Carnival Pride 10-day cruise to (Pompeii), (Mt. Etna), Mykonos, Santorini, Athens, Olympia, Turkey, plus train around Italy

[IntrepidFromDC]

On 10/6/2023 at 10:39 AM, ninjacat123 said:

Hi Intrepid!  Hope you and your daughter are doing well.  When I land at FCO next Friday, to purchase a train ticket I would go to the red Biglietti kiosks, like in your pic here?  I will want tickets to Venice on Frecciarossa (not Regional, too slow).  Or do I get the tickets elsewhere?  TIA!!

Hi Ninjacat.  I just returned from a three-week Texas road trip that was awesome... flew into Houston and rented a car, spent days driving around small towns, big cities, saw the barren oil fields, saw a concert in Luckenbach, TX (pop. 3)... Houston > Austin > San Antonio > Luckenbach and Fredericksburg > Big Bend Nat'l Park > Dallas.  I love Texas but Italy is a whole new level!

 

The red ticket stand in my pic is from the train station in Rome.  But it's easy to buy the $14 Leonardo train to Rome from the airport, just walk directly out the front doors of the airport and the train station is in front of you (it doesn't really look like a train station at ground level, but if you're not sure there's really just a parking garage to the left (from memory) and the train station to the right.  Once you walk in the small train station you buy the ticket (attendant can help) then take the escalator up to the train station.  People are almost always happy to help visitors in Italy, so there's plan B. Total walking time from airport front door to train is about five minutes, with the detour to buy the ticket.  Someone mentioned they bought their express ticket to Rome ahead of time, online.  You might look into that, then you could just walk from aiport to train without stopping.  Have fun and I hope you write a long review about both the cruise and landlubber parts of your trip!

[ninjacat123]

12 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Hi Ninjacat.  I just returned from a three-week Texas road trip that was awesome... flew into Houston and rented a car, spent days driving around small towns, big cities, saw the barren oil fields, saw a concert in Luckenbach, TX (pop. 3)... Houston > Austin > San Antonio > Luckenbach and Fredericksburg > Big Bend Nat'l Park > Dallas.  I love Texas but Italy is a whole new level!

 

The red ticket stand in my pic is from the train station in Rome.  But it's easy to buy the $14 Leonardo train to Rome from the airport, just walk directly out the front doors of the airport and the train station is in front of you (it doesn't really look like a train station at ground level, but if you're not sure there's really just a parking garage to the left (from memory) and the train station to the right.  Once you walk in the small train station you buy the ticket (attendant can help) then take the escalator up to the train station.  People are almost always happy to help visitors in Italy, so there's plan B. Total walking time from airport front door to train is about five minutes, with the detour to buy the ticket.  Someone mentioned they bought their express ticket to Rome ahead of time, online.  You might look into that, then you could just walk from aiport to train without stopping.  Have fun and I hope you write a long review about both the cruise and landlubber parts of your trip!

I might be making a trip to the Dallas area in the near future.  My youngest DD who is graduating from college this year wants to pursue voice over acting and Flower Mound, Texas (just north of Dallas) has a production company there.  Of course this is contingent on her getting a real job in marketing (her degree) so we shall see how that goes.  What made you choose a road trip around Texas?

[IntrepidFromDC]

20 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

I might be making a trip to the Dallas area in the near future.  My youngest DD who is graduating from college this year wants to pursue voice over acting and Flower Mound, Texas (just north of Dallas) has a production company there.  Of course this is contingent on her getting a real job in marketing (her degree) so we shall see how that goes.  What made you choose a road trip around Texas?

