto! Killer! Bring loose fitting pants you will need them!

Smokeploe
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: pd on June 04, 2024, 02:21:34 PM: Siracusa is nice, typical for Sicily. You are there just in time, Sugar Daddy from the EU has coughed up the money to build the longest suspension bridge in the world, between Siracusa and San Giovanni on the peninsula. This is going to be a mammoth project.

Much further ~~east~~ (west, sorry) is the metropolis of Palermo--the 3rd largest city in ~~Sicily~~ (Italy, ugh). It is actually very nice for such a large town.

Sicily is very interesting. The food is great. Eat as much seafood as you can. The wine production standards are light years ahead of what they were even 20 years ago. Drink local.

The dollar is strong right now, enjoy yourself. It is not expensive.

By the way, your other two destinations suck. (You asked for my opinion...)
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 04, 2024, 03:18:20 PM: Thanks for the info guys. Rome and Venice will be quick visits, figured I’d just check those off, really looking forward to just relaxing in Sicily. Is the fishing any good? Or will I puke like in Westport the whole time? Thought about diving and/or snorkeling.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: pd on June 04, 2024, 07:43:40 PM: Quote from: trophyhunt on June 04, 2024, 03:18:20 PM
Thanks for the info guys. Rome and Venice will be quick visits, figured I’d just check those off, really looking forward to just relaxing in Sicily. Is the fishing any good? Or will I puke like in Westport the whole time? Thought about diving and/or snorkeling.

I don't know that I have every talked with anybody about diving or snorkeling in Italy. I might be wrong, but that just is not something that the fashion conscious Italians (even the southern Italians) seem like they would do. Prove me wrong, I genuinely would like to know.

I know a tuna processor about 30km up the peninsula coast from S. Giovanni. Yellow fin (used to be a lot of blue fin) are a staple in the central Mediterranean. So, yes, fishing is important. "Sports fishing"?? I have no idea.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, wear nice shoes. Your wife, too. You will thank me later.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 04, 2024, 08:06:20 PM: lol, she made me go buy some hoka’s, expensive but like walking on a pillow.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 04, 2024, 09:45:25 PM: Quick google search, few diving and snorkeling boats available.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on June 05, 2024, 04:50:12 AM: Quote from: trophyhunt on June 04, 2024, 03:18:20 PM
Thanks for the info guys. Rome and Venice will be quick visits, figured I’d just check those off, really looking forward to just relaxing in Sicily. Is the fishing any good? Or will I puke like in Westport the whole time? Thought about diving and/or snorkeling.

No such thing as a quick visit to these places, they are incredible.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on June 05, 2024, 04:52:38 AM: Quote from: pd on June 04, 2024, 07:43:40 PM
Quote from: trophyhunt on June 04, 2024, 03:18:20 PM
Thanks for the info guys. Rome and Venice will be quick visits, figured I’d just check those off, really looking forward to just relaxing in Sicily. Is the fishing any good? Or will I puke like in Westport the whole time? Thought about diving and/or snorkeling.

I don't know that I have every talked with anybody about diving or snorkeling in Italy. I might be wrong, but that just is not something that the fashion conscious Italians (even the southern Italians) seem like they would do. Prove me wrong, I genuinely would like to know.

I know a tuna processor about 30km up the peninsula coast from S. Giovanni. Yellow fin (used to be a lot of blue fin) are a staple in the central Mediterranean. So, yes, fishing is important. "Sports fishing"?? I have no idea.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, wear nice shoes. Your wife, too. You will thank me later.

This is easy.🤣

https://www.travelpositano.com/tours/snorkeling-on-the-amalfi-coast/#:~:text=Amalfi%20Coast%20Snorkeling%20Experience,-Location%3A%20Cetara%2C%20Amalfi&text=Discover%20hidden%20beaches%20and%20caves,wonderful%20spots%20and%20the%20environment.

Have you ever been to Italy?
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 05, 2024, 07:51:39 AM: Leaving for the airport in 10 min! Traffic is bad cause a wreck, of course, but 3 bull elk came to see me this AM, pretty neat. Fly out at 1:30, thanks for the info, I’ll prob be off the grid after the plane takes off. Good luck in the draws guys/gals!
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 05, 2024, 11:34:01 AM: Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on June 05, 2024, 04:52:38 AM
Quote from: pd on June 04, 2024, 07:43:40 PM
Quote from: trophyhunt on June 04, 2024, 03:18:20 PM
Thanks for the info guys. Rome and Venice will be quick visits, figured I’d just check those off, really looking forward to just relaxing in Sicily. Is the fishing any good? Or will I puke like in Westport the whole time? Thought about diving and/or snorkeling.

I don't know that I have every talked with anybody about diving or snorkeling in Italy. I might be wrong, but that just is not something that the fashion conscious Italians (even the southern Italians) seem like they would do. Prove me wrong, I genuinely would like to know.

I know a tuna processor about 30km up the peninsula coast from S. Giovanni. Yellow fin (used to be a lot of blue fin) are a staple in the central Mediterranean. So, yes, fishing is important. "Sports fishing"?? I have no idea.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, wear nice shoes. Your wife, too. You will thank me later.

This is easy.🤣

https://www.travelpositano.com/tours/snorkeling-on-the-amalfi-coast/#:~:text=Amalfi%20Coast%20Snorkeling%20Experience,-Location%3A%20Cetara%2C%20Amalfi&text=Discover%20hidden%20beaches%20and%20caves,wonderful%20spots%20and%20the%20environment.

Have you ever been to Italy?
I haven’t, but my wife has. That tour you posted looks great.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: OutHouse on June 05, 2024, 12:13:26 PM: Can't help but have heard many excellent generalities about how cool it is in Sicily. Enjoy your anniversary!!!
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 05, 2024, 01:16:27 PM: Thanks, on board now!
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 08, 2024, 12:45:31 PM: Venice is unique, the best part, the food and no traffic or cars I should say. If you like to drink and eat, worth stopping by for a few days. But other than that and looking at beautiful, amazing churches, not much else to do. Besides shopping, which I have zero interest in. The journey there and finding your place, is a bit challenging, it truly is a maze. The public boat transportation back to the train station sucked, packed like sardines and hot as heck. But, we made it to Rome today, which was another adventure, boats, trains and busses.! Not speaking the language is frustrating, almost missed our second train, and got off at the wrong stop off the bus. Rome is a chit hole from what we have seen so far, more graffiti than seattle, druggies laying on the sidewalk, just like home! Even graffiti in venice, “free Palestine BS”. But the food has been great and pretty cheap. Taking a tour of the coliseum tomorrow, then off to Sicily on Tuesday. Hope the beach at Sicily makes all this travel worth it!
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 09, 2024, 10:14:01 PM: The tour of the coliseum was truly amazing, even if only in Rome for a few days you have to do a tour. The guide explains more than you can read, and way more to see than just the coliseum its self. The streets are crazy busy, but the food has been the best part! And it’s fairly cheap, at least normal prices and not inflated like at home. Many main food dishes are 8-15 dollars, large pizza 8-10 dollars, at home I spent $29 for a medium at the Rock. Gonna walk to the Vatican today, then off for our main stay in Sicily tomorrow. It’s also nice to drink the water anywhere you go, most my stays in Mexico that’s a no go.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 11, 2024, 01:04:57 PM: Final destination, Sicily. Nice view from our VRBO.
Title: Re: Italy bound.
Post by: trophyhunt on June 11, 2024, 01:07:48 PM: Did a tour of the Vatican church, really amazing!