There's a lot I love about Texas.  At one point I was thinking about retiring to Uptown, Dallas.  But DC relaxed its' "state" income taxes on 401(k) distributions significantly and my daughter begged me not to sell the house.  The home prices in Dallas are a bargain compared to DC and they're beautiful homes, no state income tax, friendly people for the most part, and despite too much racism down south, I could not find any in Dallas/Richardson area after 25 business trips there over 19 years.  Jerryland is Mecca for any NFL fan IMO.  And the brisket!  Don't forget about the brisket!  Why can't ANYONE open a place with decent brisket up here!?  There's a lot more to like about Texas IMO but this is a cruise forum so I'll stop there.  Oh, but wait - Big Bend Nat'l Park is CAN'T MISS.  It's quite a drive but soo worth it, kayaking down the Rio Grande, etc.  Don't forget about the State Fair, about 10x the size of the closest one to me, MD... OK I'll stop for real now.

[ninjacat123]

@IntrepidFromDC love the pics and I'm sure you have more.  Good to know about general friendly people since my baby will be there.  DH worked in Dallas (coming home every two weeks) and loved the choice of restaurants (granted he was on a per diem, what's not to love😊) so I'm hoping my "foodie" DD will have a well paying job to subsidize her dinner bills.

Do you have another trip/cruise coming up?  I can't believe we will be in Italy this Saturday!! 

PS I have dinner reservations at L'altra Guanicia for our first night in Rome!

[IntrepidFromDC]

52 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

@IntrepidFromDC love the pics and I'm sure you have more.  Good to know about general friendly people since my baby will be there.  DH worked in Dallas (coming home every two weeks) and loved the choice of restaurants (granted he was on a per diem, what's not to love😊) so I'm hoping my "foodie" DD will have a well paying job to subsidize her dinner bills.

Do you have another trip/cruise coming up?  I can't believe we will be in Italy this Saturday!! 

PS I have dinner reservations at L'altra Guanicia for our first night in Rome!

@ninjacat123 thanks and yes, many more of Cowboys handing Belichick his worst beating in 29 years of coaching, State Fair, and 500 or so more of Austin, Big Bend, etc.  My next trip is in four weeks - a 14-day cruise out of Baltimore (no flying, yay) to Aruba, Curacao, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and a few other islands.  Time to earn more free cruises in the casino. 

 

I am super excited for your trip more than I am for my own as I leave part of my heart in Italy every time I leave.  I can't wait to read your comments and view your photos.

[ninjacat123]

5 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

@ninjacat123 thanks and yes, many more of Cowboys handing Belichick his worst beating in 29 years of coaching, State Fair, and 500 or so more of Austin, Big Bend, etc.  My next trip is in four weeks - a 14-day cruise out of Baltimore (no flying, yay) to Aruba, Curacao, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and a few other islands.  Time to earn more free cruises in the casino. 

 

I am super excited for your trip more than I am for my own as I leave part of my heart in Italy every time I leave.  I can't wait to read your comments and view your photos.

DH loved being part of the crew on "America's Cup Regatta" that we did out of Carnival on our St. Maarten stop.  I was the bartender (fitting 😉) and it was a blast! 

I'm going to try a LIVE review on our Europe trip.  EEk!🤞

[IntrepidFromDC]

14 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

...I'm going to try a LIVE review on our Europe trip. 

[Haljo1935]

6 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

 ...I'm going to try a LIVE review on our Europe trip.  EEk!🤞

You can do it - it will be great!! I'm so thrilled to read your LIVE and see all your great pictures!📣🎥

[ninjacat123]

16 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

You can do it - it will be great!! I'm so thrilled to read your LIVE and see all your great pictures!📣🎥

Thanks!! I’m starting to look forward to it😁👍

[IntrepidFromDC]

@ninjacat123 I forgot to mention Deep Ellum...

[ninjacat123]

8 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

@ninjacat123 I forgot to mention Deep Ellum...

How could you forget Deep Ellum!  What's Deep Ellum🤣

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

How could you forget Deep Ellum!  What's Deep Ellum🤣

https://www.deepellumtexas.com/

[ninjacat123]

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

https://www.deepellumtexas.com/

Kinda reminds me of Austin, TX (not that I've been there either🙃) with a similar vibe. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

On 10/8/2023 at 2:13 PM, ninjacat123 said:

@IntrepidFromDC love the pics and I'm sure you have more.  Good to know about general friendly people since my baby will be there.  DH worked in Dallas (coming home every two weeks) and loved the choice of restaurants (granted he was on a per diem, what's not to love😊) so I'm hoping my "foodie" DD will have a well paying job to subsidize her dinner bills.

Do you have another trip/cruise coming up?  I can't believe we will be in Italy this Saturday!! 

PS I have dinner reservations at L'altra Guanicia for our first night in Rome!

I LOVED the Strozzapreti alla Amatriciana at L'altra Guanicia.  House wine was fantastic, which is true all around Italy, and often a glass of really nice red wine is cheaper than a glass of coca cola.  I also had the veal cheeks and they were a little too rich and gamey for me, but it was my first time and I would try again, in case it's an acquired taste.  Have fun, so excited to follow your LIVE!

Edited October 9, 2023 by IntrepidFromDC

[ninjacat123]

1 minute ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

I LOVED the Strozzapreti alla Amatriciana at L'altra Guanicia.  House wine was fantastic, which is true all around Italy, and often a glass of really nice red wine is cheaper than a glass of coca cola.  I also had the veal cheeks and they were a little too rich and gamey for me, but it was my first time and I would try again, in case it's an acquired taste.  Have fun, so excited to follow your LIVE!

Thanks Intrepid!!  I think Craig and I would split the Strozzapreti alla Amatriciana then split the veal cheeks.  I like duck and I have had venision (it was okay and I made it🤣) but I do like trying new things.  Just not beets.  Taste like dirt😉

[IntrepidFromDC]

6 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Kinda reminds me of Austin, TX (not that I've been there either🙃) with a similar vibe. 

Yes, Deep Ellum and Dirty 6th in Austin are similar to some extent.  A lot more homeless on Dirty 6th, but also greater variety and amount of live music, but Deep Ellum has great live music too.  And it has Pecan Lodge, where you can buy a single 2.2 pound beef rib for $70 and it's worth it.

[IntrepidFromDC]

52 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Thanks Intrepid!!  I think Craig and I would split the Strozzapreti alla Amatriciana then split the veal cheeks.  I like duck and I have had venision (it was okay and I made it🤣) but I do like trying new things.  Just not beets.  Taste like dirt😉

There are not many foods I don't like, but I'm with you on beets.  I can enjoy them if they're super fresh and diced very tiny in a salad, but otherwise no thanks.

 

I'm so happy to hear you'll try the Strozzapreti and can't wait to hear if you love it like I did.  You know how some pasta is just amazing and you think "it's just pasta how can it be so amazing?"... yeah, like that. 

[ninjacat123]

1 minute ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

There are not many foods I don't like, but I'm with you on beets.  I can enjoy them if they're super fresh and diced very tiny in a salad, but otherwise no thanks.

 

I'm so happy to hear you'll try the Strozzapreti and can't wait to hear if you love it like I did.  You know how some pasta is just amazing and you think "it's just pasta how can it be so amazing?"... yeah, like that. 

Looking forward to a delicious dinner! Did you have dessert?

[IntrepidFromDC]

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

Looking forward to a delicious dinner! Did you have dessert?

Yes, but not at the ristorante.

[ninjacat123]

14 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Yes, but not at the ristorante.

Question, is there a place in FCO to buy euros?  I know we will use credit cards for most everything but I would like some cash money to take care of the little things, if needed.  I just spent 30 minutes on hold for a currency banker at Wells Fargo and no one picked up.  TIA!

[IntrepidFromDC]

5 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Question, is there a place in FCO to buy euros?  I know we will use credit cards for most everything but I would like some cash money to take care of the little things, if needed.  I just spent 30 minutes on hold for a currency banker at Wells Fargo and no one picked up.  TIA!

I brought euros with me so I wasn't paying attention, but I just found this (source: Fiumicino Airport (FCO) Currency Exchange, Banks & ATMs (airportbanking.com):

 

Currency Exchanges

 

Foreign Exchange Desk

Both at Departures and Arrivals areas
Hours: Mon-Sun, from 8.00 am to 9.00 pm